(Yahoo) – Ads featuring “harmful gender stereotypes” which are likely to cause offense will be banned in Britain from Friday under new rules that could have a major impact on the industry. The ban by the Advertising  Standards Authority would cover, for example, a woman failing to park a car, a man struggling to change a nappy or girls being less academic than boys. The ban will not include some

stereotypical scenarios that are judged not to cause as much offense in ads, such as a woman cleaning or a man doing DIY tasks. “Harmful gender stereotypes in ads can contribute to inequality in society, with costs for all of us,” ASA chief executive Guy Parker said in a statement. “Put simply, we found that some portrayals in ads can, over time, play a part in limiting people’s potential,” he said. “It’s in the interests of women and men, our economy and society that advertisers steer clear of these outdated portrayals, and we’re pleased with how the industry has already begun to respond,” he added. READ MORE