Friday 11 March 2011

TEACH A WOMAN TO SEW, CLOTHE HER FOR A LIFETIME.

TEACH A MAN, HE'LL TEACH HIS ACQUAINTANCES, START A BUSINESS, AND PRETTY SOON AN ENTIRE VILLAGE IS ON THE MEND.

An ad from Oxfam.

Who thinks it's outrageously sexist?

8 comments:

  1. that is really an Oxfam ad? Seems a strange line to take, I thought they were all about the women and small businesses..

    ..or is that the point, it;s fine to promote women and take a pop at men, but the other way round it is not 'allowed'?

    If that's your point I agree with it - too often recently have I seen information/advertising/sweeping generalisations denigrating men and raising up women - what kind of role models/mindset will that give our young boys? They are already struggling with identity now, by dint of nature they are a couple of years behind girls, can't then focus once their juvenile hormones race round, have no male teacher role models, and are just told off (by women teachers, mostly?) for being - well, boys!

    Where will it end up I wonder?

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  2. Ooh Johnners

    You're sharp.
    Very.

    The ad actually said:
    TEACH A MAN TO FISH, FEED HIM FOR A LIFETIME.

    TEACH A WOMAN, SHE'LL TEACH HER ACQUAINTANCES, START A BUSINESS, AND PRETTY SOON AN ENTIRE VILLAGE IS ON THE MEND.

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  3. yes, that is much more what I would expect nowadays

    My point about the balance in advertising nowadays however I think is still very true, and proved indeed by the correct advert!

    It is starting to p**s me off a bit, to be honest.

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  4. What else pisses me off is it is so simple to test whether something is sexist in this way. Simply reverse the gender roles in the communication and see if it would still be acceptable. If it would not, it's sexist.

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  5. I think its all about the demasculation of the masses and creating a more asexual generation.

    Promoting women to be more aggressive and go-getting
    And feminising men promoting manicure/pedicures and moisturisers (a la David Beckham and the plethora of boy-bands)

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  6. Yes.

    Let's see what the Advertising Standards Authority have to say about it. I've reported it and they are investigating it.

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  7. Now that will be interesting!
    I shall watch out for others - perhaps we can start a class-action suit??

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  8. I'm so annoyed I am thinking of starting GENDERWATCH.
    And not just for anti male sexism neither.

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