UK’s Advertising Standards Authority Bans ‘Gender Stereotypes’ In Ads

Submitted by Mastodon on Tue, 2017-07-18 23:15

Article here. Excerpt:

'The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, the self-regulatory organization of the ad industry across the pond, is seeking to cut the cord on gender stereotypes.

Following a year-long inquiry, the organization has updated its already stringent standards to prohibit advertisements that portray what it refers to as “potentially harmful” gender stereotypes. Fitness ads that depict women in swimsuits and children’s clothing ads that depict boys as geniuses in direct contrast to girls as princesses risk being banned.

The ASA states that a “tougher line” was needed on ads that depicted “stereotypical gender roles or characteristics which can potentially cause harm, including ads which mock people for not conforming to gender stereotypes.”

According to the Telegraph, the new standards are set to be enforced beginning in 2018. The ASA argues that harmful stereotypes “can restrict the choices, aspirations and opportunities of children, young people and adults.”'

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And when exactly are you in "stereotype-land"? There are stereotypes and then there are stereotypes. What if I have one idea of what a given s-type is for something but you have a different idea, possibly directly opposite of the one I have?

Tbh I am really quite surprised that such a board exists in the UK. Very Orwellian. I mean, to have common advertising content so readily controllable by if not the state then some state-like body... what constitutes a "stereotype" can be so utterly subjective that this board could ban an ad simply bceause its members just plain don't like it or the product being sold. A slippery slope indeed. The opportunities for corruption are extraordinary. Nice job if you can get it. :)

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Submitted by Matt on Wed, 2017-07-19 02:14