Tuesday - February 10, 2009

Virgin Atlantic accused of sexism over anniversary advert.  (Sick of all the “isms")

Pardon me folks and maybe it’s just my generation or the fact that I’m male and really do LOVE women.
I don’t get it.  What the heck is it with folks who decide for others just what offensive is.

If there are any ladies here and I’m out of line, please tell me why.

I think this ad is cute. It’s the bee’s knees and all that.  Where’s the insult?  And why should one group speak for ALL women.
The ladies who are well paid to appear in this ad don’t feel demeaned I’m certain.
I suppose there are a few who do take exception to the ad, who do feel insulted by it.  So don’t watch it and don’t fly this airline.

I kinda doubt (and this may be out of line) that the women who find insult in this ad, aren’t fit enough or good looking enough or young enough to be one of the people portrayed in the ad.  Long winded way of saying sour grapes.
I’ll go further and say honestly that I only wish more flight crews were ALL female and ALL of them ALWAYS looked this good.

Believe it or not, there was a time in the early days when the stews really did ALL look great.  But on some flights I’ve taken, with 2004 being the last, the uniforms didn’t look like much and some of the ladies looked like my grandma.  Yes, I realize that’s very shallow of me.  Sorry about that but I really do think it’s just our nature (male) to want stews to all look like a young Ann Margaret. Or Linda Carter. 

Well, that’s my take on it.

What’s yours?

Virgin Atlantic accused of sexism over anniversary advert

Virgin Atlantic’s anniversary TV ad campaign, featuring crowds lusting after female cabin crew, has prompted complaints to the advertising watchdog that it is sexist and insulting to women.

Last Updated: 4:15PM GMT 10 Feb 2009

The 90-second commercial, set to Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic Relax, features a glamorous red-suited cabin crew and pilot walking through a airport for Virgin Atlantic’s first flight in 1984.

As the pilot and entourage walk through the airport crowds of people, mostly men, ogle the array of glamourous air hostesses. One man inadvertently squirts hamburger filling over himself while watching the procession.

At the end of the ad, which runs with the line “Still red hot”, two men are seen mesmerised by the pilot and his crew.

“I need to change my job,” remarks one of the men. “I need to change my ticket,” says the other.

But despite receiving 29 complaints the Advertising Standards Authority said the adverts has received 29 complaints that the £6m ad campaign, which also includes press advertising, is sexist.

The ASA said: “The general crux of the complaints was that the ad was offensive because it was sexist and presented a stereotypical view of gender roles.”

“We considered that most viewers would understand that the ad presented exaggerated stereotypical views of the early 1980s and played upon perceived attitudes of that time in a humorous way.”

The complainants argue that the all-female crew members are being promoted as the main reason for choosing the airline, and that this is insulting to all women, especially those working in the aviation industry.

Virgin is no stranger to accusations of discrimination against flight attendants.

In 2005 a tribunal in Queensland ruled that Virgin Blue, which operates in Australia, had discriminated against eight female flight attendants from rival Ansett, aged 35 to 55, who were not hired “because they weren’t young or attractive enough”.

A spokesman for Virgin Atlantic said: “The ASA has rightly dismissed these complaints, which probably come from competitors jealous of our fantastic cabin and flight crew.

“Our advert has been brilliantly received worldwide and reinforces why so many people want to work for Virgin Atlantic.”

COME FLY WITH ME

Posted by peiper     on 02/10/2009 at 11:39 AM   
Filed Under: • Humor • Miscellaneous • Politically-Incorrect •  
• Comments (4) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

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