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Spain - Sexist ad causes problems

14 April 2014

Certain minimum specifications, including bust size, have caused problems for the Barcelona international comic fair according to the Digital Journal. The organizers, FICOMIC, are in trouble because of a job advertisement placed on their behalf by a recruitment agency, NSH, on that company's website. The ad called for brunette hostesses with a minimum bust measurement of 95 centimetres (or 37 inches) and over 170 centimetres (or 5 feet 7 inches) in height.

CCOO, Spain's general trade union slammed the advertisement as sexist, saying: "Using the female body as a publicity stunt or for the success of an event is not part of life in an educated and advanced society." The union also stated that ads like the one posted by the staff recruitment firm NSH are a roadblock in the path to equal access to the job market.

FICOMIC, the organizers of the event were also, apparently, not impressed with NSH's actions, and lay the blame squarely on the advertising firm, who were outsourced to hire staff for the event. The job advertisement was withdrawn on Thursday and the director of FICOMIC, Carlos Santamaría, has requested NSH make a public statement that the organizers of the comic fair did not endorse the controversial advertisement.