Sign 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.
Bras'N'Things forced to pull pornified Playboy video
Lingerie retailer Bras'N'Things has been forced to discontinue a Playboy video ad due to its overtly explicit content.
While many associate Playboy simply with its branded items or magazine, Playboy Enterprises own various adult TV channels and websites, broadcasting brutal, hardcore pornography. Retailers that stock Playboy branded products are helping Playboy to produce and distribute content that objectifies and degrades women.
Consumers lodged complaints with the Advertising Standards Board after being exposed to the sexualised content which was playing on TV screens in the retailer’s front windows in full view of passers by including children.
Ad Standards Board dismisses complaints against strip club Love and Rockets "Boldly Go" billboard
"the women are clothed in futuristic attire and positioned with their ‘weapons’ in an empowered way"
Read moreAd Standards Board ignores impact on children, dismisses complaints against Bras N Things Playboy ads
Complaint about porn brand advertising and its impact on children mischaracterised as complainant being "offended by images of lingerie clad women in shopping malls where children can see them."
Read moreQld Attorney General: Wicked Campers must pull vile slogans or get off the road
Palaszczuk government moves to curb offensive advertising slogans
Read moreHighway 'Sin City' strip club billboard given green light by Ad Standards
Children again ignored by Ad Standards Board
Read moreAd Standards Board dismisses complaints against billboard for Honey Bs strip club
"The Board noted the women’s nipples are covered"
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 more