The "Sois Belle et Vote" elections ad.Sexist ad?

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This lame ad banner was all around the streets of many areas in Beirut and across other regions of Lebanon, it is a of the FPM (called also 'Tayyar')'s compaign , a 'secular' Christian leaded by a former General called Michel Aoun and a main ally of the radical Hezbollah , for the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections in June.




Original saying goes:

Sois belle et tais toi
translates to
Be beautiful and shut up

--> Usually this French saying is said for the idiot pretty girl.

this one goes:

Sois belle et vote
translates to
Be beautiful and vote


The ad caused so much debated here and mixed feelings and reactions , especially among women who viewed this ad as offensive and disgraceful to them and they received it as "women are meant to be seen , not heard".
The fact that this party didn't nominate any female candidate for the elections , nor they included any reforms for women's rights in their political program didn't help much either.

The FPM announced that they meant it by this ad as 'don't be idiot and vote for what you believe' . Obviously, they were either lying or their ad utterly failed to send this message to their female audience.


So what do you think about this ad? is it sexist or not?

I notice that the unlike most political ads, ad didn't conspicuously say anything about who you're supposed to vote for, I assume that's the two websites in the fine print in the lower left, okay, I see, tayyar. org.

It seems likely to me that the ad is designed to appeal to males, although the picture does look like something on the cover of a magazine designed to appeal to women. The ad's well composed aesthetically, not some amateur slop job, so somebody knew what they were doing.

I'm wondering what Hezbollah thinks about the ad, and how did a secular Christian get aligned with Hezbollah anyway?

The orange color and the orange the swoosh-like symbol as well indicate which party and about who you're supposed to vote for.



Long story and it would be off-topic.

Last edited by LePetitPrince on 09 May 2009, 10:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

The feminists reaction:




"be smart and vote blank" - there's an arabic note there "no one is concerned about your rights"

Some funny reactions from rivals :


This is leader of FPM with "be smart and shut up".


...sarcasm.

Last edited by LePetitPrince on 11 May 2009, 11:14 am, edited 3 times in total.

I guess the poster is less sexist than the original saying, & maybe that was enough to convince the party that it counts as being progressive?

It strikes me as the sort of off-key & stilted effect that is usually achieved when old reactionaries make a vague PR gesture towards being inclusive & modern & clued-in.

Probably that what the marketer tried to say? However , reception wasn't very positive among the market that they were trying to address to : the women. The ad that doesn't reach its audience well isn't a good ad , regardless of the marketer's intentions.

I think the ad is fantastic. It sends a powerful message. The pretty face is necessary to attract attention. And that's what it's done. Can you tell me which advertising agency made this ad? I come from an advertisment background, and I'm currently doing an internship at an advertising firm which also publishes a magazine (doing copywriting and travel journalism personally). Just for the holidays, don't want to waste my time.

The "Be smart and shut up" counterattack was the best imo ;p But honestly, going on about with beauty in an election? Bad idea. Unless he was seeking to gather male votes? Heh. Still a bad move.

LOL, I agree "Be Smart and Shutup" seems the best ad yet along with "Your Face After Voting"....

http://feminist-collective.blogspot.com ... paign.html

Well, it's good to know Lebanese people (and especially the women) don't let themselves get screwed in politics.

So non-pretty women aren't important enough to ask to vote, eh? I feel so left out *snark*

Not enough reaction in real life though, except some of the women who are active online.
After listening to people (men and women) talking about this banner , I conclude that most people didn't really give it any second thought and rare the women who found it offensive.
If women won't be active enough to get more respect for their rights , then who will?

It certainly is a refreshing approach to electioneering.

Over here, all we got was Sarah Palin, barking about how Barack Obama is a socialist who was going to raise taxes and confiscate guns.

The Republicans certainly could have picked a more attractive vice-presidential candidate--not that "Rottweiler with Lipstick."

LOL. My first reaction was 'at least they are moving beyond religious stupidity and selling a party like they sell shampoo." Then I read your analysis, and my reaction is "Good, let the sexists shoot themselves in the foot."

Some people in the US still don't get the fact that Sarah Pallin's winking during the debate is perceived very differently by different groups - personally, I wouldn't hire someone if they were winking and flirting at a job interview.

Well, that would depend on what you were hiring her to do. If you were looking for a whore, then, yes, some winking and flirting would be quite appropriate.