Maybe Shrine FAQ can help you understand why Ian started the Shrine of Female listeners
http://bbs.freetalklive.com/index.php?topic=369.0But here is it's purpose:
Much of "traditional" talk radio doesn't have much of an amount of female listeners. On Free Talk Live, we're proud of our female listeners, and simply want to show them off to Program Directors, and other listeners. As you may know, female callers come first on Free Talk Live.I've also heard, probably on the show, that the Shrine is used for advertisment purposes (whatever that means).
Personally, the Shrine doesn't have any importance to me, and saying that it serves to show off women, it's pretty silly. It reminds me of a rich old guy, who wants to show off his young (probably blond) wife
I wonder why there is no Shrine of Senior Listeners or of Black Listeners. I also disagree that female callers come first. But, as John Shaw said, "They have the shrine. They want the shrine. It's their shrine." If you don't appreciate that part of FTL, you may simply accept it, because there are other good and more important things about FTL.
What's funny to me is the validation of a shriner (a sign with FTL on it). How does that prove that a woman is really a listener? I seriously doubt all shriners listen to FTL.
However, I don't believe that women who post photos necessarily have low self-esteem.