Brahmānanda: I was seeing in one of these Time magazines. On the rear page they're advertising a cigarette that is especially meant for women. It's a slimmer size. The larger size is for the men; the slimmer size is for the women. And the title of the advertisement, they show one picture of a woman cleaner, sweeper. She is cleaning the floors. This picture was taken in the 1920's. It was taken in Washington D.C. because in the background they show the capitol building is there in Washington D.C. So then they have a picture of a modern woman. She's sitting there looking very nice. And they say that "You've come a long way, baby." (laughter) Whereas in the 1920's you were sweeping the floors and now you're sitting on a throne.
Prabhupāda: "So you accept this cigarette."
Brahmānanda: Yes. "This cigarette is meant just for you to show that you're superior."
Prabhupāda: I think there was some objection, woman taking this objection, why woman's idol should be displayed in the shopkeeper's show windows.
Brahmānanda: The mannequins.
Prabhupāda: Yes. There was some protest. Generally, they keep the dolls of woman, beautiful woman. So there was some protest.
Brahmānanda: They even now have protested...
Prabhupāda: In advertisement also. Woman's pictures are so many. So why they are taking woman's picture? We also say that maidservant, 1920... Now she has become. Like the woman... There are many men like that. Why not men? Why they are taking advantage of the woman? Why there is no protest, that "Why you are taken?" There are many men who has improved from 1920 up to date. Why don't you give that picture. Why woman's picture? Where is the protest? Whenever there is some fashion dress, the woman's picture is given. Why? Is there any protest by the women for this that, "Why you are taking advantage of woman"?
Jagadīśa: These days the men are doing that also more and more, dressing up so fancy and getting their pictures in the magazines.
Prabhupāda: Of women?
Jagadīśa: Men also. Nowadays men are also doing that, thinking that it's so important to dress in fancy clothes.
Prabhupāda: No, dress, that's all right. But generally they present woman's picture.
Brahmānanda: Yes, they protest that this shows that woman is being exploited.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Brahmānanda: Actually, they are just feeling frustrated because it is a fact that woman has been exploited by the men. So now they want to counteract this.
Prabhupāda: No, we don't say that woman should be exploited by men. We say the man should be responsible and give protection to woman.
Brahmānanda: But they feel so angry from the exploitation that they cannot accept that actually a man could protect them.
Prabhupāda: That is bad experience. But the ideal is different. Ideal is that man must be first-class and he must be responsible to take care of the woman, and she should be given all protection, all necessities. That is the duty of man. Just like father takes the charge of his daughter, similarly, husband should take charge of the woman. And similarly, elderly sons also took charge of the woman. The father never exploits the daughter. He gives all protection. That is the duty of the husband also. When she is grown up, she cannot remain under the protection of father. She is given, therefore, to a suitable boy to take charge. But the charge is the same, to give protection, all comforts. And because there is no first-class man to take charge of the woman, they are declaring independence. All the men are doing that. They keep girlfriend, make her pregnant, and go away, goes away.
Brahmānanda: In that sense we can say that the women are inferior, but the men also, they are not first-class.
Prabhupāda: That we also said, that there is no first-class men. So if there is first-class man, then whole question is solved.
Jagadīśa: The men are behaving just like dogs.
Prabhupāda: Yes.