Ford India on Sunday put out a poll on Twitter that asked people to respond with how they behave when there is a 'women/elderly or people learning to drive' in front of them. And it did not go down well with people on Twitter.
When a well-known automobile company such as Ford decides to use a sexist angle to engage its followers on Twitter there is only one way the social media campaign is headed— down. The Ford India posted a rather obnoxious poll this morning on its official Twitter page. It read: "How do people behave when they are following women/elderly or people learning to drive? #WhatDoPeopleDo."
It asked people to select from the following options:
-Honk repeatedly
-Overtake & drive fast
-Wait patiently
Within minutes of posting the poll, several users lashed out at its blatantly sexist take. While jokes and videos about women and elderly drivers often circulate on social media, using it as an online engagement seem rather tone deaf and reflects poorly on Ford India.
Users pointed out exactly this and swore to not buy a Ford car ever again.
And as most called out the auto manufacturer for being regressive, some did take it on a lighter note and played along too.
Ford India wrote to us clarifying their stand on the post that was a part of their Twitter poll-series for the Road Safety Week.
"No brand, including Ford can ever afford or dream of being sexist or derogatory in its social communications. As a matter of fact the question being referred as sexist in the story was part of a series of Twitter Polls Ford India has been running around Road Safety Week, asking people to give feedback on situations that stop them from being courteous to others on road. In its first phase, the poll has had more over 24000 respondents expressing their opinion on issues like pedestrian crossing, accidents, road etiquettes among others," Ford India said in a written statement.
"The last question in the poll-series was looking to highlight societal prejudices without being disrespectful to any section of the society. In its premise or design, the poll does not intend to hurt anybody’s sentiment. In fact, as a responsible brand, we have taken notice of the feedback from some members of our Twitter family and removed the poll question on exploring people’s behaviour when they follow learning drivers/ women or elderly driving slow," the carmaker said.
Updated with statement from Ford India.
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 "A screenshot of the twitter poll by Ford India")
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