So Awful

http://www.policymic.com/articles/40049/nra-sells-an-ex-girlfriend-target-that-bleeds-when-you-shoot-it

OK, this isn't really related to anything we've discussed in class recently, but I thought it was relevant in general and wanted to share. Someone posted this in one of my other classes and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Apparently, an NRA vendor is currently selling a shooting target called "the ex-girlfriend". When you shoot it (strictly for target practice, of course) it actually bleeds. I do not understand how this type of thing is even allowed! It obviously perpetuates violence against women and gives men the power and authority to exert this violence against someone that they think is deserving.

Men's violence against women is no small matter. These types of things do not just happen in small, personal, anecdotal ways. This is a widespread social problem due, in part, to the fact that our society teaches men to be strong, violent, and sexually dominant. Boys and men are constantly being given messages telling them that they have the power in our society. This article explains that in the US, domestic violence is the leading cause to injuries against women- more than car accidents, rape and muggings combined. One third of female murder victims are killed by an intimate partner.

Domestic violence and violence against women is not OK. This mannequin is helping perpetuate this problem and, in my opinion, is condoning it. There is nothing OK about selling this type of product. Any thoughts?