Monday, December 22, 2014

Repeal of carbon tax is PMs key achievement. - really Mr Abbott where would women be without you!!

Really Mr Prime Minister.

Naming the carbon tax as your biggest achievement for women in 2014 because you think we are so focused on the household budget shows how out of touch you are. 

The two issues, carbon tax and achievement for women, are so far apart Mr Abbott that you could sail the Titanic through it. 

Lets look at issues you could have tackled that would have been seen as achievements. 

The gender pay gap in Australia is at its highest at 18.2%. Perhaps working with business leaders - male and female to reduce this would have been seen as an achievement. 

Women retire on less superannuation than their male counterparts. Perhaps focusing on the gender pay gap and paid parental leave would change this. 

Oh and lets look at the issue of paid parental leave. This is now unlikely to pass the senate. To bring women back into the workforce perhaps look at making  childcare more affordable through tax rebates. 

More women today go to university however it takes us longer to pay back hec's fees as we leave to have yes you guessed it - babies. And until men start having babies i cant see this issue resolving itself. 

One woman a week dies in Australia killed by a partner. Domestic violence is on the increase. Sexual assaults are on the increase. Violence against women is the biggest cause of homelessness for women and children. 

We still lag when it comes to women being represented at board level and in government. 

There are only 2 women on the front bench yet 30% of Mr Abbott's government is women. 
Oh wait he has just doubled the number of women on the front bench - from 1 to 2!!

In fact if we are so occupied with budgets why not appoint a female treasurer.

We are 80 years away from gender equality, what an opportunity to lead the change that needs to occur. A male Prime Minister leading the charge on the issue of gender equality, setting the agenda, leading the discussions, influencing male CEO's and Directors and walking the talk!

As a women, I am focused on the issues above as well as my household budget, however my household budget does not define me, gender equality does.
 
At this rate Mr Abbott you will lose the female vote and only have one term in Government. 
  
Just as an FYI  I am yet to see any cost reduction in my bills.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Coca Cola in HOT MILK !


Yes you did hear right, Coca Cola has ventured into the diary market and has launched their new milk product called Fairlife; which by the way won’t be in Australia anytime soon.

I don’t know about you but the thought of Coca Cola producing milk just doesn’t fit for me, a thought I find quiet scary actually.  


Does that mean that kids will drink more milk simply because it is made by Coca Cola?

However let’s put this unusual concept aside, I was intrigued by the criticism that Coca Cola came under due to their marketing and advertising campaign.

Many have taken to social media and slammed their advertising campaign as sexist and degrading to women.
It was an interesting angle for Coca Cola to take given the global discussions being had about gender equality.

There is no doubt the ads are very clever, memorable, it has got people talking and most importantly the women are not naked. However it doesn’t take much to imagine them naked. Some of the pictures, such as the woman ironing and standing on a scale are unnecessary however on the whole the girls in the ads look stunning, sexy and gorgeous. And all for MILK!
I remember the Got Milk? ad where the women has a glass of milk in her hand and white substance on her lip, that was suggestive and provocative.

Interestingly they also used men with the same concept.
Personally I think they should have had a mix of male and female models, buffed up men with milk tastefully draped around their crown jewels would have been perfect.

For far too long, women have been sexualised in advertising products and if marketing companies are going to go down this path in a tasteful way then use both men and women.
There is no doubt Coca  Cola is an iconic brand, their foray into the milk market will perhaps increase the consumption of milk in the USA where the product is set to launch next month. It will cost you twice as much to buy then regular milk but Coca Cola expects it to become popular.

My question to you is do you see these ads as sexist, are we being too sensitive or have we been desensitised as the reality is that there are a number of ads on the market that are far more sexist than this one.