CANNES LIONS
SUHANA GORDHAN: Advertising festival takes a stand against gender stereotypes
In a ground-breaking move, the Cannes Lions has instructed all jurors not to recognise work that objectifies women or perpetuates any gender inequality, writes Suhana Gordhan
At university, I studied under a lecturer who was a true feminist, a profound and enlightened woman. Every day, I became more conscious of the discourse around gender equality and feminist theory. I was awakened to the role media have to play in perpetuating gender bias, inequality and harmful images of women. And then, I began my career at an advertising agency. This is where I learnt that my feminist ideals were not welcome. I had to make the ads the masses wanted and that my Boys’ Club of creative leaders would approve of. The good thing is that advertising is now in a very interesting era – an era that belongs to women. Finally, I am starting to feel that my original education can emerge and be free. In a ground-breaking move, on Monday, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, a renowned advertising and marketing festival, announced that it would ask all jurors not to recognise work that objectifies women or perpetuates any gender inequality. This comes as a resul...
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