GPO taints International Women's Day
The Government Press Office misses the mark on International Women's Day by releasing a photo essay on Israeli fashion models instead of female scientists, politicians or soldiers; GPO promises more photos are to come and fashion was but a portion of the topics.
The photographs were sent by email to government offices and agencies working with the GPO under the title "With the ponytail and the pinafore, why don’t we see them anymore?"
The emails came attached with hundreds of photos of models and beauty queens that GPO photographers had documented years ago.
Among those featured in the photographs is Pnina Rosenblum, who became a successful businesswoman and MK from Likud.
"In honor of International Women's Day—a little taste of the national collection of photographs that is close to the heart of every woman," read the email. This particular sentence has raised ire among women in Israel and on social media, with many labeling the email and sentences as insulting.
MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) wryly noted, "Surprisingly, the body which has captured a long line of important and significant moments in Israeli history thinks that what will interest and excite women is not equal wages or prevention of sexual harassment, but fashion."
GPO Director Nitzan Chen, responded to the comments, saying, "We raise the banner of gender equality in society. The realm of Israeli fashion was and still is a leader and trailblazer, from the establishment of the state until now, and a source of inspiration and national pride. This is the first article in a series about Israeli women making breakthroughs in different areas. Today it is fashion, tomorrow another area."
