Walmart just banned Cosmopolitan magazine from its checkout aisles in 5,000 stores. Please sign and share my petition to bring Cosmo back!
Walmart's misguided and sexist move was due to pressure from The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE — formerly called "Morality in Media"), a ultra-conservative religious group that has criticized Cosmo as "hyper-sexualized media" and touted Walmart's move in a joint statement as "what real change looks like in our #MeToo culture."
This statement would be laughable — if it wasn't so insulting.
Someone needs to remind Walmart and NCOSE that that #MeToo is NOT about policing women's sexuality — it's about the systematic power structures in our workplaces and communities that allow sexual harassment and assault to happen. #MeToo is an empowering movement for women and should NEVER be co-opted to shame women on what they choose to read or wear.
Cosmopoliton is a magazine for women — primarily staffed by women. The articles include empowering advice on money, careers, relationships, politics, fashion, activism — and yes, sex. Consensual sex. These are not subjects that women should made to feel ashamed to read.
By publicly pulling Cosmo from checkout aisles, Walmart is telling women and girls that their sexuality is something to be embarrased of, that their interest in their own sexual education is obscene — and that their bodies and choice of clothing could be the cause of any harassment they receive.
I'm calling on Walmart to renounce this sexist move and bring back Cosmo to its checkout shelves! Women shouldn't be made ashamed to buy female-centric materials like Cosmo that celebrate their bodies and choices.
