h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This ad (for a well known make of computer printer) is currently running on American tv...

A man is shopping in a supermarket, he's looking at what appears to be a shopping list. A few long and medium shots of him picking items off the shelf, checking them against this piece of paper, putting some of them in the trolley, others go back on the shelf. Cut to the piece of paper - it's a series of photographs of the things he's meant to be buying.

The tagline - "A shopping list your husband will be able to understand" (I think I've got that right), followed by shots of a woman in a kitchen taking pictures of various tins, vegetables, etc, and then uploading them to a pc.

Does anyone here seriously believe that if the roles were reversed and the tagline was "A shopping list your wife will be able to understand", that would not be vociferously condemned as sexist?

Ads in the past often showed women in certain stereotyped roles, and by and large that has been rightly knocked on the head.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

Double standards like that are all over the place. Work with women who have calenders featuring ripped men all but naked. To turn that around would be a dismisal offence.

Fear not, for help is at hand - perhaps not aimed at fighting the double standards though...


Classes for Men at the Local Learning Center

NOTE: Due to the complexity and difficulty level of their contents, each course will accept a maximum of 8 participants each.

Topic 1 - How to fill up the ice cube trays.
Step by step, with slide presentation.

Topic 2 - The toilet paper roll: Do they grow on the holders?
Round table discussion.

Topic 3 - Is it possible to urinate using the technique of lifting the seat up and avoiding the floor/walls and nearby bathtub?
Group practice.

Topic 4 - Fundamental differences between the laundry hamper and the floor.
Pictures and explanatory graphics.

Topic 5 - The after-dinner dishes and silverware: Can they levitate and fly into the kitchen sink?
Examples on video.

Topic 6 - Loss of identity: Losing the remote to your significant other.
Help-line support and support groups.

Topic 7 - Learning how to find things, starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming.
Open forum.

Topic 8 - Health watch: Bringing her flowers is not harmful to your health.
Graphics and audio tape.

Topic 9 - Real men ask for directions when lost.
Real life testimonials.

Topic 10 - Is it genetically impossible to sit quietly as she parallel parks?
Driving simulation.

Topic 11 - Learning to live: Basic differences between your mother and your wife.
Online class and role-playing.

Topic 12 - How to be the ideal shopping companion.
Relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques.

Topic 13 - How to fight cerebral atrophy:
Remembering birthdays, anniversaries, other important dates and calling when you're going to be late.
Cerebral shock therapy sessions and full lobotomies offered.

** Upon completion of the course, diplomas will be issued to the survivors **

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

six7's
*undergraduate*

"Topic 4 - Fundamental differences between the laundry hamper and the floor.
Pictures and explanatory graphics.

Topic 5 - The after-dinner dishes and silverware: Can they levitate and fly into the kitchen sink?
Examples on video.

Topic 6 - Loss of identity: Losing the remote to your significant other.
Help-line support and support groups.

Topic 7 - Learning how to find things, starting with looking in the right place instead of turning the house upside down while screaming.
Open forum."

That describes my wife - how distirbed should I be by that?

Don't be afraid...























Be VERY, VERY afraid

six7's

I try I honestly do.

She say's she's gonna kick my arse when we argue and I offer to get her a step ladder

I imagine an honest advert along those lines...


Advert on TV with dumb male stereotype failing to do things that anyone knows he is quite capable of doing.

Cuts to stereotyped pair of women watching TV advert & laughing. Dream sequence supermarket shot 'Hmmm. I *must* buy that product'

Cuts to (predominantly male) meeting in advertising agency. Boss stands up and addresses meeting
"Ok, it's decided - *that* advert should get the daft bitches to buy these overpriced paper hankies. After all, most blokes just buy bog roll and use that instead anyway, so what's the point targetting them"
Men slap each other on back, and retire laughing to bar.

But very true, it it was a woman it would have been banned.

I'm still mad they banned that Interflora commercial.

at first post...

Such things only becomes offensive (IMHO) when there is a noticable amount of discrimination in real life... then it's pretty insensitive.

Since there isn't - it doesn't bother me at all.

Xanatic,

What Interflora commercial? Have I missed something? How bad could it have been?

B.

I disagree, I think we have matured enough to laugh at these stereotypes - in the UK certainly, as two ads running at the moment show.

1st the Yorkie Ad - Not For girls with girl dressed as builder trying to buy a bar and quized on "male" questions (luckily I never buy Yorkies as I'd fail the "explain the offside rule" question)

Second for a chocolate bar with 2 blokes pondering over life without chocolate - cut to scenes of women running amok.

Both would never have been made 10-20 years ago I'm sure, but now seem OK and liked by many.

CH

Am I the only one who finds this incredibly silly, because most of the items you would put on a shopping list are things you DON'T have in your kitchen and so can't possibly take photos of?

Apart from that, it's a darned good idea on how to get the groceries you want...

Seriously, though. Yeah, it's sexist. In a way. It highligts something that very is a weak spot with men. That would be fine if it was also fine to highlight women's weak spots. But doing that is instantly branded as detrimental, so in all fairness I suppose it's a bit Out.

It's probably "post-feminist". Which means that women now accept that they are different from men (equal, but different. See Men are from Mars etc etc) and it's OK to poke gentle fun at the stereotypes.

Then why do they bash us when we do?

BTW, Hi luckystar

hi Xan!

Because it's such fun!!!!!!

There were some protest about a milk commercial in Denmark, because you saw some women running naked down the beach. Claimed it was sexist and objectifying and all that.

Well, you know, getting back to the original ad... one could claim that it is still sexist against women. Still has them as the ones who do the majority of the shopping (and therefore know the products/know how to shop), still has them as the ones who care. Stuff the offensiveness to men I could get offended by this as a woman!

I knew they could turn it around somehow.

Speaking of which, an image that often turns up in comics and cartoons is a wife hitting her husband with a cake roller. Now if those roles were reversed, how many don't you think would talk about it promoting wife-beating and such.

Erm... 'something that is a weak spot with men'...

Since when is reading considered something men aren't good at?

Or am I missing something?

The question I want answered is do these adverts actually sell the products?In fact does any TV advert sell the product?

I have this real hate,hate with tv adverts at the moment-so much so I WON'T buy anything advertised on TV on principal.

And yes as the female of the household I do the shopping because my other half has realised that being useless at something has it's advantages.He has even realised being useless at many things is an even better idea.That's why there are no complaints of discrimination about these adverts as married/partnered men know which side their bread is buttered.You won't be thanked for rocking the boat.

Incog.