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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

#1

60's Ads

Eli Rezkalla Report

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sanchit-mit2006 avatar
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Gayle Bynum Cardosa
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean it's no wonder our mothers and grandmothers grew up with this attitude. It was everywhere in their society.

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Jordan Fire Star
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6 years ago

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In the 1950s woman didn't work, only men worked. Woman cooked because they had to have some responsibility, if men didn't work and woman worked only I would expect men to do their job and cook food and stuff like that, its basic logic. Feminists want no responsiblity and to have the man to do everything for them.

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Kathleen League
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to Logopedia website, that logo is from the 2007-2017 period, later than the 'original' ad purports to be from. So, seems something more was photoshopped than the 'reversed' ad. http://logos.wikia.com/wiki/Hardee%27s

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Robert Williamson
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6 years ago

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It's obviously fake as no restaurant would describe their food as "sloppy and hastily prepared."

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Analyn Lahr
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven't seen one of Carl's Jr/Hardee's burger porn adds in awhile (you know, the ones with the sexy women models). Maybe they wised up about how stupid those were.

empress453 avatar
Connie Frances
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The ad was later and meant as a slap to those "good old days" so this is a take off on a take off not realizing it was a take off!

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

Apparantly this company is still getting it self in trouble with sexist adds, It's "name our holes" and "More Than a Piece of Meat" campaigns have drawn criticism from feminst.

yztoh avatar
David Toh
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The worst part of this ad is that the purpose is not clear. What does Women dont leave the kitchen have to do to bringing customers to Hardees.

direwolf_1 avatar
dire wolf
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look closely and you'll see that sexism and racism are both HUGE parts of Carl's Junior/Hardee's ad campaigns to this day

marneederider40 avatar
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Kristi Zoebelein
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was not Hardee's logo. The star came from their merger with Carl's Jr. in the late 90s. They wouldn't also describe their own food as "sloppy and hastily prepared".

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Lisa Greene
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Only problem with this is... he isn't barefoot and pregnant!

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Christina Sersif
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

idc how long ago this was, makes me never want to eat at hardee's again.

tchristoffersen003 avatar
Trish Christoffersen
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sloppily and hastily prepared? Sheesh! I wouldn't go there whether I was single or not!

jackiepage311 avatar
Jackie Page
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would Hardee's advertise that their food was "sloppy and hastily made"?

marneederider40 avatar
Marnee DeRider
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Should have put him in uncomfortable shoes! Who walks around the kitchen in heels?! I guarantee you they did NOT do that in the 50s!

zinalu avatar
Debbie Andersson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least they´re honest with sloppy and hastily prepared...Mcdonalds needs to take notes on how to be honest.

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Michelle Line
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. The original ads were so sexist and belittling to women! How horrible!! (and the new ones are to men). I'm not sure I understood some of the Legg's ads, though. Standing on an animal skin with the head of a woman? What's that have to do with pantyhose? Anyway, I knew women were "beneath" men during this era, but oh... my.... gawd...

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Joan Churton
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love these! I laugh out loud. The "little woman" in Raleigh, North Carolina

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Cynical Jester
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe would be really daring and original in the actual 1950s, in this day and age it is just another run of the mill 'girl power' thing. Something that has been force fed to us daily in the media since the 1990s.

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

In the 1950s woman didn't work, only men worked. Woman cooked because they had to have some responsibility, if men didn't work and woman worked only I would expect men to do their job and cook food and stuff like that, its basic logic. Feminists want no responsiblity and to have the man to do everything for them.

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abigail-skalley avatar
A
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sad thing is, these ads are really sexiest. However, life isn't anywhere near like this anymore, so why did they feel the need to do this. Feminism is about eradicating and shaming men now, instead of trying to be equal. This is just sad.

philmaguire34 avatar
A
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Feminism is about eradicating and shaming men now" what a joke, you've never read a book on feminism, have you? You just learn things off the internet, like this article, and your assumption that "life isn't anywhere near like this anymore". my question, FOR WHO? not the majority, I can assure you of that. We all suffer under capitalism, but women have it worse, don't deny it.

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larrydd2006 avatar
Larry Deavenport
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let them women go to work and deal with all that stress. I am retired after 40 years. My wife works and gets stressed out at her job, while I clean and cook with fewer worries. I even have time to relax and enjoy my hobbies now I wish I had known this earlier I would have sent my wife into the work force long before now.

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

In the 1950s woman didn't work, only men worked. Woman cooked because they had to have some responsibility, if men didn't work and woman worked only I would expect men to do their job and cook food and stuff like that, its basic logic. Feminists want no responsiblity and to have the man to do everything for them.

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brittanyharris_1 avatar
Brittany Harris
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not Hardee's logo from the 50s. Was that really the ad copy? Hmm...

mhyder91 avatar
Matthew Hyder
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sure a perfect housewife sounds nice but I don't think it should be enforced or a matter of it's the only thing their good at or that it's even that easy... It's like turning every woman into someone's personal maid. :p Also, I didn't know hardee's was that old. o.o

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

While you're at it, take good movies and replace the characters with women... oooo... nevermind.

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

It's like those crappy movie reboots that replace good actors with a bunch of vaginas.

robin_wu avatar
Robin Wu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cool ad and the first one is true. The second one is a forced reality. Not sexist at all.

blueteal2 avatar
Patrick McKenna
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

are we done freaking out what was advertised 70 years ago? now, know that future generations will judge our current "perfect" society.

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

In the 1950s woman didn't work, only men worked. Woman cooked because they had to have some responsibility, if men didn't work and woman worked only I would expect men to do their job and cook food and stuff like that, its basic logic. Feminists want no responsiblity and to have the man to do everything for them.

direwolf_1 avatar
dire wolf
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saying that women didn't work in the '50s is beyond ignorant. Women have always worked. Granted, in the fifties most were confined to undervalued, stereotypical "girls' jobs" like teaching, nursing, secretarial, and the service industry. Oh, and anyone who doesn't believe that child rearing and the rest of the spectrum of domestic work isn't "work" should be taken off life support. The brain's dead and ain't coming back.

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

This is an actual ad for Hardees from 1961- not fake. I could go for some "sloppy and hastily prepared" food myself sometimes. I think this is hilarious!

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Brier Random
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6 years ago

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Original ad is fake -- kinda defeats the purpose.

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Adrian Ceroni
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6 years ago

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These pictures are too small. Also, this one makes the actual product unappealing.

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Daniel (ShadowDrakken)
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6 years ago

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Aw, I thought they'd keep the text and just change the character in it. I'd totally do the stay at home dad thing!

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#6

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Eli Rezkalla Report

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Kjorn
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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.

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#7

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Eli Rezkalla Report

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sanchit-mit2006 avatar
Ladies and Gentlemen
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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.

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