The naked truth is these lingerie ads are boring

A BILLBOARD ad for sexy lingerie in Dundrum Town Centre has caused outrage among some local parents. Fearful for their children’s innocence, they have demanded that the huge poster be taken down, describing it as bordering on ‘soft porn’. If no action is taken the conscientious parents have threatened to protest. Commendable, I suppose. Except that I won’t be joining in. In fact I’m not even sure if the public enactment of a full Roman orgy in front of small children could stir me to action these days. The truth is that I actually find the large poster of the reclining model, all trussed up in her fancy lingerie, more mundane than offensive. The cumulative effect of internet porn, sex chat lines popping up on my computer screen, the racy covers for ‘female’ fiction, even the promotional posters decorating run-of-the-mill lingerie departments, has made lacy suspender belts seem about as risqué as a pair of wellies. Familiarity breeds contempt or boredom at the very least. The other day while listening to a group of mums complain about the scanty dresses and high heels their daughters wear to Wezz, I had to stifle the urge to tell them to get a life. Obviously it’s not ideal for girls to be half naked when the weather is Baltic and, more pertinently, the boys are wrapped up warm and cosy. But the skimpy dress code for these teen discos isn’t sexualising girls as much as reducing them to unthinking conformists. Granted I’m not exactly the porn industry’s target market but instead of the rebellion and disgust of my youth, I now wear the worldweary mien of a brothel-keeper when confronted by it. If only some of that ennui could be passed to men. We might make some progress towards dismantling a hardcore industry that exploits women and demeans all of us.