The 5 types of sexist ads that were just banned from UK advertising.

In 2015, an ad for Protein World appeared in the London Underground featuring a bikini-clad blonde that asked, “Are you beach body ready?” The ad sparked controversy, and over 200 people filed complaints with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), claiming the ad promoted unrealistic body types and fat-shaming.

The ASA and CAP are self-regulatory organizations; however, their decisions have a big impact on British legislation. 

This public outcry eventually led to the formation of new advertising regulations by CAP that were announced on Friday, December 14, and will take effect in June 2019.

The new regulations aim to ban companies from including “gender stereotypes that are likely to cause harm, or serious or widespread offense” in their ads on TV, radio, websites and in print.

The new regulations will ban five different types of sexist portrayals of men and women in UK advertising.

Ads that show a  person failing to achieve a task specifically because of their gender. 

Ads that suggest that transforming your body will make you romantically successful.

Ads that belittle men for carrying out stereotypically “female” roles or tasks. 

Ads that emphasise the contrast between a girl’s stereotypical personality and a boy’s.

Ads aimed at new mothers that tell them keeping a perfect home or attractive body is a priority for their emotional wellbeing.

The organizations have also provided important guidelines to stop the sexualization of children. 

Share image by via Methodshop.com/Flickr and Tengrain/Flickr