Ad From Iran Comparing Singlehood And Married Life Draws Flak Online, Here's Why

Marriage as a concept has been widely debated for so long. Particularly, feminists all across the world have long criticised marriage as a patriarchal institution that disproportionately benefits men.

Now, a public service advertisement, allegedly produced by Iran's conservative culture centre, is going viral, reinforcing this critique.

Iran's ad for married life compares it with singlehood in an 'odd' manner

An ad for married life produced by a conservative cultural center in #Iran. pic.twitter.com/6XYtnPWpjN

¡ª Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari) January 22, 2023

The advertisement contrasts the lives of a single man and a married man. While the right side of the commercial depicts a lonely bachelor living on take-out food, the other side displays him being fed home-cooked meals and living a more "fulfilling" life that includes surprise birthday celebrations.

Reza H. Akbari (@rezahakbari), who works as a programme manager for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting according to his Twitter account, tweeted this ad on January 22 and wrote along with it, "An ad for married life produced by a conservative cultural center in #Iran.¡±

The ad drew a lot of flak on the internet

So far, this video gathered over three million views. Many people pointed out in the comments that the movie primarily focuses on men and how marriage benefits them while ignoring the emotional and domestic labour done by women.

A woman wrote, "And the role of #woman is just #givingbirth , making food and comforting the man. Oh I forgot and #childlabour in such places of course is acceptable to be used in #advertisement."

And the role of #woman is just #givingbirth , making food and comforting the man. Oh I forgot and #childlabour in such places of course is acceptable to be used in #advertisement.

¡ª Leila Daneshvar (@leilahdaneshvar) January 22, 2023

A man debated and added, "Women need to understand that without them, our lives are incomplete. I know how to cook but I will do it joyfully with a woman by my side. I can take care of my home but it's sad to do it alone. It's not that men can't do anything alone, women just bring light to our world."

Women need to understand that without them, our lives are incomplete.
I know how to cook but I will do it joyfully with a woman by my side.
I can take care of my home but it's sad to do it alone.

It's not that men can't do anything alone, women just bring light to our world.

¡ª WaterTank?10¡Á? (@HelironT) January 27, 2023

Another man pointed out, "Conservatives be like: Men are rational leaders and responsible for everything Also conservatives: wah, we can't cook or dress ourselves and need a woman to do everything for us. But we're definitely not giant babies."

Conservatives be like: Men are rational leaders and responsible for everything
Also conservatives: wah, we can't cook or dress ourselves and need a woman to do everything for us. But we're definitely not giant babies.

¡ª BikeChilliwack (@BikeChilliwack) January 27, 2023

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