"Sexist" Hong Kong Ad for Pilot's Watch

[alohajec]

Man, I'd be pretty pissed if I was a flight attendant too. Incredibly sexist. I've never seen any of us guys wear IWC in the cockpit anyway - mostly Breitling (Cathay standard issue). But I've seen a lot of F/A's with nicer watches than mine. Ha. Perhaps it should read "frequently found on pilots' beside tables." - Aloha

Flight attendants protest "sexist" watch advert in Hong Kong dpa German Press AgencyPublished: Friday April 27, 2007


Hong Kong- Flight attendants in Hong Kong Friday protested
an advertisement for a luxury watch designed for pilots which carries
the slogan: "Often seen on stewardesses' bedside tables."
They said the advertisement for the Swiss-made IWC Schaffhausen
Big Pilot's Watch, which appeared on the front page of an
English-language daily newspaper, is sexist and demeaning.

Beneath the slogan, the advertisement describes the watch as
"engineered for men," "not infrequently spotted in bedrooms" and says
its seven-day power reserve "means you can afford to stay in bed that
little bit longer than usual."

Complaints have been lodged on behalf of the flight attendants
with the watch company, the consumer council and the South China
Morning Post which carried the advertisement in its Wednesday
editions.

Hong Kong is home to thousands of female flight attendants working
for mostly for Cathay Pacific and Dragonair and copies of the Post
are carried on board the flights and given free to passengers.

"I couldn't believe the advertisement when I saw it. It's
incredibly demeaning to women," said one 32-year-old Cathay Pacific
flight attendant, who requested anonymity.

"It's breathtakingly sexist and seems to make out that flight
attendants are loose women who sleep with pilots just because they've
got a nice watch. I think IWC should apologize."

John Findlay, general secretary of the Aircrew Officers
Association which represents Hong Kong pilots, said pilots and flight
attendants alike objected to the advertisement which he called
"tasteless."

"Thousands of pilots and cabin attendants employed by the airlines
in Hong Kong will see nothing in the words except an example of
innuendo of the most sexist, offensive kind," he said.

Findlay, himself married to a senior Hong Kong-based flight
attendant, added: "There's no point in asking our members to boycott
IWC watches as I have never seen a pilot wearing one."

There was no immediate response to calls and emails to IWC
Schaffhausen in Hong Kong and Europe seeking comment on the
complaints about the advertisement.

--End--

[iLuvPX]

It's breathtakingly sexist and seems to make out that flight
attendants are loose women who sleep with pilots just because they've
got a nice watch.

Finally some truth-in-media

[Oasis]

Don't really see what the big deal is.
Nothing sells better than a cliche.

[Kitsune]

Talking of cliches...
"oh my gahhd I've slept with a co-pilot...'
How do you know he was a co-pilot..?
He had a great big watch and a tiny little d*ck...........

[The Kook]

What kind of watch?
And where can I get one?

[Dan Winterland]

Well, I was so annoyed at the advert that I decided not to buy an IWC watch. So instead, I bout a Rolex. It was such good value that I bought a Panerai as well. And the shop owner threw in a Mont Blanc pen.

Not bad for 300 Yuan!

[jtr]

As a member of the flight crew body I object too.

Tales of flight crew nailing the slappers seem in short supply of late, so clearly it is not legit!

[cpdude]

Interesting choice of words jtr!

[CMOTDibler]

Marriage safety

I guess all the wives will be rushing out to buy thier husbands IWC watches. If it repels the competition and turns the wearer into a pariah, its not a bad investment for marriage security

[RedLiner]

So whats the "standard issue" Cathay Breitling like??

[alohajec]

They seem to prefer the aerospace advantage or this style:
http://breitling.watchfinder.co.uk/a...ial/m4425.aspx
Pick yours up at your fleet office 3rd flr. S. Tower
As for me...I'll stick with Panerai.
Aloha.