EVERYONE'S BUSINESS

Critics Call Florida's New Business Logo Sexist

Others defend the necktie image

Feb 6, 2013 by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: Facebook

Critics are slamming Florida's economic development organization for creating what they say is a sexist logo to promote job growth in the state.

No, it doesn't involve sun-drenched women in bikinis on Florida beaches. The logo spells out the word F-L-O-R-I-D-A, and has a necktie in place of the letter "I." The slogan is "Florida: The perfect climate for business."

The logo released last week by Enterprise Florida Inc., a public-private partnership, has drawn criticism on the group's Facebook page, along with plenty of others defending it. "The new 'necktie' logo is shortsighted and not at all inclusive," said Facebook user Amanda McCombs. "It not only disenfranchises women, but also businesses which are not white collar."

Tracie Crisante disagreed on Facebook. "I am a woman who runs a mid-sized company and feel secure enough with myself that if my state chose to have a logo with a tie in it I wouldn't worry about it in the least."

Florida is the state with the fourth highest number of female-owned businesses, according to a study last year by American Express.

Melissa Medley, chief marketing officer for Enterprise Florida, told ABC News that the logo was just one part of a larger campaign."If you see tie, you think business," she said. "There's nothing sinister here. There's no secret formula how it was approached."

Via Yahoo News, ABC News and Facebook

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?	Do you think the necktie logo is sexist?

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Yes, it is sexist

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It could be worse

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Nah, lighten up

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All : 77

Comments (view in Forum)

Feb '13

Medicinebow

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There's no limit to the number of people you can offend in this world. I think its a pretty lame logo myself.
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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They could of at least put Mickey Mouse ears on the "O" in Florida :)
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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I think the log is LAME. I think it's a waste of money to whoever designed it and I think it makes a laughingstock of Florida. But I refuse to become "upset" about it. It will die of it's own lameness without making a cause celeb of it. It's gotten to the point in America that you can't say boo without offending someone.
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Feb '13

_Jenny_

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I also think it's lame. But in addition to that, I own one-fifth of a company with branches in four states and my mother owns another fifth of it. I do feel it infers that businesses are solely the domain of men. They need to change that outdated image. It's not surprising the logo is going to be used in a Republican state. Their (Republican Party) history is not one of respecting women.
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Feb '13

martydotcom

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A tie in Floria is as irrelevant as our soon to be Ex Governor Scott
Ties are worn at funerals weddings and bar mitzvahs and more often than not only at funerals
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Post @martydotcom
Feb '13

jessejaymes

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You know right of the top of my head I would have put a background of the Miami Skyline and the words FLORIDA and below that BUSINESS IS BOOMING and left it at that. While florida is much more than Miami the average person thinks of all the TV shows and Commercials that shows Miami. That is just about the LAMEST promotional device I've ever seen.
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Feb '13

mudpike

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Why is this crap even publicized ?
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Feb '13

Medicinebow

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It's another slow night. Gives me something to do while scanning slides.
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Feb '13

Jet_Silverman

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Because people like you find it interesting and spend time on the site reading and writing about it.
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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@Jet_Silverman Pot meet kettle!
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Feb '13

Jet_Silverman

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@stepped_in_it I never post on a topic complaining about how uninteresting I find it
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Feb '13

Angry_man

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Mud pike you beat me to it
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Feb '13

MongoAPillager

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how badly do you need attention to find fault with this,anyone stupid enough to raise a stink over this is probably not smart enough to be in business long anyway
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Feb '13

Rocker

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Shoot man, let's go for really offensive and make it a female in a bikini facing backwards. If you're aiming for sexist, let's go all the way.
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Feb '13

MongoAPillager

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@Rocker facing backwards,is that even possible?
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Feb '13

Rocker

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@MongoAPillager - I coulda said 'back to front' but that would have been even more confusing...
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@Rocker I take a shot at checking out how sexist that might be.
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Feb '13

Dan_Tien

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I don't think the tie in the logo is sexist, but I think that Rick Scott's tie is a nightmare.
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o
Feb '13

thatgirl

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Good Lord, wth is that??????
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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Looks like the man needs to use a bib next time he eats!
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o
Feb '13

thatgirl

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Rick Scott is a dingdong.
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o
Feb '13

NTBFW

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Like we need something to b*tch about. " lighten up Frances"
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o
Feb '13

NTBFW

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But ties aren't ALWAYS for business! I have some grey ones.
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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Theres a VERY bad joke in there somewhere, but I aint going there, lol
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o
Feb '13

NTBFW

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@thatgirl sometimes you have to be bad to feel good.
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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@NTBFW Cant argue with that logic!
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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What the...? I challenge any critic to come up with a completely neutral symbol for "business"... Just how petty can you get???
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Feb '13

DARSB

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$$$$$$
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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@DARSB - F L O R $ D A... hmmm maybe, maybe...
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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What offends me most of all is that someone got paid for coming up with that logo.
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Feb '13

DogLady_1

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@jessejaymes - LOL yeah, it seems pretty straightforward...
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Feb '13

Hireman

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Neckties have long been a symbol for business. What was the state supposed to do, turn the "L" into an office chair? Get over it.
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Feb '13

hwyangel

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The logo shows a pink tie. I don't get it.
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Feb '13

DARSB

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Finally, a Florida story that doesn't involve voter suppression, "stand your ground" laws, or Gov Scott's historically low approval ratings.
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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My oldest daughter says Rick Scott looks like the Vampire in Stephen King movie. She showed me a photo of the movie vampire and she is right. Maybe they should have used the cast of True Blood as their logo?
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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He looks more like Skeletor to me. ;)
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Feb '13

PNWest

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@Denizen_Kate He looks like Bat Boy - http://www.browardbeat.com/wp-content/uploads...
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Feb '13

Jack-Black

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I am offended that these morons are offended.
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Feb '13

Vance1

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some lesbo's wear tie's, whats the big deal?
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Feb '13

hwyangel

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And it's a pink tie.
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Feb '13

Vance1

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@hwyangel

watch closely
http://www.youtube.com/watch...
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Feb '13

hwyangel

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@Vance1

Shared on Facebook, thanks
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Feb '13

hwyangel

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@Vance1

Have you heard about all the urban warfare training going on around the cities like Houston, Chicago, and LA?

Raw footage in Houston
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...

St Louis
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...

Boston
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...

Toledo
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...

Los Angeles
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...

Chicago
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch...
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Feb '13

Vance1

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@hwyangel

Yea, Great HUh....THX
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Feb '13

Denizen_Kate

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Much ado about no big deal. Melissa Medley is right. "If you see tie, you think business," she said. Not a very imaginative logo, but not worth making such a fuss.
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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When I read the headline, I really thought I'd see something like the R humping the O with the I....guess I'm a pervert!
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Feb '13

culinary

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God. Come on ladies, lighten up (and yes I'm a woman). I would be offended if they HAD put women in bikinis cuz my ass looks horrible in one :)
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Feb '13

stepped_in_it

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Opinions......;-)
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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We'll be the judge of that.
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Feb '13

Jamesa1019

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It's a tie! A tie is a symbol of business, whether it be behind a desk or on the shop floor. Maybe instead of a tie they should have placed an open hand. That's what our government does. It gives to those in "need", thus that is their symbol for work; an open hand.
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Feb '13

John_Doe1

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Hasn't anyone told these people that women wear neckties too and some of the outfits are quite cute
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Feb '13

Kellso

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I thought women wanted equolity??? Women in combat! Women in every position as a man! Women marrying women! Women can wear a neck tie too cant they!!!!!
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Feb '13

Keyjo

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Mountain, meet Molehill; Molehill, meet Mountain!
If anything, this is just a bit of free publicity for Florida.
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Feb '13

Canoochee

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You think it is contrived? I didn't consider that, but, it makes sense.
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Do you think the necktie logo is sexist?

Do you think the necktie logo is sexist?