Kevin Roberts Sexism Claims: Just A Good Guy Doing Bad Stuff?
Anne Miles, the managing director at International Creative Services, has experienced sexism in the industry firsthand in ways many people wouldn’t be able to comprehend. But despite us coming a long way, Miles believes there’s more to be done, and has voiced her opinion in this guest post.
No, we’re not in the 80s any more, but sexism in this industry is real. Kevin Roberts, Saatchi & Saatchi chairman, recently accused of sexism and suspended while further investigation takes place, may well be the welcome catalyst for a turning point for this industry on this topic.
Right now, people need to speak up – we all need to speak up if the right thing is to be done and change made for the better for the entire industry. That’s clients too.
The industry can either slide into more of the same, Kevin Roberts can graciously plead ignorance and set a new example of humble leadership to grow us all from this experience, or he can be made an example of and shut out (maybe even charged, maybe in denial). The outcome will only be determined by the honest voice of our industry.
I’ve had a big brand’s marketing director ask me to show him my breasts instead of the $900,000 budget I was about to present, I’ve been called ‘the girlie’ in meetings despite my senior position as head of department.
I’ve been pushed over and sat on in the hallway of the office by a senior writer, and had the creative director flop his penis out onto my shoulder while I was on a serious phone call. I have been ridiculed for my nipples being evident through my shirt when the aircon was too high (turned down by the said creative director who also spat at me from time to time), and have had a beer can thrown at me in a rage because I was taking leave to get married.
I have had the creative director break into my hotel room and put his hands on my breasts (then expect me to stay quiet about it), and was told I couldn’t contact my clients because they ‘belonged’ to my male counterpart, as well as being shut out of discussions relating to my own department while others’ determined my team’s fate without me.
Most cutting for me is doing management training with a well known large multi-national agency, and being singled out as the most likely to be the best manager by the trainer. The trainer took great pains to speak to management to identify me for a future role in leadership for the business, only to be later ignored and an incompetent male (‘mate’) placed in the role. You name it, I’ve seen it. It is real.
Worst of all, is the unspoken. The silence of being overlooked, the assumptions others make on your behalf, the exclusion, the ridiculous ideas from a male taken up when there are no valid grounds to, or your own ideas only accepted when they come out of a male’s mouth.
The brushing under the carpet of some really bad stuff. These unspoken issues are more insidious, and hard to know what is real and what is not when you are in the heat of it. Sometimes, you question yourself because you can’t quite figure out why the nonsensical is happening around you and others are so certain it is ‘right’, ‘normal’, or ‘the way it is’.
During all these crazy experiences (and the list is not complete here), was the fact that not one of the business leaders stood up and made a stand about any of this for me. Not one of my co-workers said a single word of support.
To me, that was the bigger crime and this is the remnant we still see today. This is what we risk now with industry leaders who have had this kind of world as their ‘normality’ in the foundation of their business career and working style.
This is why it is all the more important that Saatchi & Saatchi deal proactively with Kevin Roberts’ over his alleged faux pas right now, and should be commended on their current stand to suspend him and investigate.
If there is truth behind the accusations, the people involved and the wider business need to say something. Stand up for what is right. Say something, despite the temptation to not want to get involved. Just because you might think that the accused is a ‘good bloke’ or ‘he didn’t mean it’ doesn’t make it right. Respected people who do great work can do bad stuff. Don’t make excuses.
While we all figure out how we can make this change as an industry, I can certainly share some humble learnings. I haven’t done it all right, that’s for sure. I’ve pushed and pulled at times and made enemies while merely trying to be heard when certain of right and wrong.
Sometimes it feels like you’re going mad when the right thing is being overlooked for no good reason. I’ve sat quietly and fuelled others to have a voice for me, but all the while undermining my own position in the process simply to achieve the outcome for the wider good. I’ve left many good jobs, and moved on to other parts of the industry to challenge myself, diversified skills laterally having given up on the idea of vertical promotion.
Ultimately, I’ve ended up in a more meaningful place than I might have if I stayed in big agencies, but perhaps things could be different if only one person took a stand and supported me?
In my experience, it is not the clients that are the industry problem (despite my moments with clients overlooking my expertise for my breasts and a few male-biased dinosaurs left) – it is the agencies.
I’ve had many clients support me when my agency colleagues didn’t, even the president of a major global brand (I’m forever grateful for that). Clients seem far more advanced, professional and genuinely want the best talent, but perhaps are also guilty of the Bystander Effect and don’t know any alternatives? Many are engaging agencies that still show signs of male bias (and don’t get me started on youth bias).
It is time that the best people are hired for the right reasons, that clients actually question these influences and values in their suppliers. Clients too, need to stand up and choose partners that support their values – and do the right thing.
There is a psychological phenomenon called the Bystander Effect, where people can stand by and watch hideous crimes and do nothing. We are driven by social proof where we can’t help but follow what others do or say, and sadly that can be to do nothing. Humans are innately influenced by authority figures. The idea of an author of a leading industry book and high ranking role in the industry could be further clouding some people’s judgment.
The only thing that can break down this ingrained behavioural function is if one individual stands up and makes the first move. We can encourage this breakthrough by looking an individual in the eye, naming them and asking them to stand up, when they know it is wrong.
This is the one good thing I can do for the industry right now, to tell this story, and be the one to look you in the eye and ask you to stand up for what is right – whether you are in an agency or a client in a marketing team that engages an agency, it is time to stand up.
Please don’t let good guys or good agencies do bad stuff any more. Stand up.
Please login with linkedin to comment
Advertising Standards Bureau Cannes Lions Healthcare jamie chambers Moments overseas expansionLatest News
History Has Arrived: It’s The Cairns Crocodiles Inaugural Shortlist
Pen the acceptance speech and ready your best thongs and muumuu, because the Cairns Crocodiles shortlist has arrived.
IAS Launches First-To-Market Integration With Roblox To Provide 3D Immersive Measurement
Integral Ad Science, a global media measurement and optimization platform, today announced a market integration with Roblox, a global immersive platform for connection and communication. Available for advertising campaigns on Roblox later this year, IAS’s Viewability and Invalid Traffic (IVT) Measurement products will provide advertisers increased transparency into the quality of their Immersive Ads within […]
Fast And Furious: Top Gear Australia Launch Thrilled Motorheads, Car Entusiasts And Guests
B&T is still no closer to knowing who the new Stig is, except that she is a woman and a ridiculously fast.
TV Ratings (02/05/2024): Seven’s The 1% Club Wins The Night
The 1% club did not live up to its name when it comes to TV ratings last night.
TRA Welcomes Raft Of New Hires; Bolstering Expertise Across Markets
Insights and research agency TRA announces slew of new hires. Still no news on the return of marble wash denim, however.
CX Lavender Hires Boston Consulting Group’s Kim Verbrugghe as Chief Strategy Officer
CX Lavender announces new strategy hire and channels 'acoustic folk act at local RSL' for the publicity pic.
Opinion: Community standards, will they be the death of us?
This columnist is talking community standards. Sadly not those people who put dogs in trolleys in supermarkets.
Tegel gets heads bobbing with new free-range chicken platform
Sure, there's a lot of moral considerations when buying a chook. Yet, not as baffling as buying eggs or canned tuna.
Study: 66% of Aussie men believe masculinity is under attack
Two-thirds of Aussie blokes say masculinity's under attack. That said, sales of Solo lemon drink appear robust.
‘Equal Writes’: Canyon reveals new campaign and refreshed brand for women and non-binary writers
As this brand redesign again proves, nothing beats black on white. Well, white on black in this instance.
Icon Agency bolsters consumer and integrated offer with major hires
Icon Agency unveils new recruits. As press photo confirms office moustache competition now a lay-down misère.
Clemenger launches agricultural graduate program
Has Farmer Wants A Wife triggered an interest in dagging & hay balers? This grads program may resonate.
Levi’s Appoint UM As Global Media Agency For $217m Account
Levi's are the jeans for rockstars, models & the cool kids. Although that's not stopped dads from ruining their image.
QMS Nabs Sean Rigby From oOh!media
Things set to get spicy at the next Outdoor Media Association dinner and dance as a rival gets poached.
Bumble Reveals New Brand Identity To Usher In New Era Of Dating
It's ironic that all the dating apps market themselves as having no weirdos, freaks or mummy's boys like their rivals.
Stay In The House From Up! Airbnb Introduces Icons
Airbnb is now letting people stay in "iconic" places that sadly doesn't include the house from Silence Of The Lambs.
Changing The Conversation: The Role Of Media In Ending Violence Against Women
Governments are finally waking up to the DV crisis. Here, B&T chats with Jasmin Bedir on the role media can play.
“If You Want To Listen To Something Else, Go For It”: Fifi Box On Blocking Out The Noise & Focussing On What Works
No one is at the coal face of Melbourne radio like Fifi Box. Here, she chats with B&T without coughing up a lung.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Ferrari Signs Landmark New Title Sponsor
B&T continuing our series on sports sponsorships. And, yet again, there's little good news for the ten pin bowlers.
Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns
Not since Wonka opened the factory has there been such a hot ticket in town. Here's how to make the most of Cairns.
Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks
Quip boss calls out her highlights of the Cannes agenda. We're assuming B&T staff b-boy demonstration was an oversight.
Here Are The Agencies That Made AFR’s Best Places To Work List And What The Industry Can Learn From Them
Did your office not make the list? Make sure your boss shouts at least two schooners at office drinks come Friday.
Get Ready, B&T’s Best Of The Best Is Back With The Top Holding Company Executive Leaders – Creative!
Want to know who the Grandest of the Grand Poobahs in the industry are? Look no further than this exhaustive list.
How A Glittering Campaign Helped The Australian Museum Sell 400,000 Tickets
B&T thoroughly enjoyed the Ramses exhibition at The Australian Museum, despite thinking we were going to the Archibald.
TV Ratings (30/04/2024): A “Shoey” Straight From A Fish’s Mouth Launches The Cheap Seats Into 2024
Last night's TV saw horny farmers beat Lego nerds, who beat fame-obsessed home cooks, who beat a chap with a large fish.
Spotlight Extends Partnership With Starlight Children’s Foundation
B&T always happy to promote the excellent work of the Starlight Foundation. Less so the Starfish Fanciers Foundation.
Amazon’s Advertising Quarterly Revenue Soars To $11.8bn
There are so many Amazon couriers visiting B&T headquarters at the moment our office dog doesn't know who to maul first.
VML Wellington Welcomes Jacob McGregor As Pou Ārahi Māori
McGregor set to lead cultural competency and safety at VML Wellington in important new gig.
“They Grow Up So Fast”: Simon Fowler On Five Years Of ABEL
Abel's CEO talks lessons learned from the agency's first five years. Including staff nicking all the Nespresso capsules.
Kyle & Jackie O Urge Melbourne To Pick A Side
Who can stop Kyle & Jackie O's indelible march into Melbourne radio? Is Peter 'Moony' Moon waiting by the phone?
Future & Taika Waititi Feature In Striking New Global Belvedere Campaign
Not only does drinking vodka make you cool like these dudes, it also has great weight loss properties for the bone idle.
The Fall Of Bonza: A Case Study In How To, And Not To, React In A Crisis
Does the collapse of yet another budget airline hark back to a gentler time of 17 hours spent on a Greyhound bus?
Opinion: Agencies, Be Unique – Stop Using The Word “Unique!”
Trinity P3's Ellie Angell says agencies are overusing the word unique. You could add omnichannel & holisitic to that.
Ex Marketing & Advertising Exec Releases Melanoma Memoir
Ex-adlander Anne Gately has penned a tome to skin cancer. Which is a handy reminder to check your moles, people.
Mamamia Appoint Danni Wright As New Head Of Strategy
Danni Wright takes up Mamamia's strategy reins with a feng shui expert called over positioning of office chaise lounge.
From The Bureau: Championing Competency & Cross-Industry Collaboration
The IAB's Jonas Jaanimagi calls for more specialisation in adtech. Meaning you'll understand it less than you already do.