The Daily Mail features a classic splash today, with the headline ‘Chemicals in plastic ‘change the way boys play’ shouting from the front pages.
The first paragraph features a perfect example of the fear-instilling reporting for which the paper is justifiably renown. ‘Chemicals used in plastics are “feminizing” the brains of babyboys, a disturbing study shows,’ it yells.
‘Those exposed to high doses in the womb are less likely to play with “male” toys such as cars. They are also less willing to join “rough and tumble” games.’I don't want to come across as Daily Mail obsessed - I promise you I'm not - but the piece was an extremely entertaining piece of sexist scaremongering.
According to the article household objects such as soft shoe soles, flooring, furniture, luggage, traffic cones, buoys, swimming pool covers (you do wonder how many homes have all of these items) contain phthalates, a chemical which apparently mimics the female sex hormone oestrogen. While it is not said, the glaring implication from the story is ‘look this is why there are so many softy, feminists in today’s society’. If we got rid of all this plastic stuff, throw away those buoys clogging up the living room, and get outside and indulge in some manly ‘rough and tumble’ Britain would return to the traditional values that made it ‘Great’. The research is actually tiny. Only the play of 145 pre-school children were examined. Hardly a convincing survey by the University of Rochester Medical School.
But to be fair to the Daily Mail they do make a stab of writing a balanced article and include a quotation from Tim Edgar, from the European Council of Plasticisers and Intermediates. This, obviously, needs to be taken guardedly as he has a vested interest, representing plastic manufacturers. Here is what he said:
‘We need to get some scientific experts to look at this study in more detail before we can make a proper judgment.’
‘However, given the simple approach of the research and the relatively small sample of children, I think these results need to be treated with extreme caution. I don’t think anyone should jump to such conclusions without some much more sophisticated research being carried out.’Quite a measured response really. In contrast, this is what Elizabeth Salter-Green, the director of the chemicals campaign group CHEM said.
‘These results are extremely worrying. This feminising capacity of phthalates makes them true “gender benders”. Clearly the boys who have been studied are still young, but reduced masculine play at this age may lead to other “feminised development” in later life.
‘This cannot be good news for their long-term health and development, or that of our society in general.’What a palpable load of clap-trap. I don’t deliberately want to sound like a namby-pamby, leftie feminist. Be reassured I enjoyed plenty of ‘rough and tumble’ games as a child, with a healthy quantity of toy guns and soldiers, but our problems in society would be significantly reduced if more men were ‘feminised’. It seems perfectly obvious to me that the continued dominance of men in society does society no end of harm. Similarly, across the world aid agencies are well aware their work will progress further if women are empowered, rather than handing all aid monies over to men.
This predictable article is infused with huge amounts of chauvinism aimed squarely at its conservative, traditional, middle England, little-England, readership. To be fair on Mail readers many of their comments are quite sensible and make the point that the Mail’s reporting of medical issues is pretty poor – just remember the MMR scare stories whose damage continues to this day. But there are a few corkers. Here’s a couple:
‘anyone with half a brain realised a decade ago that household chemicals cause cell damage. - lesk, voting BNP in Devon, 16/11/2009 10:05
All ties in with the Leftist-PC policy of emasculation of indigenous males.
Hence Beckham with his sari skirt, alice-bands etc as an icon. - O. Cromwell, Shrewsbury
All in all, it makes me proud to call myself a feminist.