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This week the University of Warwick's women's rowing team have come into the spotlight for publishing their second naked calendar, sales of which raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Last year they received criticism for posing in the nude, with many people arguing that the calendar objectified the students and was "anti-feminist".

Are naked university calendars damaging to women, or are they just a bit of fun to raise money for charity? What one person may view as liberation and empowerment, others see as oppression.

We ask a current student feminist, and a graduate who posed in a naked calendar herself, to argue both sides of the debate.

Are you for or against university naked calendars? Do they objectify women? Post your comments below.

Mirren Gidda: 'Nude calendars objectify women'

I would never tell any woman what they can or can't do, but I do have problems with nude calendars.

The purpose behind the calendar, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, is admirable. As is the women's team's refusal to let the men's rowing team steal all the glory with their long-running naked calendar. I wish them every success with the project.

However, there are two groups of people that I think should be addressed when discussing this issue. The first is the large group of women who are tired of yet another reminder that sex sells. Although a naked calendar is undoubtedly a successful way to raise money for charity, are there not other, equally successful ways of raising money, that don't involve taking your kit off?

For the team, the calendar may have been an empowering, liberating experience. But the flip side of the coin is that for many women looking at the calendar, it is another reminder of the objectification of women. A constant barrage of images that clearly portray women as sexual objects not only damages female self-confidence, it also makes women feel undervalued.

University naked calendars aren't on a level with the Sun's Page Three, but viewing 12 pages of naked women for your "pleasure and entertainment" might be seen by some as objectifying these students.

The other group that needs considering are the buyers of the calendar. It's brilliant for the charity if lots of people buy copies, but it does make me think: why are the calendars being bought?

Of course many will be buying them to support the team and the charity. Nevertheless, there will be some buying the calendar for less than charitable reasons.

If the team are comfortable with that knowledge then that's credit to them, but it is something that should be considered. Nakedness can be empowering and it can be liberating. But so often it can be turned into objectification.

Alice Nicholson: 'Being in a naked calendar was liberating'

For me, being in a naked calendar was liberating. My sport's team make one every year to raise money for charity and to attend our competitions, and I have been in two of them.

The day of the photoshoot was great fun. When I first arrived I was a bit nervous – it's quite daunting having to take your clothes off in front of other people. But we all supported each other, and I wanted to do it because I thought it was for a good cause.

When the calendar came out most people were supportive, but we did have comments from some people saying that it was a disgrace towards women.

But I don't see how it is slowing down the progression of feminism. Men do naked calendars too, so why is it different? We were just having a good time and we raised a lot of money for charity.

Lots of our friends bought calendars, but I do think people bought them just because they wanted to look at nice pictures of naked people. But what's wrong with that?

I know people's parents bought it. My parents are quite liberal so they thought it was great – my mum was doing similar things when she was my age.

I have never regretted doing the calendar and I'm not ashamed of it. It made me feel more confident about my body, and I think it did for the other young women too. Not everyone in the calendar is a size 10 – but it wasn't about our size, it was about feeling confident in our bodies and raising money.

I don't see it as an objectification of women. How is it different to women having calendars of naked men? 50 years ago a young woman would never have been able to do this – her husband or father wouldn't have allowed it.

I'd say don't knock it until you've tried it. You might think it is "anti-feminist" but how do you know unless you've done it yourself? I had great fun and felt liberated.

What do you think? Share your thoughts below and tweet us @gdnstudents

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