New App Launched In Time For Super Bowl Lets You Call Out Brands For Sexist Ads

[redqueen]

This Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast will see some of the world’s biggest consumer brands vying for your attention at an estimated price of $4 million for 30 seconds. In years past, viewers have come to expect a certain recurring theme from these expensive ads.

In 2013 alone, we watched swimsuit model Kate Upton pose sexily and suggestively to sell cars for Mercedes while fellow swimsuit model Nina Agdal writhed sexily and suggestively to sell sandwiches for Carl’s Jr.

We saw another swimsuit model, Bar Refaeli, make out with a stereotypical bespectacled nerd to sell domain names for GoDaddy.com in a spot as unfunny as it was brainless. (GoDaddy spokesperson Danika Patrick helpfully explained that Refaeli represented “the sexy side” of the site, not “the smart side”, lest we found their ad too subtle and complex.)

Despite almost as many women as men now watching football’s championship game, brands and their advertising agencies can’t resist appealing to the lowest common denominator, portraying women as barely-sentient objects attached to breasts.

...


http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/01/27/new-app-launched-in-time-for-super-bowl-lets-you-call-out-brands-for-sexist-ads/

[Scuba]

1. Do people still watch ads on TV?

I love my DVR.

[redqueen]

2. You've somehow missed all the buzz over superbowl ads?

Anyway, yes. People watch them, which explains the price tag.

[snooper2]

3. Would this count?

How about Asking Amy, "will this one read 50 Shades of Grey to me in a sexy voice?" "no" "will you?"

[Lost_Count]

4. We've gone from outrage via the internet...

... to the more specific outrage via app.

I'm sure the advertisers will be waiting with bated breath....

[redqueen]

5. Do you have a problem with collective criticism of sexist ads? nt

[Lost_Count]

6. Conceptually... no...

I just want to be realistic about what they expect the end result to be...

[redqueen]

10. So... you didn't read the article. nt

[quinnox]

7. WELL, that app will surely be hot, and get millions of downloads, no doubt

[Nuclear Unicorn]

11. I'm waiting for the app to use while listening to Rock and/or Hip-Hop stations.

[quinnox]

12. you would be so busy, you would barely be able to keep up!

[snooper2]

8. I'm a little slow today, but another question-

Does this mean you'll only be watching the Super Bowl for the commercials?




you have 263 minutes to respond-

[hobbit709]

9. That would involve me having to do 2 things.

1. Get a smartphone to run the app on
2. Watch the Super Bowl.

I think I'll watch the Puppy Bowl instead.

[badtoworse]

13. This will actually be a refreshing change...

...from the sexist ads that pander to women (and minorities) by portraying white males as idiots.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

14. .

[PeaceNikki]

15. HA!

[redqueen]

17. I hope this is sarcasm. nt

[badtoworse]

20. I like to think of it as sauce for goose.

[redqueen]

21. Wow.

Actually it isn't as surprising as it should be to see such views on a progressive board.

But, well... the party has been sliding to the right for a while now.

[badtoworse]

24. Some things shouldn't be taken seriously

You need to laugh once in a while.

[Squinch]

42. Good Lord, you didn't really say, "You need to laugh onece in a while," did you?

That's right up there with, "It was just a joke!" as a response chosen by those who are afraid that their cooperation with the unsupportable is about to be uncovered.

[Squinch]

40. Then you don't understand the intent of those commercials.

They were created to convince women that waxing the floor or doing the laundry was an intensely important part of life that only they could do competently. They wanted to convince women, when no other roles were open to them, that those roles were important.

That's why you NOW are beginning to see many commercials that show men sharing in housework.

[geek tragedy]

22. they don't portray white men as idiots.

they portray white men as generally clueless about stuff that was referred to as "women's work" in the 1950's--i.e. household cleaning, laundry, stuff like that.

When they show men acting clueless about personal finances and power tools . . .

[redqueen]

23. Thanks for making that distinction.

I saw something debunking that canard linked in another thread, but I can't find it.

So I'll post this instead.

[badtoworse]

25. We must watch different shows.

In any case, we're talking about something that is highly subjective. My opinion is different than yours.

[geek tragedy]

27. are you talking shows or commercials?

white, heterosexual men get to go to the back of the line in terms of demographic groups who have a right to complain about television portrayals (or lack thereof)

[badtoworse]

32. The commercials are different based the type of show

If we watch different types of shows, we'd likely see different commercials. What other deomgraphic group gets regularly portrayed as morons?

[geek tragedy]

34. "regularly portrayed?"

the most watched television shows portray white guys as authorities, in charge, the protagonist, formidable, etc.

[badtoworse]

35. Look at the commercials

Who's in charge of the office? Who's the doctor when drugs or health products are being pedaled? Who makes the smart moves ina family setting? It's usually someone who's not white or not male.

[geek tragedy]

36. see, it's the 'taking care of the household duties' stuff that they're being

shown as lacking awareness of.

stuff that's been considered the traditional role of women.

Get back to me when they're shown not being able to figure out taxes or other stuff that contradicts traditional male roles.

Or when men in speedos are features in women's beverage or shampoo/deodorant/fragrance products.

[geek tragedy]

38. Or, tell me why this is funny:

[gollygee]

28. As far as tv shows go

there are two parts in comedy: the straight man (or woman) and the funny person - the comedic lead. Men more often get the lead roles, though yes the lead roles are the funny people and the funny people are silly, and the "straight man" is usually presented as the smart one. But the funny person is still the lead and the "straight man" is still a sidekick.

[el_bryanto]

26. Yeah - it's tough being a white male

Thank goodness we control everything or really I'd have no reason to get out of bed in the morning.

Can you imagine how awful things would be if women and minorities had any cultural power? Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

Bryant

[badtoworse]

29. It's actually pretty good being a white male

That's why the ad agencies get away with their insulting stereotypes of us. I've seen lots of ads that would never run if some other demographic group was the butt of the joke.

This whole subject is amusing and I don't lose any sleep over it.

[el_bryanto]

30. Clearly it does kind of bug you to be insulted or you wouldn't bring it up. Right? nt

[badtoworse]

33. It's mildly annoying, that's about it.

[redqueen]

37. ...

[PeaceNikki]

16. Bummer - not on Android.

[FSogol]

18. Does it have a short cut to "mark everything as sexist?"

That would save some people a lot of time.

[redqueen]

19. Good to know that sexism is just a big joke to some people. nt

[el_bryanto]

39. I was curious if this was because few are watching the Super Bowl

I never watch it myself (and won't this year) - but it looks like a fair amount will be.

Bryant

[Squinch]

43. There seems to be a lot of commitment to pushing the idea that those who don't like

sexism are just humorless and need to lighten up.

Really, is there any argument that is more reminiscent of the thinking of an 11-year-old boy?

[Warpy]

31. I was raised by an uppity broad.

When some beer or car ad would come on with some poor model half dressed and told to look sultry (which looked to me like her pantyhose had bunched up in her pink bits), I'd always ask aloud "Do you think they give you a hooker as a premium?"

My poor dad put up with a lot.

[Squinch]

44. Well, but she did have a point!