Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["de la Pena, Emelyn" <>]

Emelyn A. dela Pena, Director
UCSD Women's Center
(858) 822-1476
Fax: (858) 822-1577



Please help Distribute this Action Alert Widely!

Copy the sample letter below and email to: 
,
,
 
,
 


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear CafePress:
 I am asking you to stop selling 225 items that use the term Donkey
Punch.
"Donkey Punch" merchandise promotes sexual violence against women and is
in clear violation of several of CafePress guidelines. According to Ryan
in Customer Service and Candice in Content, CafePress has already
reviewed the matter and found no policy violations. I think selling a
t-shirt glorifying the practice of punching a woman at the base of her
skull to enhance one's orgasm is "generally offensive or in bad taste,"
that it "depicts violence," and that it does "signify hate towards
another group of people."  I hope you feel the same, and will pull these
items from CafePress. Please respond!!!!!
Sincerely,

CafePress, the online store sells shirts, stickers, and buttons
featuring the artwork and slogans of everyday people.  CafePress handles
the printing, inventory, and shipping while extracting a reasonable fee.
CafePress is a conduit for creative folk with something to share but not
much of a budget.  Sometimes people might submit artwork that's simply
too offensive to grace a t-shirt, but CafePress has its own guidelines
to screen out the truly hateful stuff.


We have learned of 24 stores within the CafePress family that sell a
total of 225 products featuring the urban slang term "donkey punch."
This term, which is not found in Webster's, was defined under an
internet search of urban slang sources beware the following disturbing
definitions:

!! WARNING: GRAPHIC/TRIGGERING LANGUAGE FOLLOWS !!

>From ubersite.com
"Donkey Punch: The supposed move involves the male punching the female
in the back of the head or neck immediately prior to orgasm. The alleged
purpose is to cause the muscles around the vagina or anus of the female
to contract around the male's penis, creating a supposedly enhanced
orgasm for the male. A variation of the practice may be enacted to
distract the female, allowing for the surprise penetration of the anus.
It has been speculated the term may refer to the surprised female at
this point "bucking" like a donkey. "

>From quantumphilosophy.net "Donkey Punch:  Banging a girl doggy style
and then moments before you come, sticking your dick in her ass, and
then punching her in the back of the head. This gives a tremendous
sensation, but for it to work correctly, the girl must be knocked out so
that her asshole tightens up. "

Apparently the element of surprise is key in producing the desired
effect.
In other words, a woman's consent
to be punched in the head is not requested in advance.

We have no way to confirm that donkey-punching is being practiced, but
it
is certainly being promoted at CafePress.   Visit their homepage
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/browse/?Nao=1&No=1&Nty=1&pp=&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt
=donkey+
punch&x=5&y=11
 and you will be confronted with 225 products ranging from hats ("Give
this to your girlfriend, and tell her to wear it backwards next time you
take her to bed") to shirts ("A Donkey Punch is the greatest thing
invented.
Women love it whether they want to admit it or not").


CafePress's General Guidelines for Prohibited Content
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/info/help/content_policy.aspx

* Content that may infringe on the rights of a third party.
* Items that make inappropriate use of Nazi symbols and glamorize the
actions of Hitler.
* Use of marks that signify hate towards another group of people.
* Hate and/or racist terms.
*  Inappropriate content or nudity that is not artistic in nature.
*  Content that exploits images or the likeness of minors.
*  Obscene and vulgar comments and offensive remarks that harass,
threaten, defame or abuse others such as
F*** (Ethnic Group).
* Content that depicts violence, is obscene, abusive, fraudulent or
threatening such as an image of a murder victim, morgue shots, promotion
of suicide, etc.
* Content that glamorizes the use of "hard core" illegal substance and
drugs such as a person injecting a vial of a substance in their body.
* Material that is generally offensive or in bad taste, as determined by
CafePress.com.


1.  Call CafePress toll-free at 1-877-809-1659 between 7AM and 7PM PST.
Ask for Candice in the Legal Department.  If they won't put you through,
her direct number is 510-877-1926.  If Candice isn't available, ask for
Maureen or Lindsay.  Once you have a live human, explain why you are
offended by the 225 "donkey punch" products currently in CafePress
stores.  If you have bought from the company in the past, mention that.
Refer specifically to the content guidelines and ask the staffer to
explain in detail why these products do not violate them.  If they
cannot do this, ask to speak to someone who can.
Try to keep them on
the phone as long as you can, but remain polite.  Conclude by saying
that you will refrain from buying any CafePress products until the
offending items are removed, and will encourage others to do the same.
Promise to follow-up your conversation with an email, and request the
best email address for this purpose.  They'll probably give you
.
(INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS: call Candice directly at 510-877-1926 or skip
ahead to #2)

2.  Write an email to: 
,
 
,
,
 and 

 (or any other email you were
given).
Summarize your feelings about the "donkey punch" merchandise available
through CafePress.  Include the URL from your keyword search.  If you
spoke with a live staffer, summarize your conversation, noting whether
or not you were satisfied with their responses.  Refer specifically to
the content guidelines and ask the email recipient to explain why these
products do not violate them.  Say that you look forward to all of these
products being withdrawn from their website, and that you will postpone
any potential CafePress purchases until they are permanently gone.
Request a reply.

2a. (optional) We have identified a number of CafePress clients who sell
pro-feminist, anti-violence, or pro-gay merchandise.  Write them emails
expressing your concerns and requesting their help in convincing the
company to withdraw the offending products.  Don't threaten to boycott
them.
Yet.
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  


3.  Circulate this email far and wide, particularly if you run an
organization, maintain a mailing list, post to a blog, or command a
small army.

4.  Forward any relevant communication to 

 so
we can keep track of our progress.  Please DO NOT include this address
in your communication with CafePress.

We thank you in advance for your help.  Updates will be forthcoming as
the action gets underway.  As always, if you wish to be removed from
this mailing list, please let us know.

Kind regards,
AntiPorn Activist Network and one angry girl designs

Thanks to Patty Valentine 
()
 and one angry
girl designs for working on this and Diana Russell for sending it to
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