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.

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
#9

60's Ads

Eli Rezkalla Report

Add photo comments
POST
mike1dog avatar
thedavids06 avatar
thomasesthomas_1 avatar
Thomas Es Thomas
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dishwashers are not lazy people. It's a perfectly acceptable job for a man providing for his family.

homerchyppa avatar
Chyppa Homer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Artist forgot to solve gender issue here. First picture portrays a family, where dad and the kid is hanging out in the living room, doing nothing, not giving a f*ck about poor mom slaving away in the kitchen. Second picture could just as well be a dishwasher at a generic restaurant. Plenty of those in the 50s too.

barbaraebj avatar
Barbara Johnson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They made her look overwhelmed in the old one, overwhelmed and unhappy. lBut, he looks like a professional. This is a fail since it looks like she starts it with a mess, and he ends it will an organized arrangement of clean dishes... making him look better than her. Fail if they were trying to turn the tables.

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

They also forgot about the dad and the kid in the original ad, who are not helping the mom, which is a pretty important aprt, I think.

Load More Replies...
dennymcrow avatar
Denny Contos Crow
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are also cups, pans, and silverware in the picture, not just plates. So, yes, 25 a day easily.

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

Where's the inset photo of HER lounging on a chair while HE washes up?

bianaw avatar
Biana Weatherford
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if she's doing ALL the cooking...how does he managed to get anything dirty? and that junior...he needs to learn.

sallyannlady avatar
Ann McNeil
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why does he not have near as many dishes? I could wash those in about 1/2 hr.

mark-mckenzie_1 avatar
anarkzie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unintentional sexism, look how stressed she looks, the guy is just like "I got this"

cindyljoan avatar
Maggie Skaar
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great job !! Women and black people were both stereotyped back in the day. May it never happen again ! I can see why some women and black people still feel the sting. But we must get over it !

weatherwax054 avatar
Judy Semmens
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! They managed to use so many plates and didn't use a single bowl in #2? (So far as I can see.)

danielshadowdrakken avatar
Daniel (ShadowDrakken)
Community Member
6 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

This one is interesting... if you consider the parenthesis, it's kind of saying men and kids are lazy and the woman is the powerhouse of the household. The ad works great both ways though, just depends on the family. Could work with one of the kids in place of the adults too.

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