A controversial ‘Pimps and Hoes’-themed student party has been criticised by a local councillor as Carnage UK gets set to visit Liverpool this weekend.
The fancy dress night out is due to take place on Saturday after causing national newspaper headlines on other dates around the UK and several local politicians have expressed their disgust at the theme, which has been chosen by students.
Rachael O’Byrne, councillor for Allerton and Hunts Cross, claims the theme “is blatantly sexist”.
She told JMU Journalism: “We should be challenging this at every single level. This isn’t tongue-in-cheek. This isn’t a bit of a laugh. This is a very serious issue that we need to take seriously.
“To make fun or joke around about inequality is absolutely outrageous,” she added.
Speaking to the BBC, Ms O’Byrne said: “Themes such as ‘pimps and hoes’ sexualise women’s inequality and create a climate where rape culture is trivialised and indeed actively contributes to upholding it.
“As a city we have a responsibility to tackle, not celebrate, a culture which enables sexual violence against women.”
Parent company VLG has reacted to Ms O’ Byrne’s comments, claiming that councillors were ignoring the benefits that businesses in the city would have over the event.
A spokesman for VLG said: “This is a fun fancy dress student event and nothing more. We refute that the event in any way trivialises the issue of violence against women, or in any way sexualises women’s inequality, as is being suggested by Cllr O’Byrne.
“It is meant to be a fun, fancy dressed, tongue-in-cheek student event,” he said.
It will be the sixth event of its type to take place in Liverpool since 2003 and will be followed by a ‘Beauty and the Geek’ themed party later this year.