‘Sexist’ MMDA ad banning public smoking irks netizens

The allegedly “sexist” MMDA ad which was slammed by netizens.

Is there really a “stronger sex”?

A “sexist” advertisement released by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday intended to promote its anti-smoking campaign in public places has been slammed by netizens.

The sign, which has the message “be the stronger sex, say your mind,” shows an irate woman preventing a man from smoking in a “no smoking” area.

“#RespectTheSign. Let’s keep public vehicles and terminals smoke-free,” the ad said.

Netizens were appalled by the ad’s implication of the existence of a dominant gender.

Facebook user Roseann Ramirez said that many things were wrong in the MMDA’s ad: “First, you are presupposing that there is a stronger sex. There isn’t, all genders are equal.”

“Second, by telling women to ‘be’ the stronger sex, you are also presupposing that men are the stronger sex. Don’t you have gender sensitivity training programs in your department? Who approved such a sexist advertisement? And finally, you’re saying that only men smoke and only women can speak out about it,” Ramirez added.

User Rain Mendoza said: “Be the stronger sex? May stronger sex ba in the first place? Anong kag*g*han ito?”

Meanwhile, Facebook user Rocio Mori said that the ad was “stupid” and “whoever made this campaign is living in the dark ages.”

“Wake up people women smoke too and it has nothing to do with the sexes its respecting signs where smoking isnt allowed..geez,” he added.

The ad was “liked” by 183 persons and shared 49 times as of posting time.

INQUIRER.net has tried to contact MMDA for its comment on the issue but has not yet responded as of this posting. AJH