ADVERTISEMENT

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

#6

60's Ads

Eli Rezkalla Report

Add photo comments
POST
kjorn avatar
Kjorn
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated 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.

smithjordan480 avatar
CbusResident
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some men 'won't like' this new version of the ad, but some definitely will! It depends on what sort of weird s**t the guy is into.

kimberly-crystal avatar
Kimai Rosy
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hardly the same one looks like she's about to get hit hard the other one looks he is about to enjoy his spanking.

jalegge avatar
Ja Legge
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. I am not sure if anyone notices or it's my perspective that differs. I see a man about to spank in a "harsh" manner cuz of his form. The woman in a gentle form.

susann_campbell_7 avatar
Susann Campbell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a little girl, all the women did all the work even more so when get together s happened. Men sitting around talking and then even getting served beer or anything else. I hated it then and even told the Aunties and grandmothers and mom, they just laughed. I still don't think it was right and these add are not funny either way. Sorry to be a downer but this spanking thing hit home.

lynn_4 avatar
Lynn Moore
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure, physical violence will fix it! Another subliminal message to men

pwebb avatar
P Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not quite a reversal. His hand is raised WAY WAY higher than hers. He's seriously about to hurt his wife, whereas she's just fixin' to give him a fun little paddlin'!

brooklynwilliams avatar
Just another brick in the wall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Abuse is never funny, and the sad thing is that some people don't believe it can happen to men as well, some people don't even believe that it happens to woman.

jarrod_l_nelson avatar
Jarrod Lee
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair... guy looks like his boyfriend gives it to him rough, so no worries.

lynn_4 avatar
Lynn Moore
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whether men or women, the ads are not okay, but intended to show how far we have come and to think about what we had to do to get here.

pwebb avatar
P Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The point is only one of them was an advertisement, the other is just satire showing how wrong the advertisement was.

Load More Replies...
taztopaz711 avatar
pwebb avatar
P Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Neither is supposed to be funny. Of course both would be wrong. But the point is that picture on the left was an ACTUAL REAL advertisement used to sell products to people. The one on the right is merely satire showing how wrong & ridiculous & sexist the advertisements back then WERE!

Load More Replies...
4long avatar
pwebb avatar
P Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not supposed to be funny. Of course BOTH are wrong. But the point is that ONLY the picture on the left was an ACTUAL REAL advertisement used to sell products to people. While the one on the right is merely a satire showing how wrong & ridiculous & sexist the advertisements back then WERE!

Load More Replies...
eschaton3 avatar
Black Dahlia
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When a woman is beaten it's a tragedy, when a man is beaten it's a comedy.

pwebb avatar
P Webb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sad that you don't get the point. Not supposed to be funny. Of course BOTH are wrong. But the POINT is that ONLY the picture on the left was an ACTUAL REAL AUTHENTIC advertisement used to sell products to people. While the one on the right is merely a satire showing how wrong & ridiculous & sexist the advertisements back then WERE!

Load More Replies...
smithjordan480 avatar
CbusResident
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some men 'won't like' the result of the new ad, but some men definitely will. It depends on what sort of weird s**t the guy is into.

jordanfirestar avatar
Jordan Fire Star
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Am I the only one who noticed that in all of these pictures, the men look gay?

brent_kaufman_18 avatar
Brent Kaufman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'M NOT STORE TESTING FOR FRESHER COFFEE EITHER! Honey... Honey....?

mpgreenef avatar
María Paz Greene F
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think this is actually a little funny, hehehe. Please don't hate me :(

moconnell avatar
M O'Connell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Between consenting adults, anything goes. The wife doesn't exactly look afraid in that first picture...

wolfpuppet avatar
Bored Fox
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the original ad the woman looks like she is enjoying so it can also be sign of spanking fetish (part of BDSM) instead of domestic violence. In that case people who want to be spanked do something stupid to their partner so they must be 'punished'. That is totally consensual and has nothing to do with violence.

thelucioussuzuki avatar
Larisha Shelman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spanking was such a thing way back when... http://www.retrospace.org/2008/10/they-spanked-women-in-old-days.html

randomuser1105 avatar
Jennifer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That doesn't mean it was okay. Anything to keep an adult woman on the level of child. ( Not that children should be abused either.)

Load More Replies...
anouk-yv avatar
Anouk
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh I dunno....she doesn't seem to mind being spanked. Maybe she bought crappy coffee on purpose ;p

barbaraebj avatar
Barbara Johnson
Community Member
6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Too dominatrix to be the opposite of sexist. Make her a*s much bigger and put school marm shoes on her, make her look MEANER and him look more out of control and haggard.

onemessylady avatar
Aunt Messy
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why? Women are as competent as men at whatever they want to do. And we don't have to make ourselves ugly to do it. Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did....backwards and in high heels.

Load More Replies...
sasslord avatar
Lonely Dragon
Community Member
6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Sexist? Yeah. Old as f**k? Also yeah. Mainstream society doesn't treat women like this. Why do people think it's funny when the roles are reversed? Sexism is not okay, even if it's against men.

princess_puppy avatar
scrappyrat
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wouldn't call it old as f**k, as far cultural trends go. This first appeared in 1952, so approximately 65 years...women haven't been treated like independent humans for very long. In the 60's women still couldn't have a bank account without having a man sign off on it. Either her father or her husband had to give her permission or the bank would turn her away. It's scary how recent that is historically. This is why we have to be so vigilant about our rights and be so careful about backsliding, which is especially worrisome in the current political climate. Spanking between adults (especially men spanking women) is presented in most media less as an act of physical aggression and more as a sexual act. I'm pretty sure that's what the authors of the original ad were intending to evoke--less than subtle sexual overtones. This is likely why the artist chose this ad. Men are less likely to be portrayed as helpless sex objects.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

60's Ads

Eli Rezkalla Report

Add photo comments
POST
sanchit-mit2006 avatar
Ladies and Gentlemen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated 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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda