A code of ethics that ignores sexism is a roadblock to equality
"Sexism is not always obviously violent, exploitative or degrading. It can be unintended or disguised innocently as humour, but it is always insidious, offensive to and exclusionary of its victims."
In Australia we have a self regulatory advertising system. This system is in place to (supposedly) ensure that "advertisements and other forms of marketing communications are legal, decent, honest and truthful and that they have been prepared with a sense of obligation to the consumer and society and a sense of fairness and responsibility to competitors."
As part of this system a 'code of ethics' was drawn up. Each time a complaint is made the Advertising Standards Board goes back to this code to see if the ad is in breach of one or more of the codes. But how effective can the code of ethics be when it completely ignores sexism?
Read moreSign the petition to call on the ASB and the AANA to revise the Code of Ethics and stop letting Australian advertisers get away with sexism and objectification.
For years, the Advertising Standards Board (ASB) has turned a blind eye to sexism in advertising, because it’s not specifically mentioned in the advertisers’ Code of Ethics.
Take this recent ruling from the ASB on the demeaning and objectifying ‘Hot Girls Eat Free’ ads at a local Sydney pub. While the board noted the ad was ‘objectifying’, they added…
“However… the Code does not prohibit such advertising unless the advertising material could be considered to be discriminatory or vilifying.”
It’s simply unacceptable.
While our government is executing the ‘National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children’, we have a self-regulatory advertising system that gives the green light to sexism and objectification.
Join the call for a simple solution!
The research is clear that…
- Sexually objectifying portrayals of women are harmful – especially to young girls.
- Exposure can lead to higher levels of body dissatisfaction, greater support of sexist beliefs and greater tolerance of sexual violence toward women.
But the good news is, there’s a simple solution to this problem – the AANA simply needs to update their Code of Ethics to ensure advertisers are kept accountable for sexist and objectifying material.
Sign the petition below to call on the ASB and the AANA to revise the Code of Ethics and stop letting Australian advertisers get away with sexism and objectification.
Honey Birdette says "In your face" to Ad Standards (and kids)
Collective Shout call for financial penalties for repeat offenders
Honey Birdette are no stranger to the Advertising Standards Board. The sex shop which masquerades as a high end lingerie store in major shopping centres across Australia have repeatedly breached the advertising codes showing little regard for the self regulated system currently operating in Australia.
We've been writing about Honey Birdette's porn themed advertising since 2011.
Read more25 Reasons Why Ad Industry Self-Regulation is a Disaster
We've spent years dealing with the Advertising Standards Board, and in this time, we've seen the many flaws in the system- one we argue needs a complete upheaval. Of course, the industry likes things exactly the way they are. As the Australia Institute said in the Letting Children Be Children report, "… advertisers also have an interest in avoiding government scrutiny that may lead to stronger regulation of advertising in the interests of the general public…Self-regulation is a strategy that enables the industry to avoid such scrutiny."
We've made a list of flaws in the current system, and narrowed it down to 25.
Read moreAd Watchdog in Australia a dismal failure
It's no secret that the advertising industry's preferred model of regulation, self-regulation, has failed. Despite various government inquiries exploring the many flaws in the current system, as well as condemnation from child health professionals and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) the advertising industry has been given free reign to regulate themselves to the detriment of the community, in particular, children.
Read more