Sexism in advertising

[Phrygian]

Look at these funny advertisements from not-so-long ago.  Seems the girls have it much easier these days;  they juggle careers, housework and child-minding instead of simply longing for a Hoover for Christmas:

http://news.domain.com.au/photogallery/domain/real-estate-news/21-vintage-household-ads-you-wont-believe-existed-20150407-3tmrk.html?rand=1428792279425

It turns out I've got "honeymoon hands" and "middle aged skin".  Now, that's a conflict of interest if ever there was one!!

But, sexism is still alive and well in advertising;  it's simply transformed into another version of itself.

[springrite]

"Paco Rabanne is what a man should wear. What a woman wears is up to you."

[Jo498]

No, today spanking is not just a bad joke in an ad but they make a whole bestselling book series and movie out of it!

[Todd]

What's wrong with being sexy?

[ibanezmonster]

No, today spanking is not just a bad joke in an ad but they make a whole bestselling book series and movie out of it!

At the risk of sounding sexist, many women have terrible taste in books. Of course, many men do, too (probably could include me in that), but it's women who are the vast majority that buy the specific series you're talking about.

[Jo498]

At the risk of sounding sexist, I had to lough out loud and keep chuckling at "You didn't burn the beer".

The real lesson, I believe, is that it is very possible that in 40 or 60 years we will laugh about the hypersensitive PC speech of the early decades of the 21st century as we do now about the casual sexism of the mid-20th century.

[Phrygian]

At the risk of sounding sexist, I had to lough out loud and keep chuckling at "You didn't burn the beer".

The real lesson, I believe, is that it is very possible that in 40 or 60 years we will laugh about the hypersensitive PC speech of the early decades of the 21st century as we do now about the casual sexism of the mid-20th century.

I agree with you;  it's extremely funny!!  It doesn't make you sexist laughing at these things, merely a person with a good sense of humour!  And I think a good many people already laugh about political correctness all the time.  Do you remember Jack Nicholson's hilarious lines in "As Good as it Gets"?  These were extremely 'offensive' but I laughed like a mad relation all the way through that film. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsJ_PkplZrE

And, of course, Stephen Colbert - bless him - and his politically incorrect humour.  God, I'm going to miss him on "The Colbert Report".

[Jay F]

"Paco Rabanne is what a man should wear. What a woman wears is up to you."

What woman (or other sentient being) would want to be in a room with a man who wears Paco Rabanne?

[springrite]

What woman (or other sentient being) would want to be in a room with a man who wears Paco Rabanne?

Not a fan of that particular brand of cologne, I see?

[Ken B]

What's wrong with being sexy?

I think you are guilty of etc here Todd. This is in fact a particularly flagrant example of etc. Your employer has been notified and your bank is calling in your mortgage tomorrow. Your kids will be expelled and your wife's picture will be on the side of local buses: "Condones etc."

[Jay F]

Not a fan of that particular brand of cologne, I see?

Have you ever smelled that particular brand of cologne? It's worse, I would imagine, than an Axe/Drakkar Noir/Brut cocktail.

[springrite]

Have you ever smelled that particular brand of cologne? It's worse, I would imagine, than an Axe/Drakkar Noir/Brut cocktail.

You are right. I smelled it and immediately rejected it.



Without Paco Rabbane, it's still up to me 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Do these qualify? I hope so.

[Phrygian]

At the risk of sounding sexist, many women have terrible taste in books. Of course, many men do, too (probably could include me in that), but it's women who are the vast majority that buy the specific series you're talking about.

I don't know anything about the "series" of books you're talking about, but you seem to be selectively choosing your sexist material and who reads what.  Lack of discernment/taste is evenly spread between the sexes and women certainly don't hold a monopoly on consuming dross, which comes in all colours, shapes and sizes.  I regard the VAST majority of modern American 'megaplex' cinema as suitable landfill.  The same cinema (I hate to use that word to describe it) is filled with sexism, stereotypes, hubris and moribund, cultural narcissism.  To add insult to injury these films also are burdened by impoverished writing, utterly predictable plot lines saturated with bogus sentiment.  Not unlike the execrable and nationally embarrassing "Forrest Gump".  (Many will disagree with me, as is their constitutional right.)

So, please don't accuse women of appalling taste.  That compliment has to be equally shared.

[Jo498]

Now I wonder if those dresses predate Star Trek or Uhura's outfit was modelled after them. But compared to the ads in the link these pictures are not all that sexist.

[Sergeant Rock]

Now I wonder if those dresses predate Star Trek or Uhura's outfit was modelled after them.

The Mod look (miniskirts/dresses, boots) made its appearance in the spring/summer of 1965. Star Trek first aired in the fall of 1966. Pacific Southwest Airlines uniforms, by date:

1949: Green suit
1955: Light brown suit (summer), dark brown (winter) with embroidered PSA logo
1958: Fiesta Del Pacifico uniform during the Fiesta Del Pacifico
1960: Brown suit, more form fitting
1962: "Banana-Skin" uniform
1965: First miniskirt
1966: Celery green with pink trim miniskirt
1968: Pink miniskirt with green trim
1970: Pink and orange mini with Go-Go boots
1974: Red miniskirt with Go-Go boots
1976: Mauve and rainbow fabric skirt/suit
1980: Burgundy suit coats and pink blouses, or grey pants
1984: Purple skirts

The minis with boots could have been inspired by Uhura.

Sarge

[Jo498]

So the pictures above are roughly the 1970-74 outfits, I guess. As I was born in 1972 (and on the less colorful side of the ocean) I only vaguely remember some of the 1970s fashions although in first grade I sported rather colorful shirts and bell bottoms. It is fairly incredible that such were apparently standard outfits for flight attendants...

[Rinaldo]

So, please don't accuse women of appalling taste.  That compliment has to be equally shared.

Word. Greg's comment reminded me of the hypocrisy we apply to teen girls.

"Why are screaming girls, overcome with excitement for a group they love, considered a punch line, the pinnacle of immaturity, and something extraordinarily shameful, when the largely male, adult crowds at sporting events openly weep, bellow, paint their naked bodies in bright colours, clutch each other, and even commit physical violence due to emotion, both when their teams lose and when they win? There might be a lot of screaming and crying at a boy band concert, but when was the last time someone punched a fellow fan at one, or set fire to a car out of joy?"

Why do we mock teenage girls who love One Direction when Top Gear fans are just the same?

[Jo498]

All such ridiculous fandom deserves our scorn and discouragement and it is of course worse when they are grown-ups than teenage girls. But this does not make the screaming Bieber-Fans any more tolerable. (Besides, the real Biber is Heinrich Ignaz )

[jochanaan]

All such ridiculous fandom deserves our scorn and discouragement and it is of course worse when they are grown-ups than teenage girls. But this does not make the screaming Bieber-Fans any more tolerable. (Besides, the real Biber is Heinrich Ignaz )

Heard in a sermon: "When men jump, whoop and scream at a football game, they're called 'fans.' When they do it in church, they're called fan-atics."