STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN — Popular social wisdom insists that Sweden has an “anything goes” sexuality that includes generously breasted blonde bikini athletes and endless giggling fun. While that may or may not be true, what the country does have is mobile billboards promoting strip clubs – and not everyone thinks they’re a great idea.Two Social Democratic members of the Riksdag think the cruising billboards are such a not great idea that during October of last year, they introduced a bill that would have forced those who drag the billboards behind their vehicles to purchase a permit.
According to Sylvia Lindgren and Veronica Palm’s proposal, “It’s degrading to continually be confronted with cars whose main purpose is to drive around Stockholm’s streets in the evening – with naked women as the focal point – serving as advertisements for strip clubs.”
Making matters even worse for the politicos is the fact that the streets in question belong to the nation’s capital.
“Motor-borne advertisements for strip clubs are definitely not in line with an egalitarian view of people,” the women continued. “It’s a degrading view of women and sends the wrong signals, especially to children, young people, tourists and others who find themselves in the public spaces of our streets and city squares.”
Alas for the vulnerable psyches of the unwilling viewer, the Riksdag did not agree that the roaming signs are a social ill needing legal redress and thus the vehicles remain free to take their message of minimally clothed women with a love of dance to the streets of Stockholm.
