OAA Apologise for "Career Women Make Bad Mothers" Campaign

[OAA]

The OAA are running a campaign to demonstrate the power of outdoor advertising to drive people online. This is being done in conjunction with a new website called ?Britainthinks.com? which encourages debate amongst the people of Britain.

We regret any misunderstanding that led to feelings of offence on the part of members of the Mumsnet community.

The intention of the website is to generate debate by posing questions that are deemed to be socially relevant by members of society.

We did not intend to cause any offence and we would stress that the questions posed were not the opinions of the OAA or any of its members.

Three posters were designed to initiate the debate using sport, life and politics and these are supported by dozens of other questions on the website itself.

Regrettably the question relating to ?career women? has caused offence and the OAA unreservedly apologises to anyone who has been offended. This was not our intention and, to ensure that this misunderstanding does not persist, instructions have been given to remove this poster.

Subject to the vagaries of the weather, all copy will be removed as soon as possible. The sites currently carrying this poster will be either blanked-out or carry one of the other designs. The poster will also be removed from the ?Britainthinks.com? website. All Digital posters have already been removed.

AIBU to want a career and family makes me think groan because everyone will say YES, BITCH

Howabout

Sexism damages society

Agree MP

I'm in favour of the sexist ads hurt us all one

That's only if we it's decided to suck up to Garry... I'd still rather not...
and I don't think Mn should have free advertising either...the statement was offensive to all, why should we benefit from it, yet not others? we can only go for damage limitation of the original statement

sorry for being really slow tonight btw..
my internet connection keeps hanging

Yes I must say I like

Am I being unreasonable to want a family and a career. Or

Feminist men make better fathers.

you're right Sydney..
they are desperate...
it will make them look so much better

Yes it does seem a little desperate. I say we just stop engaging with them now. The posters are down, OAA and Beta have issued apologies (albeit not broad enough to encompass the wider offense they have caused).

Any attempt at collaboration risks looking like some bland kind of public service announcement, which will neither spark debate nor redress the balance of the previous campaign.

Let them dig themselves out the whole they dug themselves into.

I really like feminists make the best fathers

Although I am vairy disappointed that our poems aren't going to be read out in the High Court

It did occur to me that BetA is giving mumsnet enough rope etc

I agree it was offensive to all but actually were it not for mumsnet I doubt we would have found a supportive platform on which to convene. A platform that stuck it's neck out in support, in spite of it only being v few mumsnetters actually involved. Most fora would have closed down the conversation because they can't be bothered with the hassle.

A few people complaining as individuals would not have had the same effect. Even if the numbers involved were the same.

So I vote for a feminist message with a nod to mumsnet.

I

Feminists make the best fathers risks being misconstrued by exactly the same pondlife who still believe women shouldn't work and who probably think MNers are all hair shirt wearing sandal eaters.

Surely I don't need to spell this out, but in the opinion of the small minded, feminist often = lesbian. Sad but true. And can you imagine the kind of vitriol a statement like that would attract. Wouldn't make MN look awfully clever either.

can anyone explain who this ad would be for? I mean, the OAA, or Beta?

Sorry, not making much sense - mean, are the OAA on board with this and Beta are managing it, or is it a beta initiative only?

Am confused.

how about

working mothers keep this country going?

Oh my goodness , I meant in my post of 19:19, 'let them dig themselves out of the hole they dug themselves into'

love the alliteration LG, but would there be confusion about 'spoils" ie, it can mean ruins or overindulges...just a point on clarity

Agree with Crazycatlady.

And Justine's response does smack of having been bullied into cooperating, which isn't a happy state of affairs.

it'll be for both... they are both intrinsically linked now...
you can bet your life though, that beta will be calming OAA, persuading them they can rectify the situation