It was in 2013 that women’s surf brand Roxy was slammed for their sexist “all sex no surf” Pro Biarritz trailer.

"It's time to challenge and change how we portray gender in our advertising" - Unilever marketing officer 

Is this really happening? We hope so.

Unilever has a history of sexist and exploitative advertising and has let us down before. Here's some background.

Unilever is the parent company for many different brands including food and drink, personal care products and cleaning supplies.

Unilever's website states "We make some of the best known brands in the world, and those brands are used by 2 billion people every day."

Collective Shout has long called for a boycott of two of these brands - Lynx and Dove. Melinda Tankard Reist summarised the reason behind this on The Gruen Transfer.

More sexploitation from a repeat corporate offender

Don't pay for Sexploitation this holiday season

Unilever complains Collective Shout encouraged complaints

Cross'em off your Christmas list

Jingle bells, Christmas is here. Well, it was here around October according to most retailers! But that’s another blog entirely. So it’s time for you to fill the Christmas stocking, Christmas hamper or car boot with goodies again.

Lynx's event application 'misleading and inaccurate'

Sydney City Council rejects Lynx's application for a second event

Collective Shout supporters have today received letters from the Sydney Lord Mayor in response to their complaints about the Lynx Lodge 'pop up spa' promotion.

Today, from Melinda Tankard Reist's blog

Why would Woolworths associate itself with the objectification of women?

As published on Melinda Tankard Reist's blog.

Good piece in The National Times today on ‘Lad’s Ads’, pointing out the raw sexism of the new Brut deodorant advertising campaign – a perfect case study in sexist advertising. Brut appears to be following in the footsteps of Unilever’s Lynx, which has turned objectification into an art form (all the while promoting Dove ‘real beauty’). Thanks Brut and Lynx for entrenching the notion that women are mindless objects for male sexual fantasies. Oh, and men? Perhaps find something else to spray yourselves with. These ads demean you too.

Melinda Tankard Reist appeared on web program the Gruen sessions. Melinda did a great job of challenging the sexist and objectifying portrayal of women in advertising. You can watch the video at the following link. It goes for about half an hour and is worth taking the time to watch.

Visit the link and select "portrayal of women in advertising" from the menu. Video no longer available.

The Gruen Sessions - portrayal of women in advertising.