Miss Representation

I hope I get to see this documentary soon:

Newest Miss Representation Trailer (2011 Sundance Film Festival Official Selection) from Miss Representation on Vimeo.

No Women Allowed! -- Dr. Pepper 10

And today in super-annoying marketing decisions:



Unfortunately, Colorado must be one of the "selected test markets" Time alludes to in the linked article, because I've been seeing this damn commercial for the last three days and I hate it with a burning passion. You know what's really sad? I would probably buy this soda, since I've long been on a quest to find a soda that doesn't taste like aspartame but also isn't sugar- and calorie-laden. Of course, part of me wants to buy this soda in spite of the advertising--no girls allowed! I'll show you, Dr. Pepper!--but, of course, they're probably counting on women either not caring about their men-only advertising or being irked enough to buy the soda because of their men-only advertising.

I understand that advertisers need to push their products towards certain markets and that it may be difficult to sell diet sodas to men (because of a bizarre social stigma, or perceived stigma, that already doesn't make sense). What I don't understand is why they can't make ads that are either gender-neutral or advertise towards men without reinforcing gender stereotypes (and particularly inane ones at that). God forbid you like "romantic comedies and lady drinks." (Actually, what are lady drinks?) And women definitely don't like action films.

In anticipation that people will claim I just can't take a joke, I'm perfectly fine with ads that make fun of gender stereotypes (like the Old Spice "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" ads, which I love). But, I mostly just think this ad this dumb and, hence, not funny.

A Feminist Countdown to 2011 ~ Day Twenty-Four

See the full calendar here.

Women Can't Talk about Technology

Apparently, women can't talk about technology; they can only joyfully-yet-silently revel in the adorableness of their children...at least that's the message I got out of Apple's design video featuring the new iPhone 4.

A few screen shots from the video of talking heads (men) and child-caretaker (woman):

Those ridiculous tampon ads...

I'm a little late on the uptake (in other words, this video has been popping up on blogs for a few days now and I only just found the time to watch it myself a few minutes ago), but this advertisement is fantastic. Smart thinking, Kotex!

The obligatory Superbowl ad post

This year's Superbowl Ads were pretty 'meh' and most of them were also (unsurprisingly) pretty sexist--but too boring to even get me remotely riled up , and that's saying something. Thankfully, the Focus on the Family ad that caused all the controversy was so short and understated that I barely noticed it before it was over. Of course, considering how many ads CBS aired for its own shows(!) there would certainly have been room for that gay dating site ad they refused to air. All that said, I was unimpressed and unmoved, for the most part.

There was, however, one ad that I absolutely hated:



Man's. Last. Stand. Indeed.

In other words: ARE WE BEING CLEAR ENOUGH FOR YOU WITH OUR BOLD, ALL CAPS FONT THAT THIS CAR WILL REINFORCE YOUR VIRILE MASCULINITY DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE COMPLETELY DOMINATED BY YOUR OVERBEARING WIFE WHO ASKS TOTALLY UNREASONABLE THINGS OF YOU LIKE SHARING IN THE HOUSEWORK AND CLEANING UP AFTER YOURSELF?

(This lovely message is further supplemented by Dodge's description for its posting of the ad on Youtube: "You've sacrificed a lot, but surely there is a limit to your chivalry. Drive the car you want to drive.")

Besides a lot of duds, there were a few (very few) good ads, some okay ads, and one great ad: Google's funny, thoughtful and understated vehicle for search engine wish fulfillment.



I have to say, though, for once the game was way more interesting than the advertisements.

What were your favorite and least favorite ads this year?

Target Women: Hair

In yet another installment of Ridiculous Advertising 101:

Thank you, Burger King...

...for making me want to shoot myself.

Ugh.



(H/T Bridget)

Target Women x2 (a.k.a. watch this while I get my groove back)

I got back from Europe late Friday night, after a long international flight, a delayed flight out of O'Hare (where we sat on the tarmac for two hours while lightening flashed around us), an hour drive home from the airport, and then, finally, spending the hour and half after returning home battling the moth invasion that had taken over in our absence (over 40 of them...I counted!). Suffice it to say, yesterday was spent in a state of full-body exhaustion, and today I'm just starting to get back on track.

I actually have a whole list of things about which I'd like to post in the next couple weeks--including two feminist flashbacks I need to catch up on--but, for now, as a sort of buffer while I get back on my feet, here's Sarah Haskins' two latest. Funny and insightful as ever!



...and...

Wrinkles and the FDA

I saw that the FDA approved an over-the-counter laser to be used at home to remove wrinkles. The news reporter talked as a video of a woman with alien-type goggles on winced as the doctor used some laser contraption to zap wrinkles and instantly make her younger…

Seriously folks, is this really something we need? I can just see it now…”Woman zaps off earlobe after sneezing while using at-home laser treatment.” Hours have passed and I keep thinking about what this development really means. First, maybe food safety is a more important issue to tackle for the FDA to tackle than beauty products (just a thought). Secondly, but no less disturbing, is the notion that you can’t be youthful and beautiful unless you don’t have wrinkles.


Of course, this targets women only even though nobody says it. Why is that? Well, think about this. All the wrinkle removal systems, all the anti-aging products, etc. are advertised in women’s magazines and through commercials starring women. They promise to reduce your wrinkles and fine lines, making you look and feel more beautiful with each application. The flip side of this being I’ve never seen Burt Reynolds or Sean Connery or even Tony Bennett in one of those ads. You know why? Somehow, men become “regal” or “stately” when they get old, wrinkles and all. A touch of gray at the temple is attractive and sexy. That’s the message society sends…

Now, I don’t know about you but I think this is a bunch of fahooey. Old is old. I don’t think Burt Reynolds’ wrinkles are any sexier than Angela Lansbury’s. However, we’ve allowed beauty to become synonymous with youth (for women anyway), and society is constantly putting pressure on women to be beautiful. I mean, let’s face it, the first thing people see is your face. God forbid that someone stops to think that you actually may be a good person despite your wrinkles or gray hair. I’m not against using these products if you know why you’re using them. In other words, you’re not trying to comply with the unattainable and warped definition of beauty—you love being you and are secure with that but maybe a few less wrinkles make you happy.

Women are the wiser sex; after all, we’ve tricked these men into believing that the older they get, the better they get. I think the trickery/boosting their egos should stop and say, “Hey guys. Maybe you should try that new wrinkle treatment because you look really old. You’re not a bottle of Scotch, you don’t get better with age.” See how they like it…

Fling: Chocolate for Women (redux)

Just so ya'll don't think I'm hopelessly passé, not following trends in the blogosphere and stuff, I wrote a post on the new Mars chocolate bar for women over at The Hathor Legacy...er...a month and a half ago, before NPR's recent coverage. Just sayin'. :-)

Fling: chocolate for women?

I've got a new post up at The Hathor Legacy about Mars' new chocolate bar, Fling, which is being specifically marketed towards women as a low-calorie, high-indulgence treat, with a sexy twist. Here's a snippet of my post; feel free to check out the rest and join the discussion over at THL:

The new treat, Fling, is being billed as “chocolate for women,” because it’s low-calorie but highly indulgent. Or, in the words of Fling’s tagline: “Naughty…but not that naughty.” How very clever.

In a promotional video detailing their New Zealand launch, Mars reveals its marketing strategy as one which relies heavily on the idea of guilt-free cheating (in both the adultery and the “cheating on one’s diet” sense). While a number of other products have used this sort of marketing (Jello’s “every diet needs some wiggle room” comes to mind), Mars seems to be very focused on drawing parallels between its product and some pointedly non-gastronomical pleasures of the flesh. For example, the now-defunct New Zealand launch site included virtual men with whom you could have “guiltless” virtual affairs...

Also, check out this heinous Schick Quattro "mow the lawn" ad that everyone's been talking about...

Heineken beer ad -- funny or not?

I'm torn. The first time I saw this commercial on television last week, I found it absolutely hysterical. But now, I'm not sure. Should I be offended?

I haven't found an English version of the video online yet, but there's not much talking anyway...



On the one hand, I know that stereotypes are bad, can lead to skewed perceptions about gender roles, and shouldn't, in practice, be encouraged. On the other hand, I feel like this commercial makes both the women and the men look absolutely ridiculous. It's so clear that the advertisers are playing on very common stereotypes about men and women, that I'm not finding myself too upset about it.

What do you think?

Target Women: Carl's Jr.

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Feminist Flashback #28

Since, my feminist flashback from two weeks ago featured Barbie, it's only right that I post Sarah Haskins' latest video as this week's "flashback" (obviously, I define that term very loosely). I think this may be one of my favorite Target Women segments yet:

"Only in a Woman's World": What were they thinking?

I've got a new post up at The Hathor Legacy about this highly disturbing advertisement for Baked Lays, Smart Earth and Smartfood Snacks.



Check out my post here, and you tell me if I'm overreacting!

Breaking the Silence

What follows is a cross-posted guest post by Pat from the Campaign for Gender Equality. Check out their website for more information.

“Turning a person into a thing is almost always the first step in justifying violence against that person.”
- Jean Kilbourne, lecturer and keynote speaker focusing on violence, women, and the media.

Chris Brown’s brutal beating of Rihanna reignited talk about domestic violence in this country. That is a good thing! We need to have more honest conversations about this epidemic. The statistics shed some light on the severity of this problem:

Battering is the single most common cause of injury to women in the United States, more common than car accidents, mugging and rape combined. Much to the misconception of many, victims of domestic violence come from all races, classes and ethnic backgrounds. Of all women murdered in the U.S.—an average of three a day—about one-third were killed by an intimate partner. According to the National Organization for Women, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner-related physical assaults and rapes every year.

I found this recent article by Megan Twohey and Bonnie Miller Rubin disturbing. According to them, 1 in 10 teens suffer from dating violence, yet their reaction to Rihanna’s beating is that she deserved it. What is the answer to this gross misconception? Education. According to Twohey and Rubin:

“In recent years, some schools and youth organizations have started educating teens about the dangers of dating violence. Rhode Island and Virginia have adopted laws requiring such instruction in the public schools. But most states, including Illinois, don't have such a mandate and education on the topic remains in short supply, experts say. Two of three new programs created by the federal Violence Against Women Act in 2005 to address teen dating violence were never funded.”

Not only are we not doing enough to educate youth about domestic violence, but the media (a prime source of information for today’s youth) doesn’t give domestic violence its due coverage. We barely heard anything about the woman in New York who was recently beheaded by her husband after she had filed for a divorce. Where is the outrage? I know it’s not a pretty story, but if we don’t talk about domestic violence, and, more importantly, learn about its roots and causes, we will never eliminate it.

What makes domestic violence and other forms of violence against women so prevalent? What makes men feel they can have power and control over women? The answers to these questions are abundant and complicated, but recently I came across two videos that shed some light:

This one speaks to advertising and the effects it has on women and the value of women.

This one talks about the media and how men learn to treat women.

Campaign for Gender Equality is a non-profit 501c3 organization focused on raising public awareness of the benefits of gender equality, regardless of age, race, class or sexual orientation, through education and advocacy.

We have partnered with Professor Bettina Aptheker, head of Women's Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, to promote her "Introduction to Feminisms" course now available in a 17 set DVD. In her DVD titled “Domestic Violence: Strategies for Prevention and Resistance” Aptheker says, “Violence against Women is the magnification of the historical unequal power relations which have lead the domination over and discrimination of women by men to the prevention of women’s full advancement.” Order “Introduction to Feminisms” on DVD.

Battery, whether emotional or physical, is about power and control. From Aptheker’s DVD, here are just some examples of the different types of domestic violence.

• Emotional – putting her down, making her feel bad about herself, calling her names, making her think that she is crazy.
• Economic – trying to keep her from getting or keeping a job, making her ask for money, giving her an allowance, or taking her money.
• Sexual – making her do things against her will, physically attacking the sexual parts of her body, and treating her like a sex object.
• Using children – using the children to give messages and using visitation as a way to harass.
• Threats – making and/or carrying out threats to do something physically or emotionally, threatening to take the children, and threats to commit suicide.
• Using male privilege – treating her like a servant, making all the big decisions, acting like the master of the house.
• Intimidation – putting her in fear by using looks, actions, gestures, loud voices, smashing things, destroying her property.
• Isolation – controlling what she does, who she sees and talks to, and where she goes.

Perhaps many readers do not experience these confinements, but a great many women in our own country still live this way. These patterns of domestic abuse and domestic violence are all about power and control. To stop the epidemic of violence against women that exists in this country we must break the silence. We must put adequate funding into educating the next generation of girls and boys about violence against women and its root causes. We must have honest conversations about domestic violence and pressure the media to change its portrayal of women as objects.

McDonald's McCafe ad

There's this incredibly annoying McDonald's McCafe advertisement that I've been seeing lately, but I can't find a video of it anywhere to showcase its sheer stupidity. I also haven't been able to catch it on tape yet, but if any of you either have it in a digital format or have seen it floating around online somewhere, I will be very grateful for a copy or a link.

That said, the commercial goes something like this: two young women drinking McDonald's coffees--one hot, one iced and covered in whip cream--talk whilst walking a park, amidst boisterous giggles, about everything from the unwanted gift of a puppy to boyfriend trouble. Stereotypical "girl talk." And they giggle constantly. And, there's a twist! As the commercial nears its end, a voice-over extols the virtues of McDonald's McCafe to bring people together and let you have a break from real life and the two women smile and hug as they part. Then, the blond woman turns towards her companion and asks something along the lines of "Wait, I didn't catch your name?" They introduce themselves to each other, amidst more giggling, and the voice-over says something revealing that amounts to "McCafe helps you connect with friends, even new ones."

Obviously, I can't remember the commercial word-for-word, but it's the most grating commercial I've seen in a long time. The incessant giggling makes me want to change the channel. The implication that something as simple as bonding over your McDonald's coffee can cause two women who are complete strangers to giddily reveal all their secrets to one another? What's up with that? Not to mention that the commercial makes the two women look like completely airheads. Argh!

Has anyone else seen this ad?

Feminist Flashback #26

For this week's Feminist Flashback, the first Barbie commercial, from 1959. Lyrics and transcript below the cut.




Transcript:

[Female voice, singing]
Barbie, you're beautiful.
You make me feel
my Barbie doll is really real.

Barbie's small and so petite.
Her clothes and figure look so neat.

Her dancing outfit rings a bell.
At parties she will cast a spell.

Purses, hats and gloves galore,
and all the gadgets gals adore.

[Male voice, speaking]
Barbie dressed for swim and fun is only three dollars. Her lovely fashions range from one to five dollars. Look for Barbie wherever dolls are sold.

[Female voice, singing]
Someday, I'm gonna be exactly like you
Till then, I know just what I'll do.

Barbie, beautiful Barbie,
I'll make believe that I am you.

(H/T Feminist Law Professors)

Target Women: Skin Care

Since I'll be in transit the rest of the day, on my way to LA to do some research, I thought I'd leave you all with the newest Target Women. As always, Sarah Haskins is awesome.

"I need products to fix it. Products that use pictures of science."

Enjoy!