Petition updateEliminate misogynistic and degrading slogans and imagery.People power forces Wicked Campers to withdraw misogynistic marketing
Paula Orbea
Jul 16, 2014
A people powered win against sexism: The campervan company at the centre of a people-powered revolt over sexist van slogans has today issued an apology and committed to reviewing and removing sexist or misogynistic marketing from all vans in the next six months. Paula Orbea, the Sydney school teacher who started the 110,000-strong change.org petition against Wicked Campers says it's a stunning people-power victory against sexism, with the result coming just four days after starting the petition. In an email from Wicked Campers received by Paula, she says they've offered a personal apology, have now removed the sexist slogan Paula's daughter saw, committed to reviewing and removing insensitive slogans from all vans in the next six months. The statement reads: "Wicked Campers Owner, John Webb wishes to acknowledge the prevailing community opinion by REMOVING the slogan in question and making a commitment over the coming six months to changing slogans of an insensitive nature." Wicked Campers have been at the centre of numerous ad watchdog complaints and social media backlashes in the past, and Paula says that it was the change.org petition which gathered more than 110,000 sigantures that made the difference. "I'm overjoyed at the result, and commend Wicked Campers for eventually listening to consumers that their misogynistic slogans weren't acceptable." "This was a people power win. The change.org petition worked just as it intended, with more than 110,000 people signing, it was an overwhelming show of community support." "The kind of sexism and misogyny on those Wicked Campers vans isn't trivial – it's degrading to women, harmful for our children to consume, and condones a rape culture that sees one-in-three Australian women sexually assaulted in their lifetimes. "I'm pleased my daughter said something, and that we stood up against it. It's important that we call out sexism wherever it exists – and my change.org petition enabled me to actually make a difference and win change."
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