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.

(it doesn't really matter of course. I am just whining)

Morningpaper Yes, I know about Millicent Fawcett. But that t- shirt is a double play: on Millicent and militant. Militant tendency It's a bit worrying if you don't understand that.

is that `kids Co total expenditure or its marketing budget? tbh, if its their total expenditure, for a country wide charity, that ain't so much.

I have just seen a bleeding great billboard round the corner with the ad on it

But it's a joke Swedes isn't it? Millitant feminist vs. Millicent feminist

dontcha think?

Or do you think it suggests that they are wearing exploding pants?

Biwi..

It's ok, I know what MD means...we have an understanding..

PS;
hope your ok BIWI, I miss talking to you...

Aw Ladybiscuit - do you have an aerosol? just add "ass" after "bad" for now. Or write SEXIST in large letters, that would work too.

hm, I think if the billboards are countrywide, then the charity should be also. Shame.

Morningpaper - I don't find it personally scary or anything. But it is tremendously offputting. It makes feminism the preserve of the extreme left wing. Which of course it isn't. But I think they'd quite like to keep it that way.

I like the idea of adding 'ass' but no spray paint. However I do have a a big paintbrush and lots of cans of paint. And it's very high up so I will need a ladder. My kids are going to think I'm a loon

lol Ladybiscuit

go for it you will be a hero

Shelter have a children's wing here although it doesn't have a separate fund

go for it ladybiscuit and take a nice photo to illustrate the next Guardian article

ooh, how tempting!

To be fair, I can imagine that it wont be so easy to get people out to various corners of the country to cover out the posters in this weather!

That poster is crying out for a simple line drawing of a cock and balls, by way of a full stop.

I haven't been trying not to talk to you!

Age Concern though... goodness knows what they pack into their knickers

(I suppose their interest is in the relative poverty of older women in particular and the unfair pensions issues?)

afternoon all...
thought I'd add my tuppence worth.
I'm liking the charity idea and my admiration for MrsB grows by the hour..
but....
I think handing it over to (beta) to choose and liase with charity is a mistake.
Personally, much as I think it should be shelter given the weather, I really think it should be a woman's charity, in direct response to the sexism of the original. I think MN (mrsB) should try and speak to the chosen charity before the deadline so we present Beta with fait accompli. It will be noted by the media and broadsheets if we have any connection with any OAA/beta ad, MN logo or not, so we need to confident it is representative of our views.

Mrs B makes sense, and looking forward to her letter. It should be Beta's choice for the charity from the ones suggested on the thread.

For my fifty-pence worths: I agree with Mme D that the charity should be a national charity, for the reasons she stated (the original Beta campaign being national). Although, I do understand that a greater immediate impact would be seen by donating the space to a smaller organisation. But a national campaign would be best used by a national charity.

In order to survive on a national scale, the charity would most likely have a large budget. However, it also means that it has the infrastructure to direct the message where it is most needed.

I agree that it shouldn't be a charity already affiliated with Beta.

How about the Ad space for a national charity (targeting one which redresses the feminist aspect) and the £ to a grass roots local shelter?

Shelter does great work but I agree with dittany. This all began with sexism and I think any apology should address the sexism

And no it's not just "a few women getting their feelings hurt". Sexism runs all through our society, from offensive advertising through to rape and sexist attitudes fuel real harm to women and girls, both psychological and physical.

I vote for "Sexist advertising is a waste of space" or donate the space to a charity assisting women and girls. Why on earth we should feel apologetic for appearing to push a women's agenda in a world where a bus ad like this can run - well, sometimes I think we are our own worst enemies!