Posted on 12/12/2007 7:15:50 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MADRID, Spain - Spain's government-run Women's Institute has labeled a 2008 calendar for low-cost airline Ryanair featuring bikini-wearing air hostesses as sexist and said it would be sending letters of complaint to Irish and EU authorities.
The institute, which defends women's rights, said that while the fact that the proceeds from calendar sales would go to charity was positive, the photographs "represent the stewardesses as sexual objects" and "reinforce discriminatory stereotypes."
"It is significant that that only women are used, in a sector in which there is a considerable percentage of men," the institute, which is part of the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry, said in a statement.
The calendars show the hostesses — one for each month — posing in bikinis on or outside airplanes. They are sold on Ryanair flights and on the Internet for 7 euros ($10.27). Proceeds go to the Irish disabled children's charity Angels Quest.
"We're not talking about morals or nudity here, it's simply how women are portrayed," institute spokeswoman Maria Jesus Ortiz said. "If there had been men in the calendar, I'm sure there would have been no controversy."
The Spanish union of consumers FACUA raised the issue Tuesday.
Ortiz said the institute would send a letter of complaint to the Irish Embassy in Spain and to the European Union's gender equality group. Ortiz added that the institute was seeking legal advice on what further action it might be able to take.
Ryanair had defended the calendar, saying the hostesses had posed voluntarily and that it was for a good cause.
Let me get this straight: the Institute that considers it controversial for women to pose says there would have been no controversy if men posed when it was THEY that created the controversy in the first place.
The impression the "Institute" is actually trying to make is that the women were forced to do this by men which is poppycock. Then the "Institute" would have a valid point but this of course they never say directly because...it isn't true.
Another example where the "keep your hands off my body" feminist mantra somehow takes a back seat.
Which is precisely how the feminists feel about this, if the truth were told. If the women who modeled wanted to do the photo shoots and enjoyed themselves, why is there a problem?
It's only a problem for unattractive women who can't measure up.
Thaaaat’s why they call it a cockpit! (Badabing!)
I may well get a copy of this calendar for the garden shed. I'm sure the wife won't mind ;-)
For sure those are not flight attendants on an American Airline!
You are forgiven!
“It is sexist. What about all the gay men flight attendants who wanted to pose in bikinis?”
They probably all have a stall reserved in the Larry Craig bathroom at the Minneapolis Airport.
Gosh, I was just kidding - I hope you didn’t take me seriously because I would never, ever want to be lumped in with any feminist. I think the calendar is a great idea and with all the publicity, I hope it increases their sales. I guess my attempt at humor backfired.
Not to worry, Peggy. You humor was too dead on.
If you were one of them, I doubt you’d be hanging out here (unless you are secretly stalking MurryMom :))
The guy who owns Ryanair, whenever he buys jets from Boeing, flies out to Everett to celebrate the deal.
When he does he shuts the plant down and throws a party for the whole place - hosted bar and all.
He’s a pretty good guy. Not many guys like this left. Does Snap-On, for example, still make a calendar like they used to? I think they went PC a few years back. A pity, really.
So that’s a firefighter???
I do like him.
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