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IKEA Airbrushes Women Out of Saudi Version of Catalog — See the Incredible Pictures

Oct. 1, 2012 12:22pm Becket Adams

IKEA is being criticized for deleting images of women from the Saudi version of its furniture catalog, a move the company says it regrets.

Comparing the Swedish and Saudi versions of the IKEA catalog, Sweden’s free newspaper Metro on Monday showed that women had been airbrushed out of otherwise identical pictures showcasing the company’s home furnishings.

Women Removed from Saudi Version of IKEA Catalog

Courtesy: Metro

The Metro report raised questions in Sweden about IKEA’s commitment to “gender equality.” The country’s trade minister Ewa Bjorling didn’t criticize IKEA directly but told Metro that you can’t delete women from society.

“Women cannot be retouched away in reality. If Saudi Arabia does not allow women to appear [in public] or work, they lose about half their intellectual capital,” she told Metro.

“These pictures [are a] sad example that shows that there is a long way to go in terms of equality between men and women in Saudi Arabia,” she added.

IKEA spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson defended the company by explaining that the catalog was designed by an “external franchise owner that operates company stores in Saudi Arabia,” Times LIVE explains.

Still, IKEA released a statement expressing regret, saying “We should have reacted and realized that excluding women from the Saudi Arabian version of the catalogue is in conflict with the IKEA Group values.”

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Click here to see Metro’s complete list of before-and-after comparisons

The Associated Press contributed to this story. Front page photo source EPA.

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Comments (157)

Steve28
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:21pm
Come on guys think about this for a minute. They do not see themselves making purchasing decsions and therefore don’t constantly complain about needing new furniture and stuff. Hmm? Maybe they got this one right? Just think of all the money and time you save on honey do list.

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- HowTruthHurts
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:28pm
  Let’s hope people understand your “tongue-in-cheek” humor.
  
  Report this comment
- OniKaze
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:06pm
  @ Steve
  
  If that is tounge-in-cheek humor, it was funny… If not, then sad….
  
  Here’s hoping its the former…. :-)
  
  Report this comment
- Steve28
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 4:43pm
  Of course, I was trying to be funny. My wife of 36 years says I often fail.
  
  Report this comment
- grimmster
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 7:23pm
  I thought they were going to say pork chops were missing…….
  
  Report this comment
- Gorp
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 8:54pm
  @Steve:
  
  I know what you mean about the “fail”. LOL
  After 47 years I ALWAYS get the last word in every argument…
  
  “Yes Dear”
  It works pretty good. Then I go out to the garage and drink Beer.
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 10:08pm
  Time for IKEA to decide WHO they identify with.
  
  Report this comment
- BSimpson
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 6:33am
  Wow. Really people? How is this any different than the American media and corporations portraiting men as dumb “oofs” who can’t do anything right? If you’re gonna be irrate about this at least be consistant.
  
  Report this comment
- db321
  Posted on November 17, 2012 at 2:30pm
  The real story here is that everything you see in those pictures fits into a box about 2ft wide by 5ft long. Absolutely amazing!
  
  Report this comment
TxSon
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:18pm
Isn’t the primary goal to earn a profit for the company and share holders? If air brushing some ads gets to that goal, what’s wrong with that? Were the women in those ads docked on their pay check? I dought it. So, what’s the harm in preping the ads for their intended audience?

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- HowTruthHurts
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:27pm
  I do agree that “business is business”. What frustrates most conservatives is that these same leftist PC companies act like they stand for women while Republicans hate women. Yet, these companies will completely ignore women if it means making a dollar. It’s the hypocrisy that is aggravating.
  
  Report this comment
- Minnaloushe
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:42pm
  Look! Over there!
  There’s a dollar bill blowing over that 1000-foot cliff!
  
  Go get ‘er boys.
  
  Report this comment
- batmanroxus
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:03pm
  There is no excuse for supporting dysfunctional, destructive stereotypes, and character traits, not even for a buck.
  
  Report this comment
- American Soldier (Separated)
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 3:23pm
  Question is. Why do we care?
  
  Report this comment
- nightdream
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 4:35pm
  The locust army marches on.
  
  Report this comment
- term limits for congress
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 5:25pm
  I don’t think it had to do with profit – other than producing a catalog that isn’t “messed up” by the Saudi morality police. If the women stayed in the photos, they would be redacted (is that the right word? – covered in black marks). Women who appear in Saudi publications must be covered in a burqa or black ink. I think this job is part of the Saudi postal system – nothing gets by them.
  
  Report this comment
- steelpanther
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 11:21pm
  Blame the mid-east, not IKEA. They are simply conforming to that societies norms, which apparently think women are evil. Considering what I know of women, they might be right.
  
  Report this comment
SIXFRIGATES
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:14pm
They were not airbrushed out. They obviously took a photo of each set without any actors, which would make editing very easy. Why is this a surprise? We know Islam disrespects women… Thanks to Obamas Arab Spring, women have been set back literally centuries in the middle-east via the Muslim Brotherhood. Well done Barack, well done. And HE has the women’s vote, unbelievable.

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- HowTruthHurts
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:21pm
  Yet somehow the left hates Christians. Although every nation that is a leader in human rights has a Christian history.
  
  Report this comment
- SingerGuy
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:52pm
  Exactly. They didn’t just come along later and decide to modify the pictures. This had to have been planned during the photo shoot so they would have a clean set and one with people, then decide what to keep and what to eliminate. This is a big deal in the catalog world (where I worked for a decade).
  
  Report this comment
- kgechols
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 3:07pm
  The first and fourth are obviously shopped out. Look at the other humans in the picture and you’ll notice that their poses are EXACTLY the same in each. You’ll also notice how they shopped by women out, if you loo at things like shadows, reflections, where knobs are on mirrors,… kinda like a “find the differences” comic.
  That said, per maket accommodations are always made by companies that wish to participate in more than one market.If I were the photographer, however, I would be PISSED! You don’t mess with my art without my permission and I would NOT give permission to screw with my photos like that.
  
  Report this comment
NEUGROOVE
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:13pm
Just FYI… Not all of these images are photoshopped. I see a bunch that were just re shot. Only a few were heavily shopped.

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Stelex
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:12pm
Maybe we misunderstand and its just that all Muslim men are gay.

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- OniKaze
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:09pm
  I would be willing to bet, THAT is an accurate statement… After all, as a man, I don’t like looking at a bunch of men… Call it sexist, but there is a reason that females are called the “Fairer sex”… That’s because women are more attractive to the eye than men…
  
  Further Proof that Muslims have their heads positioned to stare at the contents of their own colons…
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:20pm
  At least we can ALL delete Romney Ryan in November of the polls are correct.
  
  Report this comment
- Ben__Franklin
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 3:02pm
  They did not show the pages where the women were replaced by Camels and the nine year old girls clothes changed from Garanimals to brides gowns. Verse knows what I am talking about. He is into that stuff.
  
  Report this comment
- Do The Right Thing
  Posted on October 2, 2012 at 11:33am
  @vice&treason. Learn to spell, perhaps then your posts will make sense. (Then again maybe not… Well, give it a try, they may then be entertaining, at least)
  
  Report this comment
TEIN
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:11pm
“….conflict with the IKEA Group values.” IKEA has no problem remembering “plastic bag” policy, but among all the editing, IKEA must of forgot the “IKEA Group” values…quit pandering, don’t put a store there.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:10pm
Islam as well as the Nation of Islam black panthers have declared death upon our women and children. Ikea might be said to have enjoined them if you really want to look at it from a real World standpoint. It’s really disturbing when you get down to it. And the progressive/abortionist ideologues aren’t any different. Is that a stretch? Not really if you just want to be real about where this is all going. Zero respect for women.

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goahead.makemyday
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:09pm
Well, I can see why they edited them out. It’s cheaper to edit ads than it is to rebuild a few times because a group of jihadists driving semi’s filled with explosives into the building.
“In unrelated news Ikea stores in Saudi Arabia, France, Switzerland, and England have been attacked by armed mobs and all occupants in the buildings were either seriously wounded or killed before the buildings were set on fire. There have also been several beatings and one death in front of five Ikea stores in Florida, Michigan, Indiana, and New York. These attacks have been linked to an Ikea advertisement magazine with several women not wearing burkas and have their faces uncovered. After repeated questions the White House refuses to give any comment.”

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TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:06pm
Politically correct… how adults teach children to lie.

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- HowTruthHurts
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:23pm
  EXACTLY!!!
  
  “Political Correctness” is a fancy term for “lying”
  
  Report this comment
- blanco5
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 3:01pm
  Tree—That is the closest to the truth that I have ever heard! Thanks!
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:04pm
How to identify what the Progressive Dems are GOING TO DO!:

“They Want You All to Die” Grayson, h/c bill – independent payment panels – DEMOCRATS

“Push granny of the cliff” ad – DEMOCRATS – take $716 B from Medicare let it collapse so
single payer system can be established for ALL.

“War on women” – DEMOCRATS – establish sharia law in US – and subject women to obscene
humiliation and lose basic rights. Disguised as “free stuff”

“Free birth control, abortions etc” – DEMOCRATS – take away the 1st Amendment from Churches

The Progressives are sick, twisted, freaks!!!!!!!!!! Whatever they say THEY ARE DOING

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- Ghandi was a Republican
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:16pm
  Exactly. If their finger is pointing- look for the mirror. It seems to be a “hold your opponent to a higher standard” alinsky rule. If you accuse the other guy, it’s a form of camouflage that neutralizes the truth when you call attention to it, at which point they call it all a conspiracy theory by their from their opponents (and anyone else) who have them figured out. It is the one consistency they will never waiver from.
  Point the finger and say “there he went- i seen him, he went that way” as they return to the scenes of their crimes.
  
  Report this comment
- TEARS FOR AMERICA
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:19pm
  Insanity that anyone would choose PC thereby enabling a theocratic nightmare that will destroy freedom for every man, woman and child everywhere, IKEA come on…
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:02pm
The world needs to get tired of kissing muslime ass all the time,it’s nauseating and needs to end ASAP.

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- Joe_The_Patriot
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 2:19pm
  Let’s stop kissing any minority’s @ss….. Majority Rule
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 9:42pm
  JOE_THE_PATRIOT
  So when you wind up in the minority and Obama is re-elected, you’ll be ok with majority rules? Ok, good.
  
  Report this comment
Xiccarph
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:00pm
Its difficult to say which side’s comments and reasoning are more ridiculous, the Swedes complaining about “gender inequality” in a foreign ad, or the ad being made that way to pacify the Muslims where the ad will run. Be ultra PC or be ultra sensitive/tolerant to cultural diversity. Classic immovable object getting hit by an irresistible force. Too bad both philosophies can’t just annihilate each other.

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Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:59pm
This is just another example of the progressive/islamist collaboration in the war on women.

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USACommoner
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:58pm
It’s all about globalism. If businesses want to do business in other countries, they have to abide by that country’s values and norms. I’m not saying it’s right, but businesses are in business for profits. That’s their bottom line. If it’s okay with IKEA, we can’t tell them to do otherwise. If you don’t like it, you can boycott their products and choose not to purchase from them. Just like I plan to boycott the whole democratic party in November…

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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:58pm
So….an IKEA catalog is like a Playboy over in Saudi Arabia? Do they not get National Geographic, too? Wouldn’t want a bunch of sexually repressed me go crazy ripping their clothes, because “we made” them think un-pure thoughts. Do these muslims have no accountability at all? No self-restraint, no responsibility?

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- Government_Goodies
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:14pm
  All good questions.
  
  Report this comment
- TEARS FOR AMERICA
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:25pm
  Sick, just sick…women are dogs/property over there, something Jesus changed and now PC robots are asking, especially we in America, to go that direction again? No way!!
  
  Report this comment
Watermain
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:58pm
I wish we could “airbrush” all the muslims away that want to kill every infidel on the face of the earth.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:54pm
Women are nothing but breeders and cleaners/cooks in the Muslim world. Funny….but I never see the American feminazis and libbers ever comment about the muslim treatment of women. Maybe because…they just hate American men.

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- Captain Crunch
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:11pm
  One day us men will be able to laugh at all the women’s libber femanazi types as they are forced to cover their bodies with carpets head to toe, have their drivers licenses revoked, lose all their rights and become sex slaves to camel humping perverts. It will serve them right for not speaking up.
  
  Report this comment
- Wilsonpd
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 4:48pm
  Oh, Captain! I would love to see it too except I’ll be dead. I’ll bet that the most strident women’s libber-abortionist-progressives out there would be the first to meekly throw on the gunny-sack and wait for permission to breathe. Personally I’ll fight to the death before putting on the sack. They’ll have to kill an awful lot of us. Could get pretty stinky because then who would clean up the mess? Oh, that’s right, the lefty dhimmi’s will do it.
  
  Report this comment
IMCHRISTIAN
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:47pm
The God I know loves all of his children (men,women,children)

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Tri-ox
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:45pm
Except for breeding new terrorists, women have little value in countries controlled by the death-cult of islam – they are just as easily erased (beheaded and dumped in mass graves) in real life, as they are in this Ikea catalog.

The civilized world can no longer tolerate the death-cult of islam.

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Inlightofthings
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:37pm
So now women are offensive! Who woulda’ thunk? The left should scare many as this is what they are openly inviting to America…

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13th Imam
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:36pm
Nice to see the Muslim Saudi men embrace their feminine side. Picking out bedroom ensembles, and kitchen sundries are now the norm of these “Men’? After all, much like their prophet they do like the other men that they go to IKEA with.

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:43pm
  One word. Heterophobia.
  
  I’ll use it’s meaning in a sentence:
  
  Rosanne Bar is a heterophobic bigot.
  
  Report this comment
sy212
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:36pm
We’re so afraid of what someone might say. Ugh, fk’m

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Just_Us2
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:36pm
When there is a threat of losing money, their “values” suddenly kick in. The furniture is crap anyway….so it’s not like I was going to stop buying from a place I don’t shop at.

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Ziplockhand
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:34pm
Maybe they edited the women into the euro/us ads. LOL

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- BernieKittyCat
  Posted on October 1, 2012 at 1:13pm
  I think they should have just added burkas to the gals.
  
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woodyee
Posted on October 1, 2012 at 12:31pm
If they’d just stick with good business sense instead of “politically correct” nonsense, there’d be no problem nor hypocrisy. Kind of tells me that IKEA would make a deal with the Devil, if it meant a larger bottom-line. Thank goodness for businesses like Chick-Fil-A.

“Still, IKEA released a statement expressing regret, saying “We should have reacted and realized that excluding women from the Saudi Arabian version of the catalogue is in conflict with the IKEA Group values.”

two-faced fks…

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