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The image of a perfect woman in the 1950s is familiar to all of us – a diligent wife, slaving around the house all day, preparing delicious meals for her hardworking husband, taking care of the children, and all that with a smile, of course. This image was reflected a lot in the ads of that era too. Inspired by them, photographer and video editor from Beirut, Lebanon, Eli Rezkallah created a series called “In A Parallel Universe” where he switched up the gender roles portrayed in those ads to reveal the absurdity of such stereotypes with humor.

“Last Thanksgiving, I overheard my uncles talk about how women are better off cooking, taking care of the kitchen, and fulfilling “their womanly duties,” Rezkallah writes on his website. “Although I know that not all men are like my uncles and think that way, I was surprised to learn that some still do, so I went on to imagine a parallel universe, where roles are inverted and men are given a taste of their own sexist poison.”

Scroll down to see these funny recreations of old-school ads for yourself!

More info: elirezkallah.com

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    #2

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    Petra Christovová
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. This one is especially disgusting.

    Varona Ciornaya
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Should have had a bearded lumberjack dressed in tight jeans, as they walk around today and say they don’t weAr a beard because it’s cool

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    Sarah Birrelle
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    John smith: said from ur moms basement

    Aunt Chloe
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of course man can open it. It's a bottle not a purse.

    Mariana Herrera
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Men can open purses. Bras, on the other hand...

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    PS. just wrap a rubber band around the lid.

    Trisha Dragon
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a good idea but I can't remember the last time I purchased a rubber band... If there is one in my house I wouldn't know where to look.

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    Troy Currie
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    There are some manly gay men and then there are some like this guy who might not be able to open a bottle of ketchup.

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    Daniel (ShadowDrakken)
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Huh? How did anyone even think this made any sense in the first place?

    Linda Gulley
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can open jars that strong men, like my husband, cannot.

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    Black Dahlia
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Man has less risk of breaking nail.

    Sancha Fung
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's mean. Underestimating the powers of women

    Ian Langille
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    F**k I hate those old style ketchup bottles. How did they not think of the "upside down"

    Rcatheron
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually remember this one.

    Coat Guy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you ever have a problem with opening a jar (for example jam), use a spoon and put it between the lid and the jar, proceed to use spoon as a lever and the pressure inside the jar should be released!

    Lynn Moore
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Maybe these could also be used as age-ism. A youthful person vs. an older person with arthritic hands. Today there are many helpful tools for those who would have a challenge with this process, say....nerve damage, broken hand, deformed hand, paralysis, etc.

    Loretta D la Spriella
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have seen that attitude of ancient toward women being fragile also in movies. The worse in classic Mexican cinema from the 40s and 50s

    Lex
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow your eyelashes 😱😱

    Lonely Dragon
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's OLD! What do you think the 40s and 50s were like? Jesus.

    Joe Sycamore
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why on Earth would any man dislike these ads? We're not snowflakes, we don't melt in the heat.

    Joe Sycamore
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why on Earth would a man dislike these ads? We are not snowflakes and we don't melt in the slightest heat.

    Patrick McKenna
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they were tying to sell a product. how many times has a woman asked a guy to open a jar of pickles or something? get over it.

    P Webb
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then just say it's "easy for anyone to open" Don't say, "Even a WOMAN can open it?" It's the condescending tone that makes it sexist.

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    Danny Root
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm pretty sure the reasoning behind the original ad was to show a woman having long nails can still open it. Not because she's just a woman. At least that's how I perceive it.

    Kimai Rosy
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nah if we are going to be demeaning to men lets not make them girly caz that is unnatural and therefore ineffective in making them feel the same as a woman would have.

    Jordan Fire Star
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can someone please explain whats sexist about either one of these ads?

    Tammy Chapman
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why bother explaining it to a sexist idiot.

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    Magpie
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Actually there is sooo much overlap with strength between male / female. That some women are much stronger than some men. It is more person to person if you actually want to know what is going on with strength.

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    John Smith
    Community Member
    7 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    That "man" looks like he just sucked a d**k. Pretty sure he can't open it either.

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    #3

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    Daniel (ShadowDrakken)
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Eh, this one is pretty demeaning both ways. Not cool in either case.

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    #4

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    #5

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    David Toh
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nice touch to have the man wear tight clothes.

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    #6

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    Kjorn
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    either way it's not ok. but people seem to be ok when the role are reverse and it's the men who are in that situation. people find it funny.

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    #7

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    Ladies and Gentlemen
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Damn, these are really sexist ads. I had never seen them. Glad to see things changed for good.

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    #8

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    Anouk
    Community Member
    7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She's holding a pooper scooper....bwahahaha!

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    #9

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    #10

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