Wednesday 30 July 2014

Flight Sexism

Hey awesome arty and crafty people, we looking for 5-10 artists and crafts people to contribute 
work for our up coming exhibition, which includes a series of community based installations too. 
The theme is,'fighting sexism' and the opening date is August 25th. Also, it would be awesome if 
you are willing to donate your work, and any sales will go to Rape Crisis, though this is not 
mandatory to participate.

Monday 7 July 2014

Saturday 5 July 2014

Feminist Win - Keeping up the Pressure

It looks like we have won, after appearing in the Australian media, New Zealand media rapidly picked up the story to get the Sexist Safety Video removed.  However, we do not trust the line about not being able to do it immediately as videos are manually loaded or that they were doing this anyway, as none of the older videos have been phased out, so the petition and protest exhibitions are continuing.

We want a formal apology from AirNZ to all the people they have offended and donations made to rape crisis.  To recognise the damage this form of advertising has on how woman are treated in society.

Check the following link, http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/10233431/Air-NZ-bikini-safety-video-dropped



Thursday 3 July 2014

Change.org put Petition the Page!


Change.org has shown tremendous support for our campaign to get the AirNZ sexist safety video banned by putting it on their front cover.  THANK YOU Change.org.

So keep signing and keep sharing this petition, as we want change,
http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/air-nz-remove-the-sexist-in-flight-safety-video-airnzsexism?share_id=NPEnesNFTb&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

Complaint letter 3 & 4

Thalia Kehoe Rowden has been writing about her battle to get the AirNZ sexist safety video banned on her blog, http://sacraparental.com/, after recently been exposed to this video on a flight.  Again, the responses she received and her friend Lucy received are same form letters sent to the first two complaint letters below.
I’m really disappointed at your choice to ally with Sports Illustrated for the latest safety video.
I have six reasons I think it’s a poor choice, and not up to your usual standards. I have written about them on my blog, here:
http://sacraparental.com/2014/03/01/everyday-misogyny-whats-wrong-with-air-new-zealands-swimsuit-safety-video/
Not only does the Swimsuit Edition objectify women, but it belittles women’s sport – which the magazine pays very little attention to. This is not something a country with a proud sporting history should go anywhere near.
This is compulsory viewing on your aeroplanes and I won’t be taking my son on one until these safety videos are gone.
Please leave the sexist 1970s behind.
Thalia Kehoe Rowden
Lucy wrote this, and copied it to the Sacraparental Facebook page thread:
I am completely dismayed by your latest safety advert.
I think it is awful that something so obviously objectifying of women is COMPULSORY viewing. On one hand you can make whatever adverts you like because I can just turn them off. But me and my children HAVE to watch this sexist safety click.
You are completely destroying any hopes you had of being New Zealand’s family friendly airline.
Air New Zealand sent us both a form reply, saying this:
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback regarding our new in-flight safety video.
We appreciate that with each new safety video there will be some people who like the content and others that don’t.  We have been careful to ensure Safety in Paradise has been produced in a way that is tasteful and suitable for viewing by passengers of all ages.  This included testing the video extensively with both a cross section of customers and staff to ensure we strike the right balance between entertainment and communicating important safety messages.  
We were also very careful to ensure that the men, women and children who feature in the video are wearing clothing appropriate for the beach setting where they were filmed. This safety video also allows us to promote the Cook Islands, a key Pacific Island destination which Air New Zealand has served for more than 60 years.
That said your feedback is an important part of our review process and please be assured that your comments have been passed to our Marketing team.  
Thank you once again for bringing your concerns to attention.
Yours sincerely
I replied:
Thank you for your response to my submission.
I’m afraid I don’t feel like you have actually responded to my concerns of sexism. I wasn’t complaining that the video was horrifically explicit or that people shouldn’t wear swimsuits on beaches.
I think aligning your company with one that glories in objectifying women and belittles women’s sport is inappropriate.
I haven’t heard back yet after that last email, but an automated message assures me I will. [Update: that email was March 14 and I haven't heard anything further.]