A Hungarian newspaper has faced criticism after inviting readers to submit photos of women in short skirts, prompting a public backlash and protests by women’s rights groups. According to news website Telex, the offending spread appeared in Metropol, a daily publication, in its June 4 issue.
The photos of women in skirts were allegedly snapped in public places such as streets and subways, without the consent or knowledge of the photographed individuals.
‘The Shorter, the Better’
The feature was in Metropol’s regular “Take a photo and send it in!” page, already infamous for divisive entries. This time, the spread came with a caption that read: “The shorter, the better.”
The post below it read, “This is undoubtedly true of fashion, if not life. But in the case of dresses and skirts for girls, it is undoubtedly true with the start of summer.”
The offending words and unasked photographs elicited fierce protests both online and off.
Public Protest Outside Publisher’s Office
It was reported by HVG.hu that 50 to 60 protesters marched in front of Mediaworks, the publishing company behind Metropol, to demand answers. Protesters waved signs bearing messages like “Harassment is not journalism” and “My body is not an object,” criticizing the editorial decisions of the newspaper.
Others demanded that Metropol issue a formal apology, which is given for free and is affiliated with Hungary’s governing regime.
Social Media Users React
The outrage was also directed at online websites, as the users criticized the motive and the message behind the photo call. A user on Reddit posted, “So is the purpose to titillate the paper’s (presumably straight male) readers, or to shame women wearing short skirts? Both?”
A person called it, “State sponsored harassment of young women.”
Repeated these words, a commenter contributed, “Traditionalism. They want women to be domestic servants with ‘modest dress’ outside the bedroom. This kind of harassment is intended to drive women in that direction.”
The controversy touches on longstanding issues about privacy, consent, and media ethics in Hungary’s changing media environment.
