Friday, April 1, 2011

Sexism in Advertising

I showed the Preakness ads to a colleague at Baylor who writes on feminism and pop-culture.  She said that she found a university summer session ad worse than "I get my Preak on with my Sorority Sisters."  The universty's ad features an attractive woman lying in the grass, without books, with the caption "Do it in the grass."  I have not been able to find a copy of the ad, but in my search I have found some other questionable ad campaigns.

An ad for Mr. Leggs slacks.  This ad fails on many levels.
But, Leggs for men was doomed at the drawing board.
  • Sin City, a Queensland night club, is self-promoting with a contest in which the winner will receive breast enlargement surgery, valued at $10,000.00.  For the lawyers at the Edge, Sin City has crossed the line on a law that prohibits offering plastic surgery as a prize.
  • Wayfinder GPS's ad in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (and other publications?) has the following copy: "Men would rather get lost than ask for directions; Women, well, they get lost even if they ask."
  • Going vintage: Hoover "Christmas morning she'll be happier with a Hoover."; Chef Mixer "The Chef does everything but cook -- that's what wives are for!"; Del Monte ketchup "You mean a woman can open it?"
  • QSOL.COM   print ad for their computer servers has a close up of a woman's face and the conciliatory statement, "Don't feel bad, our servers won't go down on you either."
  • And, for those in Waco, Fat Ho Burger.

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