In the sack, but is it sackable?

How old-fashioned can one advertisement be? Take a look at this, from Brisbane’s Sofitel.

The Sofitel ad, which has since been ‘pulled’.

How old-fashioned can one advertisement be? Take a look at this, from Brisbane’s Sofitel.

Sure, on the one hand it’s just a picture of a loved-up couple in bed, indulging in a room-service breakfast, but come on. No, it’s not just that it’s a boring old he-she couple, look at what they’re reading! He’s the man, so he’s got his copy of The Australian Financial Review (silly choice; go with The Australian, which carries analysis from The Wall Street Journal). She’s the lady, so she’s got a book about pretty dresses. Elizabeth Redman, a reporter right here at The Australian, was first to call out the Brisbane hotel on Twitter, writing “your breakfast looks delicious … just wanted to let you know I’m a woman and I also read the Financial Review every day”. Others soon piled in, with many saying the ad looked like it might have been thought up in the Mad Men era. Also, how come he gets the pastries while she’s stuck with the slimming fruit platter? Real women eat croissants. Given the sensitivities of the era in which we’re living, you can imagine the response from the hotel. Total and utter panic. “We appreciate you voicing your concerns. There was no intention of portraying a stereotype, but we recognise it and apologise for any offence it has caused,” the Sofitel said in a statement. “The creative has been pulled from any future activity.” The creative has been pulled? We’re hoping that means the material, not the person, but who can say these days? We’ll update when they do.

He reads, she reads: Redman’s post.

Hotel Chauvinista

That said, it is entirely correct that most Australian hotels are horribly sexist places, catering mainly to businessmen, and never to businesswomen. Exhibit A: you can always get a comb, but hardly ever a brush. Exhibit B: there’s almost always a jacket valet, but never a steamer. Exhibit C: shoeshine mitt, but no spare tampons? But things could be worse. Take Pakistan, where the Supreme Court was hearing an appeal yesterday from a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who has been sentenced to death. Why? Same reason our old friend the late Bill Leak had to go into exile on the NSW central coast: insulting the Prophet. Bibi, 47, a mother of five, is fighting the death penalty with the last breath in her body. If this — her last appeal — fails, she will become the first woman to be executed in Pakistan for blasphemy. She’s hoping for support from Western feminists, and as soon as we get over the business about the combs, we’ll be with you, Bibi.

A horse is a horse

The barrier draw for a horserace was held last night. Apparently you could watch it somewhere? That’s what I heard, anyway.

Sand will not weary him

Australian Paralympian Dylan Alcott is, as fans know, something of an adrenalin junkie. Watching re-runs of Survivor the other night, he lamented on Twitter: “God I wish wheelchairs went on sand because I would 100 per cent go on Survivor and RIP IT UP.” Well, it didn’t take long for Survivor Australia to tweet back, saying: “We can make it work, Dylan!” But how? Welcome to the party Magic Mobility, a company that makes not wheelchairs, thank you, but power chairs. Fierce-looking models in the Magic Mobility range include the Frontier V6, and the Extreme X8. So is it happening? Maybe! Alcott, a four-time winner of the Australian Open wheelchair tennis championships, has a bit on his plate: he’s the current US Open champion; he’s got a book out (Able); there’s the weekend gig on Triple J; and he’s the face of ANZ. But do watch this space.

Silver lining, in bronze

October 9 henceforth will be Peter Norman Day, in honour of the 1968 Olympic silver medallist and human rights champion. To mark the occasion Athletics Australia announced that he’s also getting a statue, not for being so fast, but for being so true.

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