Politics
James Bond branded ‘sex pest’ in Police Scotland’s Don’t Be That Guy campaign aimed at driving down attacks on women
JAMES Bond is branded a sex pest in a cop safety campaign that aims to drive down attacks on women.
Ian Fleming’s iconic ladies’ man is taken to task for his behaviour in films including forcing himself on female characters like Goldfinger’s Pussy Galore.
Corbis – GettyJames Bond has been labelled a ‘sex pest’ by a new Police Scotland campaign[/caption]
A number of men feature in the ‘Don’t Be That Guy’ video urging others to reflect on their behaviour
Bond tops a list of leading men with foul attitudes in the ‘Don’t Be That Guy’ campaign to cut rape, sex assault and harassment in Scotland by challenging male behaviour and “sexual entitlement”.
Others paraded as “perfect examples of that guy” include Trainspotting’s Sick Boy, Quagmire from Family Guy and John Travolta’s character in Grease, Danny Zucko.
But the campaign website says of Sean Connery’s 007 in the 1960s: “The fictional spy is notorious for his interest in women and has a real problem when it comes to understanding consent.
“In older movies like Thunderball and Goldfinger, 007 is basically a sex pest and commits sexual assault on numerous occasions, using restraint and forcing himself on female characters.
“In Thunderball, he forcibly kisses a nurse before blackmailing her into a sauna with him. In Goldfinger, Bond pins Pussy Galore [Honor Blackman] to a barn floor and again kisses her against her wishes.
“Even outgoing 007 Daniel Craig has described James Bond as a ‘very lonely, sexist misogynist’.”
Trainspotting’s Sick Boy, played by Jonny Lee Miller, is blasted for his “dreadful” attitude to women in the 1996 film and his hopes of opening a brothel in 2017’s T2 sequel.
Family Guy’s Glenn Quagmire is branded a sexual predator, while Back to the Future bully Biff Tannen is cited as an example of toxic masculinity and sexual entitlement.
Simpsons barman Moe Szyslak is listed for his creepy behaviour and “most of the men” in Game of Thrones appear on the roll-call of fictional misogynists, due to the show’s scenes of sexual violence.
Cops revealed 3,720 sex crimes were recorded between April and June this year — up 24 per cent from 2,992 for the same period in 2020 — as they launched the campaign.
New stats showed detections rose by 27 per cent over the same period, from 1,706 in 2020/21 to 2,171 in 2021/22.
And between April and June of this year, the number of rapes reported to cops rose by almost 35 per cent — from 468 last year to 631.
Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “It’s time we men reflected on our own behaviour and attitudes — and those of our friends, family and colleagues — towards women to prevent rape, sexual assault and harassment.
“We want all women to be free to live their lives without worrying about their safety.
“Women are not responsible for sexual offences committed against them and should be able to go about their daily lives without worrying about being sexually harassed, assaulted or raped.
“It’s up to men to step up, to not be ‘that guy’ and to stop sexual offending before it starts.”
The initiative was launched with a 60-second clip on social media this week and a website, that-guy.co.uk.
Nicola Sturgeon said: “This campaign from Police Scotland is powerful and important.”
Sharing the clip, the First Minister added: “I’d ask all men to watch this film and encourage your sons, fathers, brothers and friends to do likewise.”
Rape Crisis Scotland said: “Great to see a campaign from Police Scotland about sexual violence that puts the focus on the only people responsible: the perpetrators.
“Safety advice aimed at women won’t stop sexual violence, but changing men’s attitudes and behaviours can, so #DontBeThatGuy.”
AlamyIn Goldfinger, Bond kisses Pussy Galore [Honor Blackman] against her wishes.[/caption]
The new campaign has been widely praised
AlamyTrainspotting’s Sick Boy, played by Jonny Lee Miller, is blasted for his ‘dreadful’ attitude to women[/caption]
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