Madam, – Just in case you haven’t seen highly objectionable Hunky Dory crisps ads – and there are at least five within a short distance of my own house – they feature scantily-clad young “sportswomen” with double entendres referring indirectly to their body parts.
The ad is not harmless fun or a tonic for serious times. It is dated, sexist and tasteless (and it is an ad for crisps). In particular, it demeans the participation of young women in sport. Remember our successful under-17 Irish women’s team whom we saw, so enthusiastic and proud, on TV last week.
This ad is a cheap and degrading portrayal of women and girls in sport and no mature advertising company or any company should have allowed it to be made.
I have complained to the Irish Advertising Standards Authority, as have many others. However, the ad is still on huge billboards all over the city and the advertisers are likely to revel in the controversy. I, for one, will never eat a Hunky Dory crisp, but surely some other sanction should be available for such sexist, nasty advertisements? – Yours, etc,