The Advertising Standards Authority have dismissed complaints from 29 people that the current Virgin Atlantic advert is "sexist". The advert is set in 1984 to celebrate the 25th birthday of Virgin Atlantic and the general complaint was that the advert was "offensive because it was sexist and presented a stereotypical view of gender roles." The ASA decided that "most viewers would understand that the advert presented exagerrated stereotypical views of the early 1980s and played upon perceived attitudes of that time in a humorous way."
Role of the ASA:
Monitors all advertising, sales, promotions and direct marketing. Covers newspapers, magazines, billboards, text messages, internet banner adverts, radio and TV. They can ask the advertiser to withdraw or amend an advert if it is found to be offensive or untruthful.
