Campaign against sexist Ryanair adverts

[Bidisha]

I wanted to flag something up. It's come through social activism group Change.org in reference to the latest Ryanair campaign, which features a woman in her underwear, next to a large sign saying £9.99 and a notice reading "Red hot fares and crew!" Ryanair crew members are themselves protesting the advert, which they say detracts from their actual job - to ensure on-flight safety - rather than being sex objects, to be imagined in their underwear and sold for a tenner along with a flight in a crumb-filled tin can. Click the link for further details and a link to a really good Guardian article about this. How far have we really come from the days of Pan Am?

www.bidisha-online.blogspot.com/2011/12/ryanair-red-hot-fares-red-hot-sexism.html

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/1343581-anyone-else-disgusted-by-Ryanairs-red-hot-crew-adverts-and-by-the-fecking-Guardian-for-carrying-it

Not a long thread but just in case anyone wanted to see this too.

Petition here: www.change.org/petitions/ryanair-stop-selling-your-staff

Bidisha - not sure if you saw this thread where I highlighted a new attitude from the ASA. They are starting to use the word "objectified" in their judgements.

It's worth complaining to the ASA.

I am also wondering how many women Ryanair have on their board. It might be worth emailing them.

O'Leary is a gobshite.
Nothing is above commodification.

you are doing exactly what Ryanair wanted you to...

They want people to talk about them. They aren't going to care if the ASA slaps them on the wrist (again), if they've caused a nice bit of controversy and got their name 'out there' in the meantime.

Like kids behaving badly for attention, far better just to ignore them (if you are going to conduct a campaign, do it by word of mouth so you don't add to their social media statistics) and if at all possible not to spend any money with them.

no.
talk is cheap.
what they want is people to spend money with them.

they are not a new start up who are trying to build up brand recognition.

so the more people who know how thick/offensive/ignorant they are, the better. Maybe a few people who would've spent money, now won't.
It's hardly going to work the other way around. After all who searches for 'offensive airlines' when they go on holiday?

Well, if it worked, fair enough - the trouble is they keep being offensive, in different ways, and sales keep going up. They may not be a start up but they want brand exposure too (as does any airline, though most use other methods to get it) - that is why they do so much of what they do.
I would not buy a ticket on Ryanair if there were any reasonable alternative, but people obviously do.

Unite is the union representing flight crew. You can join even if unemployed/sahm/student etc v. low membership fee. Then campaign via them too.

I think it's rubbish to say Ryanair want bad publicity.

Of course sales keep going up. That is because there are a whole lotta people in the world, and some buy cheap flights and don't give a toss about this issue or don't know about it. That doesn't mean we or the cabin crew should just shrug and ignore the whole thing.

you can think it is rubbish if you like. Am very confident on that one :)