Italian stallions reined in: Fiat forced into U-turn over ‘sexist’ new car handbook

FIAT ARGENTINA has vowed to recall a booklet distributed with its new vehicles following complaints of misogyny from women’s rights groups.

The handbook, which accompanies the main technical manual, advises that the driver should “assume the role of alpha male”, and offers suggestions as to the recommended skirt length and legs of the “co-pilot.”

“If a lady’s skirt is too short, we recommend that she travel in the backseat to keep our concentration.

“If the skirt is not that short but you tend to have wandering hands, she should also travel behind.”

In addition, aspiring co-pilots “must at least have nice legs.”

In a section entitled ‘Drive with love’, the manual reveals that to “behave like a gentleman, you should know that if your partner, girlfriend or playmate travels with friends, you should become the chauffeur for each and every one of them, assuming the role of alpha male and leaving each one of them safe and sound at their resting place.”

The booklet has come under heavy fire from women’s groups, including one which posted photos of the publication on its Facebook page, referring to it as “a summary of stereotypical and misogynistic messages.”

Twitter users were similarly scathing. “It’s full of old, misogynistic jokes,” read one tweet. “If this is their sales strategy, it would be good to remember that women also drive.”

Fiat Argentina responded on their own Twitter account, apologising for the offending text and asserting that it was never intended to be disrespectful towards women.