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Spain's government-run Women's Institute calls Ryanair calendar sexist

by Justin Glow (RSS feed) on Dec 12th 2007 at 5:39PM

Remember the Ryanair calendar featuring female flight attendants dressed in bikinis while leaning against heavy machinery in provocative angles? Spain's government-run Women's Institute is calling the move sexist, saying, "[i]f there had been men in the calendar, I'm sure there would have been no controversy."

Further, the organization claims the calendar "represent the stewardesses as sexual objects" and "reinforce discriminatory stereotypes." Didn't we stop calling them stewardesses in favor of the less-discriminatory term "flight attendants?"

It sounds to me that the Women's Institution of Spain is fighting for the rights of male flight attendants, rather than protecting the dignity of the females. So what do you think, does the Women's Institution have a leg to stand on?

Obligatory photos (click to enlarge):

You make the call!

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

zima3000 Dec 12th 2007 7:11PM

In my very humble opinion, Spain's government-run Women's Institute needs to get laid (aka "get a life").

P.S. Do you have a phone number for them? Someone I know is actually going to Spain, he may be able to solve the issue right there.

P.P.S. On the other hand - what's more powerful - natural instincts developed over millions of years or Spain's government-run Women's Institute? Ah, good bye instincts... Spain's government-run Women's Institute is in charge from now on. I mean, they said so themselves, didn't they?

No Picnic Dec 13th 2007 12:58AM

"Didn't we stop calling them stewardesses in favor of the less-discriminatory term 'flight attendants?'"

Interesting point, but there's nothing discriminatory against women in the word "stewardess." But one could argue it only discriminates against men, and there are no men in the calendar.

The angle that the calendar discriminates against men is completely absurd. The point of the calendar is to turn on men. Any man who would whine about not being included in a bikini pinup calendar would be, to put it lightly, misadjusted.

However, I am one who has traditional values. (You can begin laughing now. I don't mind.) The calendar is demeaning to women and it does in fact treat them as sex objects. There has always seemed to be something dignified about the stewardesses when I traveled, and this calendar quite literally strips them of that.

Phillip Stark Dec 13th 2007 5:56AM

WHAT??!!?!?!

As an American living in Spain, I've seen naked women on billboards, porn on regular TV after midnight, and erotic magazines lining the kiosks right at eye level. And the Spanish government is worried about Ryanair?

Maybe the Spanish Women's Institute overlooked that this very week in Salamanca, Spain a group of women is also posing nude in a calendar, but in this case in order to build an activities center for their kids:

http://www.mapmagazine.com/madrid/A-Mother-s-Work-is-Never-Done/

Jamie Dec 14th 2007 11:49AM

I'm not sure if Spain or the Spanish government has a leg to stand on - especially if they encourage home grown risque exhibits.

BUT I think they have a point. Ryan Air presumably has male and female flight attendants. Why not put men in the calendar too (better sales - more women and gay men buying) or release an all male version. If their male flight attendants aren't cute enough, what about pilots or baggage handlers - they must have a few good men.

Eva Dec 13th 2007 11:22AM

"In my very humble opinion, Spain's government-run Women's Institute needs to get laid..."

I happen to be a pretty serious critic of the feminist movement today, but it's sad that every time something like this comes up, people like the first poster prove the ongoing necessity of groups like the Women's Institute. FYI, Zima3000, suggesting that feminists are just uptight and sexually frustrated is a classic response that's been used to dismiss all sorts of injustices against women over the years. Thanks for participating in that narrative.

It's so frustrating seeing the incompetence and misguidedness of these women's groups, when there's such a need for them in the world - still so many a$$holes running around thinking that women should stop complaining and get some d*ck instead.

Hey Justin, is there a link to this story? These Spanish gals seem pretty confused. Are they actually saying that the calendar is sexist because it didn't include males?

sceeter Dec 13th 2007 5:13PM

Again, a group of homely, curveless, women are blaming pictures of beautiful women on sexism. I guess pictures of beautiful mountains are "mountainism", pictures of beautiful horses are "horseism", and pictures of cute kids are "kidism". I suppose, perhaps, that we need to have equity. Six months of ugly women and six months of hot babes (you're already pissed off, arent you, ugly women?). Or would you rather see male models in speedos on a calendar? Be careful how you answer.

Marty Dec 13th 2007 5:22PM

I'm deeply offended. When's next years calendar coming out!

shelli Dec 13th 2007 5:25PM

ummm yea! majorly! srry guys but im a gurl and i dont like when ppl take pics of gurls like that! put some clothes on them! pleez!

Allan Cole Dec 13th 2007 7:08PM

When I was the metro editor of a major Los Angeles newspaper back in the early 70's a similar situation arose. It was a tradition of this beach newspaper to run pictures of binki girls whenever they could. Especially, when Daylight Savings Time arose. Typically, we'd take a picture of a pretty girl, with a clock painted on her flat stomach. A hand would be reaching in, pointing at the midnight hour, to remind people to change their clocks.

Well, the first year I was metro editor, and the situation came up, I thought - turnabout is fair play. A local guy was the new Mister World. So, I had a photog pose him on the beach, with a clock painted on his flat belly, and a very feminie finger pointing into the pix at the fateful hour.

My bosses went through the roof!

They came screaming at me, shouting how dare I "demean men" in this way.

Thank God, the women's department (fashions, weddings, etc... the departments still existed then) came rushing to my aid. As did the Big Boss's wife, who loved the turnabout and loved the guy's pecs.

Otherise, my ass would have been fired bigtime.

Allan Cole
www.acole.com

Dayna Dec 13th 2007 5:37PM

for Sceeter... get bent. It doesn't take an ugly woman to hate on a beautiful one. I'm hot...I'd do me...as for 6 months of ugly and 6 months of hot, how about the men? While You all sit here with Your beer bellies and receding hairlines, thick toenails and crazy hair You are all quick to talk about women that You could never have. It is obvious that these types of calandars are aimed at losers. REAL MEN have REAL WOMEN to fulfill their wants and needs...not paper pets. Get over Yourself!

josie Dec 13th 2007 5:45PM

Ok here goes Zima3000, I am a very curvy overweight woman who is not what is constituted as pretty, I don't think it is sexist at all, as a matter of fact I buy Hooters, Mac, Snap-on and any other provacitive calendars I can find for my father in law every year. I buy Hustler extreme and I watch porn. Why? Because we have the right to make the choice, I have never and will never feel that a woman or a man that choses to pose nude, scantily clad or preform in "adult entertainment" is repressed, abused, or anything else other than a person with free will.

A friend of mine has a web site that is exceptionally explicit, her comment on the first page is this; "If you think you might be offended, there is a little X in the upper right hand corner of this screen, click on it now!" I couldn't agree more.

I don't like a lot of things out there, but guess what I don't bash it or say it's wrong, I just don't look or listen, simple enough.

daisy Dec 14th 2007 4:09PM

I am a woman and not gay and happen to like look at nice looking in shape women. I think women are far more interesting to look at women. It also is nice to see what working out and taking care of yourself can accomplish.

I am a formerly very overweight child that is a normal in shape woman that works hard at it every day. I swear by drinking plenty of water, avoiding carb laden meals in the evening and trying to get exercise whenever you can. I wear smartsole insoles http://www.smartsole.com
to increase the calories I burn with every step. It also tones muscles. I also try to wear a pedometer to keep track of miles and try to do 10,000 steps every day.

Belmar Mike Dec 13th 2007 5:56PM

DAYNA---YOU'RE WRONG. I'M AN EX MALE MODEL-STRAIGHT-COLLEGE ED. HAVE A SUCCESFUL BUSINESS-DO NOT HAVE A BEER BELLY, RECEDING HAIR LINE OR CRAZY HAIR. I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH A LOT IN LIFE, INCLUDING WOMEN WHO MAKE THOSE WOMEN LOOK AVERAGE AT BEST. I AGREE WITH SCEETER, GUESS 'CAUSE I'M A MALE THAT THESE WOMEN CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND "WOMENS'GROUPS" HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE "NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS". GET OVER YOURSELF! TRY TO HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY.

Richard Bowden Dec 14th 2007 4:38AM

Are we to stand by and let political correctness take this old world to its knees. Women are supposed to be "sexy." Men (most of them) like women to be sexy. I seem to recall that God made women to be sexually attractive to men so there could be children to keep the world going after each generation dies off. I realize that the world will soon be overpopulated, but that's not my fault. It IS my fault if I stand by and let others tell me that I'm not supposed to be attracted to women. Give me a break! Get a life! Wake up! And all those sayings that apply.

Bobby Capps Dec 13th 2007 6:09PM

Who gives a shyte what the feminist in this country think Frankly Im sick of the womens lib movement It really screwed up society this country and mankind So in saying that I'll fly all those calender girls and if the women have anything to say about it on here tough Shyte! Thumbs up to hot chicks Yes I did say chicks ont he calenders And to the first woman who calls me a male shovenist Stop shoving your hubbys money in the male strippers thong hypocrit

Bobby Dec 13th 2007 6:15PM

Josie you are right on Can I have your friends website addy?

Old Girl Dec 13th 2007 6:18PM

I'm sorry but being an old girl gives you a little clarity on these things. Women have been held back and underpaid for years in some really primo jobs out there. So if these ladies have no problem bearing there all to get ahead, make a little cash or just have some fun I think they should go for it. MEN are paying for what you get to look at in the mirror for free. These girls should be laughing all the way to the bank. And Sceeter is right; it usually is fat, homely women who complain about this stuff. Congratualtions on a job well done ladies!

mikeloc Dec 13th 2007 6:39PM

They can say anything they want to, it is the "reporting" of it that irks me. It is not news, just another "we decided, therefore everyone must do it our way" group, not unlike the Oprah gaggle that follows her, or the big lie of the day, "second hand smoke" which has no basis in hard evidence just un-related statistics piled together as if they had something to do with eachother. Sort of like entering a search term without limitations. Stop reporting opinions as if they were facts.

Steve Dec 13th 2007 6:38PM

So...we've got a herd of cows at the "Womens Institute" who can't stand the FACT that normal MEN like to look at gorgeous young women...waaah (or mooooo)...go find something ELSE to BITCH about..maybe that there are no Muslim Bhurkas included in the calender?