The ASA
Complaint FormThe ASA, Advertising Standards Authority, regulates essentially all advertising. So if you’ve seen a sexist ad, complain to them. Tweet them too and tweet us in!
Sadly, they have an appalling track record. It’s often only public pressure that gets them to take note. So, just as importantly, spread the word and tell us by email, twitter or facebook.
Sadly, the ASA is often more of an ASS (sorry, it just had to be said!). We lobbied them for 3 years over the fact that they think ads for porn and prostitution in newspapers are perfectly acceptable.
Thankfully you no longer see such ads, at least in the mainstream press.
Find out more here
London Transport
Complaint Form(generic complaints form, just click the links that are most appropriate)
Transport for London (TfL) has its own advertising codes above and beyond those of the ASA. These explicitly disallow ads for porn, prostitution, strip clubs, ‘promoting poor body image’, sexual images of adults or images that might offend even ‘by way of implication’. So if you see a dodgy bit of advertising anywhere on the London Transport network contact TfL as your first port of call.
Sadly despite these codes, London transport has a bit of a track record of hosting sexist and even racist ads. So let us know by email, twitter or facebook and Tweet TfL too (they say they monitor tweets to them).
We have met with TfL bosses and in recent years there does seem to have been a reduction in objectifying and sexist advertising.
Find out more here
What Else?
Often complaining to the advertiser or a related party – or even the bill board hoarder, can be very productive. Social media now makes it so easy to spread the word that it becomes increasingly possible to shame companies into showing at least an iota of ‘social responsibility’.
Success!
A twitter storm (led by Untameable Shrews and a strong contingent from Mumsnet) generated press coverage and a wealth of complaints over these ‘jokey’ beer mats (Pornhub-style images coupled with text asking female students if they ‘spat or swallowed’). These were being handed out in welcome packs to female students at Sussex University (apparently 18 year old girls don’t know how to brush their teeth). After it was pointed out that it was deeply inappropriate for teenage girls to be taking a first step into independent living with messages like these, the University has said it will ‘rethink’ using this supplier in future.
Success!
Jez saw these ads for an ‘escort agency’ in the men’s loo of his local pub. He complained to the pub – which withdrew it from all its chains. He also complained to the billboard hoarder, Admedia – they withdrew the campaign NATIONWIDE!