Ahead of International Women’s Day, Teresa Parker \u2013 head of media at Women’s Aid \u2013 urges producers to be more mindful of who they spotlight. <\/p>
This Friday, March 8th, we will be celebrating International Women\u2019s Day. Coming at the start of Women\u2019s History Month, it is an opportunity for us to celebrate the power of women, but also to acknowledge the long road still before us, especially when it comes to reaching equality and ending violence against women and girls.<\/p>\n
This is why it is so shocking to see that Celebrity Big Brother chose this week, of all weeks, to announce that Gary Goldsmith<\/a> is entering the house as a celebrity. Reality TV often thrives on controversy \u2013 contestants are frequently outspoken, command a large social media following and are entertaining enough to keep viewers coming back day after day.<\/p>\n However, in the case of Gary Goldsmith, the quest for entertainment has gone too far \u2013 this is a man who has been charged, and convicted, of attacking his wife in 2017<\/a>. It is impossible that producers didn\u2019t know about this incident, given that it was widely reported on at the time and a simple Google search would have revealed this information.<\/p>\n So, why is it that, despite violence against women and girls dominating the media discourse over the last few years, with documentaries detailing atrocious crimes against women airing on a weekly basis, with inquiries unearthing just how misogynistic our society still is, that we are turning to convicted abusers for entertainment?<\/p>\n The reality is that despite tireless efforts by survivors, domestic abuse services and sector colleagues, domestic abuse is still not taken seriously enough. We know that in England, 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their life \u2013 a number that is shockingly high and that could be higher still, given that so many women suffer these crimes in silence.<\/p>\n We are disappointed with the decision to include Gary Goldsmith in the #CelebrityBigBrother<\/a> house. Producers must consider how his appearance will impact women who have survived domestic abuse. Read our full statement here: https:\/\/t.co\/xp8WgfxjuB<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Women’s Aid (@womensaid) March 6, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>