'Pimps and hoes' night criticised by student leader

Date: 18/09/2012. Story submitted by: F Campbell

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The women's officer at Sheffield University is "deeply disturbed and concerned" by a 'pimps and hoes' themed event aimed at students in the city next month.

The event on October 8 is being run by event company Carnage UK, which specialises in organising student nights in various cities.

But Amy Masson from Sheffield University’s students’ union is not happy with the “sexist” event and has written to Carnage to complain.

She says: "As a representative of women students, and having worked in a refuge for women trafficked in to sexual slavery, I feel that this theme utterly trivialises violence against women - specifically violence against women in the sex industry”.

"Just to be clear - the definition of a 'pimp' is a man who uses manipulation and or violence to coerce women (and sometimes men) in to prostitution in order to take their earnings” she said.

"I am angry and disappointed that Carnage has chosen such a flagrantly sexist marketing strategy. I urge [them] to reconsider [their] theme."

Varsity Leisure Group, which owns the Carnage brand, say their aim "is to give students the opportunity to have a fun night out with other students from differing ethnic and social backgrounds."

The company says it offers popular events as an alternative to students' union-organised nights. They say this "promotes healthy competition, which benefits students."

Carnage also claim the students' union does not like their events “because they compete with their own, less well-resourced events."

What are your thoughts on this? Email me at fiona.campbell@postcodegazetee.com or contact me on Twitter @FionaPoGa.

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Address: Western Bank Sheffield South Yorkshire S10 2TG

Tags: Carnage, Sheffield Students Union, University of Sheffield, Amy Masson