IKEA Remove Women From Saudi Arabia Catalogue (PICTURES)

Swedish furniture giant IKEA have made a public apology for removing images of women from their Saudia Arabia catalogue.

The story appeared in the Swedish edition of Metro who compared the images of the Saudi catalogue with other IKEA catalogues in a spot the difference type gallery.

Loading Slideshow

Perhaps the most shocking change is in the image a family in a bathroom- the original version features a man, woman and two children, while the Saudi Arabian version has deleted the woman from the scene leaving the other three frozen in their poses. Motherless.

"We regret the current situation," a spokesperson for the IKEA Group, Ylva Magnusson, said. "We should have reacted and realized that excluding women from the Saudi Arabian version of the catalog is in conflict with the IKEA Group values."

LIKE HUFFPOST UK LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER

The catalogue appears to have been doctored to fit in with other Saudi Arabian advertising - where women appear infrequently, and if so with most of their bodies covered.

See controversial advertising below...

Loading Slideshow

Levis.
Saatchi and Saatchi's campaign for The Conservative Party ahead of the 1979 general election.
Durex.
Sisley fashion brand.
Sean John's Unforgivable Woman fragrance.
Linford Christie stars in Kleenex's tissue advert.
Wonderbra's infamous advert.
Lynx.
BMW.
BaF's anti-domestic violence ad.
Red Tape menswear fashion brand.
Controversial French anti-smoking advert,
MacDonald's.
QSOL service provider.
NSPCC
A German MacDonald's advert.
Heinz.
Cadbury's.
Miquita Oliver in Women's Aid advert.
Advert for Chicolate chocolate substitute.
Skin Burn, anti-smoking ad
Barnardo's.
Tipalet cigarette advert.
Benetton
TG4 television program entitled 'Paisean Faisean'.
Courage beer.
Budweiser.
Barcardi rum.
Amnesty International
Skyy alcoholic drink.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Anti binge-drinking advert
Van Heusen
BMW
Pitney-Bowes Postage Meter
Government anti-drug driving advert
Anti-abortion advert
Advert against verbal abuse
Fabrica
Benson & Hedges
American Apparel
Amnesty International
Post-It

"Women can not be retouch away in reality. If Saudi Arabia does not allow women to appear [in public] or work, they lose about half their intellectual capital," Sweden's minister of trade Ewa Björling told Metro.

See controversial products below...

Loading Slideshow

Adidas
Adidas' 'slave' shackle trainers AKA JS Roundhouse Mids
Abercrombie & Fitch
"Wink Wink" and "Eye Candy" thongs for 10-year olds isn't a hit with all parents.
Urban Outfitters
Retailer gets in trouble for its "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/urban-outfitters-jewish-star-tshirt_n_1441731.html" target="_hplink">Jewish Star</a>" t-shirt.
Urban Outfitters
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/03/eat-less-urban-outfitters_n_598904.html" target="_hplink">"Eat Less"</a> t-shirts aren't well received by, well, most people.
Indian pharmaceutical company
Vaginal rejuvenation and tightening gel launched by Indian pharmaceutical company
Urban Outfitters
"New Mexico, Cleaner than Regular Mexico" t-shirts didn't go over well. (AP photo)
Nike
Nike's "gold digging" t-shirt
Urban Outfitters
Some Irish groups aren't pleased with this "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Irish Yoga</a>" trucker hat.
Nike
St. Patrick's Day-themed SB Dunk Low <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/nike-black-and-tan_n_1344197.html" target="_hplink">"Black and Tan"</a> sneakers by Nike incite outrage from Irish community.
Urban Outfitters
"<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Truly Madly Deeply Kiss Me</a>" t-shirt offends Irish groups.
Urban Outfitters
Ditto this "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Truly Madly Deeply Irish Drunk" </a>scoop tank.
Pubic Hair Dye
"Color for the hair down there" is not received well.
Clean and Dry Intimate Wash
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/vagina-bleaching-ad_n_1420825.html" target="_hplink">Skin-lightening wash</a> targets consumers with dark colored privates.
Indian feminine hygiene product
Indian feminine hygiene product that doubles up as a vagina 'brightener'
Abercrombie & Fitch
Asian caricature t-shirts <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/ABERCROMBIE-GLITCH-Asian-Americans-rip-2850702.php" target="_hplink">caused outrage in California.</a>

Comments
27
Pending Comments
0
View FAQ

Post Comment Preview Comment

To reply to a Comment: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to.

Share your Comment:

Post to Facebook.

Post to Blogger.

Post to Twitter.

Post to WordPress.

Post to TypePad.

Post to Tumblr.

View All

Favorites

Recency |

Popularity

Page: 1 2 Next › Last » (2 total)

zarothustra25

34 Fans

02:28 PM on 10/05/2012

ikea putting profit before people

Permalink | Share it

Emdash86

0 Fans

08:38 PM on 10/03/2012

It's so much worse than you think.

When I lived in Saudi Arabia in the 90s, all of our mail was "edited" with black markers before we got it. Any magazines, catalogues, packaging, etc. that featured a woman with ANY skin showing (arms, ankles, etc.) was blacked out. You'd go to the store to buy a beach toy, and the mom on the packaging would be completely drawn over.

It didn't matter what your personal religion or culture was -- or if you were paying to get these things shipped to you -- it was all defaced at the post office.

The worst was when they "censored" female gorillas in a National Geographic...you can't make this stuff up.

emillio12

129 Fans

01:38 PM on 10/03/2012

I wouldn't mind the photo being removed if it really was offensive, however who could be offended by the presence of a woman to compliment what is supposed to potray a family group? Don't they have families in Saudi? Perhaps the mad mullahs may be offended, the same mad mullahs that treat women like dirt, pronounce death sentences on them for being witches and for alleged adultery. The same society thatns bans women drivers, that forbids women from being in the company of another man in public unless that male is a close family memeber. When is stupid religion going to wake up and live in the 21st century? Please tell me, I am ready to recieve comments from any enlightened muslim man or woman as to why this stoneage religion is allowed to treat women as no better than child bearers or beasts of burden, fit only for a good hiding now and then whenever the husband feels like it.

Arkleson

100 Fans

11:14 AM on 10/03/2012

Morality takes a back seat when the bottom line is considered, it seems, with IKEA....and probably all other companies.

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

minimemo

Can I be your friend...if they let me out...

394 Fans

11:08 AM on 10/03/2012

Surely the easiest thing is to withdraw Ikea from Saudi Arabia. Enough of them travel to the Emirates or Egypt to get their illicit alcohol/drugs/prostitutes - surely they could spend a few minutes to flick through a dirty little Ikea catalogue and order a coffee table while their at it ;)

Augenmensch

14 Fans

10:44 AM on 10/03/2012

Whilst living in Iraq many years ago the role of women was explained to me succinctly,Women were OK but they were no substitute for the real thing......................men in dresses and holding hands in every street was evidence enough of the way they thought.

11:17 AM on 10/03/2012

Men holding hands in some countries, especially Arab countries, is just a cultural thing and has no sexual connotation (in most cases).

Graham Chapman

9 Fans

09:48 PM on 10/02/2012

Which Century are these People living in

This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program

woofmummy

72 Fans

09:23 AM on 10/11/2012

In the dark ages of course! WE despair. Will they ever change? When will their womenfolk get equal rights.

Ryan Nay

7 Fans

07:38 AM on 02/09/2013

Officially according to the Islamic calendar they are living in the 15th century. It is the year 1433 in Saudi Arabia right now. But no worries, since they are on a lunar calendar they are scheduled to catch up with the West sometime after the year 20,000 AD.

the snurge

22 Fans

09:29 PM on 10/02/2012

I went to Ikea once, it's ok if you want your home to look like a office.

deanosdinos

6 Fans

07:21 PM on 10/02/2012

Surely they could put women infront of the sink without offence.

narny

541 Fans

07:39 PM on 10/02/2012

Well that's where they are most of the time. But at least this particular husband was helping out.

07:41 AM on 02/09/2013

Not so. Muslims and Saudis in particular are offended by virtually everything. And deleting women from media is common practice here. It's puzzling why every article I read about this acts as if this is some shocking event unique to IKEA. It's not at all.

partjanie

57 Fans

05:27 PM on 10/02/2012

Difficult to understand Ikea reasoning, as this woman is covered from neck to toe.

07:42 AM on 02/09/2013

Not difficult to understand if you have been to Saudi Arabia before. No woman can ever be too covered here. It's best not to see or think about them at all. I've even seen posters in the mall of female mannequins where the mannequins are blurred out. I'm not kidding.

gobbo

10 Fans

05:24 PM on 10/02/2012

Just wish they had never had oil.Being given Lives of luxury for doing nothing has allowed the evolution of their societies to freeze.If they had had to develope like the rest of us to aspire then the poor women would be better treated.Roll on green energy.The positives are many.

Bernie100

12 Fans

10:57 PM on 10/02/2012

The positives are many for the few!.....and negative for the majority.

gundaw

I know nuffinck!

309 Fans

07:34 PM on 10/05/2012

How and why?

Dalek1

31 Fans

04:05 PM on 10/02/2012

When oh when are companies going to stop pandering to the Arab nations? Don't they understand that every time they do something like this they actually set back the voice of women in these countries. Bad news Saudi Arabia - the female sex actually exists - ignore them at your peril - as I found when I zoned my wife out a while back....

Bebe123

17 Fans

03:58 PM on 10/02/2012

It's hardly news that the West panders to the primitives; Hmmm, I wonder why that might be? I'm sure it'll come to me...

stating the obvious

03:45 PM on 10/02/2012

I wonder what made ikea feel that putting women in the catalogue would be offensive to the Saudi's, was it the womens attire.

07:44 AM on 02/09/2013

IKEA is right to assume that and they have been doing it for years. It was no accident or error. It's a different world here. Women are ghosts in this country.