Ryanair, which is normally the instigator when it comes to taking legal action, is facing a possible legal challenge of its own from the Spanish Women's Institute over the publication of a calendar featuring scantily clad Ryanair flight attendants.
The Women's Institute, a branch of the Spanish labour ministry, says the calendar represents the flight attendants as "sexual objects" and points out that there are no half-naked men featured, despite the fact that a significant number of men work as flight attendants. It is taking legal advice and plans to complain to Irish and EU authorities.
Ryanair has defended the calendar because it is for 'charidee' and says none of the flight attendants were forced to take their clothes off. Well that's a relief! I hope for their sake Ryanair took them somewhere warm to do the poses - imagine how cold it would be posing in a bikini on the tarmac at Dublin Airport! Brrrrr.
On a more serious note and at the risk of being branded a raging feminist - a term which has somehow become an insult, despite the fact that if it wasn't for the feminist movement and women like Emily Pankhurst we'd all be chained to the kitchen sink with no right to vote - I have to say I do find it a bit depressing. Some things just never change.
C'mon Ryanair - next time let's have a bit of equality!
on December 14, 2007 1:01 PM | Reply
Sex Sells doesn't it. The fact is no one wants to see "half naked men" especially so called flight attendants - are they even man (er, male) enough!
However, why don't all the feminists relax. Real women aren't as anorexic as those displayed in Ryannair's calender and for that matter are not that sexy... sorry! Include a hottie in the mold of Jennifer Love-Hewitt and then the feminist shall have something to talk about!
Why do feminists always get excited about women being sexified (is that a word!) while most women strive to be recognized as such.
FO
on December 15, 2007 2:13 PM | Reply
I can only imagine what those Females at the Spanish Womens Institute look like! Probably some dour looking heffers, I would think. They need to lighten up a bit, and quit labeling things sexist. Have they evergone to any beaches on the Med? Thats what I'm talking about!
on December 15, 2007 2:14 PM | Reply
I can only imagine what those Females at the Spanish Womens Institute look like! Probably some dour looking heffers, I would think. They need to lighten up a bit, and quit labeling things sexist. Have they evergone to any beaches on the Med? Thats what I'm talking about!
on January 30, 2009 9:54 PM | Reply
"Sex Sells doesn't it."
Women are human beings; they are not "sex." Therefore, what you mean to say is "women being portrayed as sex objects to heterosexual men sells." Because if it were just "sex" that sells, we would see naked men in this calendar, too. We would see all kinds of representations of sex. After all, it isn't just heterosexual men that enjoy sex, now is it?
So, the "sex sells" argument only works if you do not see women as human beings that chose to participate in sex and you believe that the world revolves around the desires of heterosexual men only.
I will relax when women are no longer treated as sex objects. I will relax when woman have full autonomy and are considered participants in the act of sex rather than an object from which men obtain sex. I will relax when women no longer feel the need to or the pressure to be "sexified" in order to make it in this partriarchy.
And, yes, BangkokIdiot, I am fat and ugly.
on October 9, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply
Regardless, these women are fantastic. Whoever made this obviously knows marketing.