Virgin Atlantic Anniversary Ad Prompts Claims Of Sexism

Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/09/virgin-atlantic-ad-sexist-ofcom:

Virgin Atlantic's high-profile 25th anniversary retro TV ad campaign, featuring crowds ogling its glitzy female cabin crew, has prompted complaints to the advertising watchdog that it is sexist and insulting to women.

The 90-second commercial, set to Frankie Goes to Hollywood classic Relax, features a glamorous red-suited cabin crew and pilot walking through a dreary 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 gorgeous hostesses. One man inadvertently squirts hamburger filling over himself while watching the procession

Read the whole story: Guardianhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/feb/09/virgin-atlantic-ad-sexist-ofcom

Comments

[NotJustMe]

I wish the ad included a little decolletage or maybe some fem dom action.

[KPinSEA]

Well, it wouldn't even be close to the top in U.S. advertising, but this is a British story .... I'm guessing they don't have Hooters commercials in the U.K.

[DKLabRat]

Of course it's blatantly sexist. Throwing in the sop of a horny middle-aged woman being winked at by the sole male in the group - the captain - doesn't make it any less so. The most disturbing part of the ad for me - and the saddest - is the sight of the little girl who runs gleefully after the Barbie doll flight crew. As though, as a female child, tarting herself up to play glorified waitress for the benefit of ogling males is all that she can aspire to.

But for me, it simply underlines Branson's attitude to women and resolves me never to fly with his airline. If you think it's sexist, too, do likewise. It's the only way he'll change.

BTW, I sincerely hope that what those women are wearing in the ad isn't the real uniform for female cabin crew. If so, where is Health and Safety? How can they work properly several thousand feet up in those heels?!

[Winthorpe]

Some of those "glorified waitresses" helped save the asses of many who would have otherwise become permanent residents of the Hudson River.

As Nigel said in Spinal Tap, "Sexy? What's wrong with being sexy?"

[RightWingMarine]

if you don't like the airline, don't fly with them. Seems like an easy fix.

[Freenation]

Looks like clip from 'Catch me if you can..'

[MountPanic]

I'm sure it's probably meant to, or at least they're both referencing commercials from "the Golden Age of Air Travel," which is pretty much the point.

And just because something is sexY or sexUAL doesn't make it sex IST. In fact, throwing "sexism" around like this really just serves to weaken it in cases where real sexism needs to be addressed.

[protagonia]

Virgin is perhaps the best airline to date.

[Mannock]

Who says?

[BlackJAC]

Pun intended, given the subject matter of the ad?