Indigo's 'Escaping Patriarchy' ad faces heavy backlash, netizens say, 'make-up to appeal to male passengers...'

IndiGo Airlines has sparked online controversy once again with its latest advertisement promoting "girl power." While the ad attempts to highlight how female cabin crew members are "escaping patriarchy," many have pointed out a disconnect between this message and the airline's actual policies. The ad features a female flight attendant performing her usual duties inside an aircraft, accompanied by the slogan: "Escaping patriarchy at 800 kmph."

Upon its release, the advertisement received mixed reactions on social media. Many questioned the airline's true commitment to gender equality, criticizing its hiring policy, which only recruits female cabin crew, as well as the enforced weight and appearance standards. One user accused IndiGo of "gaslighting" women by misrepresenting "girl power" and wrote, "Forcing young women to wear heavy makeup and high heels, in a job that requires long hours on their feet, does nothing to 'smash patriarchy.' If anything, it reinforces it. It's absurd for #Indigo to claim this is 'girl power.'"

One of the users wrote on X, “Nothing screams escaping patriarchy louder than when – You clean toilets, serve food, handle tantrums for little pay while maintaining specific appearance for strangers over family. Oh wait… psyop efficacy to manipulate women never ceases to amaze.”

Another chimed, “Unsure about how a role for women-only is deemed escaping the patriarchy. Seems to be reinforcing it more. Pandering to the ‘woke’ audience would feel a better title.”

Another user commented, “Yes, escaping patriarchy by posting a job profile (air hostess) where said job is strictly reserved for females along with certain weight and beauty standards + the said employees (females) are implicitly forced to put on heaps of make-up to appeal to the male passengers."