Shiela's Wheels...

[ALuk1962]

Is it legal to advertise car insurance for women only?
Isnt that sexual discrimination?

[Mobius1]

It probably is, but I don't think they're the only ones of their type to be honest. I suppose it's no different than the age discrimination apparent in SAGA adverts and products either.

It can't be illegal though, else it wouldn't be on TV.

[THECORBYLOON]

It is up to the Insurance Company whom they choose to insure. If a man and a woman have identical circumstances same car, age occupation etc., an insurance company is allowed to offer the woman a lower premium because statistcs show women are a lower risk than men.

[kempie]

*** Controversial comparison alert ***

It is NOT up to the Company HOW they choose to EMPLOY. If a man and a woman have identical circumstances, same QUALIFICATIONS, age, EXPERIENCE etc., a company is NOT allowed to offer the woman a lower PAYRATE EVEN THOUGH statistics show women are a HIGHER risk than men OF REQUIRING PAID ABSENCE FOR ANTENATAL CARE.

(apologies TCL for the bowdlerism above but a somewhat like-for-like comparison was required).

Both statements are of commercial factors which companies must consider, yet the first is anti-male (GOOD = acceptable) the second anti-female (BAD = unacceptable).

I fully expect to be flamed for my apparent sexist, nay misogynistic, view but the statement above was just to expose the inequality of 'Equality'.

In reality I do not negatively discriminate by dint of gender, race, belief or other comparative attribute of a person other than individual ability in any applicable situation. 'Equality' does not take account of ability, as proven by Shiela's Wheels Insurance.

[Piper-AK]

Not going to slate you at all, kempie. However, jobs are something we need to have to survive so forcing someone to take less pay would be discriminatory as you're forcing them to have a lower standard of living. Incidentally, women do end up with less pay at the end of their working lives compared to men precisely because of eg maternity - if you work for the Civil Service you get full pay, but not many other companies offer it.

[kempie]

Forcing someone to pay higher insurance premiums would also force them to have a lower standard of living.

The principle is the same and yet there is no equivalent of the Employment Act 2002 to redress this discrimination imbalance; either everybody is equal or they are not. The thing about Equality, you can't pick and choose the things you want to be equal in - that leads to "partial equality". An oxymoron or what?

[Piper-AK]

Maybe insurance companies should be forced to look at every single individual and evaluate their insurance risk on a case-by-case basis before quoting a price. I think insurance is a licence to print money anyway, and would welcome more openess in how their premiums are fixed. Equality would certainly be seen to be happening then, as people wouldn't be getting cheaper insurance 'just' because they were a woman.

Jobs, fortunately, are already looked at on a case-by-case basis, with the individual's worth being taken into account and a price put on their talent not their gender. I am not into positive discrimination either, by the way, just equality based on an individual's worth.

[Chillum]

Enirely agree Kempie. How long would such an advert last were it advertising a Men-only policy? About as long as it takes to button up your dungarees and fire off a letter of complaint to the ASA, that's how long.

[Haggisdj]

The 'women are safer drivers' thing is an urban legend. An ad company used one set of figures to promote an insurance company. If you divide the the number of accidents men have by the total number of miles driven by men in a year, the do the same for women you a completely different story...

[Haggisdj]

PS The girls in the ad are hot though !!!

[soozmac]

what annoys me is that Diamond's phone number ends in 36 24 36. ie the perfect woman's measurements. Yuk!

[Piper-AK]

Not my fault they picked me for their measurements!

[fatcat]

Didn't the EU try to outlaw this before on the very grounds that it was sexual discrimination? Mind you, they're too busy trying to make sure bananas aren't too bent.

[the_froliks]

Yes I agree, but they do have scientific evidence and hard facts that women are less likely to have accidents.

But surely that would mean that I could set up a racsist insurance company and not let any Irish in.....(not that I have anything against them!).....all I have to to do is take 100 Irish people and 100 none Irish and see who has made the most claims on their insurance......its 50/50 either way!