The Astrofemmes, Hollywood 1958.

Those old enough to remember the patronising gender-biased television of the 50s and 60s, are sure to recall The Astrofemmes.

Recruited by an advertising agency to promote Baxman detergent fluid, the three young aspiring actors starred in a long running series of sci-fi shorts to huge commercial success. Their strange looking sight-transmitters beamed pictures back to Earth, allowing men at the control desk to advise on all decisions. Of course the scientists hopeless choice of floor cleaning product was rebuked by the Astrofemmes, who had brought aboard their own superior choice: Baxman!

When suits at the New York agency considered them to be no longer youthful enough for mass-appeal, they sought to replace them with junior upgrades. The Astrofemmes unionized and fought back, orchestrating a boycott of Baxman products across the USA.

Using their influence to sway an incoming CEO, pressure was brought upon the agency with a threat to withdraw its lucrative account unless the three women were soon back in charge of deep space exploration ship USS Maiden. The art directors who had so vehemently put forward a baseless argument for their replacement were deemed to have brought a client into disrepute and reassigned to a new ‘product and consumer insight’ department, with roles as janitors for the ladies restrooms.