'Anti-Male' Marketing Prompts Complaints

CNSNews.com ^ | November 09, 2004 | Susan Jones

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Money isn't everything, but it keeps you in touch with your kids.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Who are spending they're husbands' money no less.

I wonder when marketers will wise up, cut out the 'middle-woman' and convince husbands to spend their own money.

[smiley]

yep, it's been there since the NAG movement....always the "white" guy becoming the target...I mentioned this to my husband several years ago and just told him to watch the commericals....he's beginning to see what I mean...

[arizonarachel]

I have noticed how companies usually portray the man as a complete bumbling idiot who is only saved by his loving, patient, understanding wife.

While, I can sort of see the appeal to women (maybe lesbians?) of these ads, I think they are a disgraceful way to try to sell products. Men have money, too.

[fooman]

Progressive is run by commies. Avoid if you can.

[AnalogReigns]

I've seen one of these ads (not the one described) and I was amazed at how it was seen funny showing a seriously dysfunctional family.

The ad showed a Dad saying something like, "OK kids now we have phones that can let us stay in touch with each other!" The daughters stare in blank terror, and then hug their Mom when she says they can call their friends too... Father says "Group hug!" and the girls run off, leaving him awkward and alone. Very strange behaviour, actually, and not funny to my mind.

Weird advertising.

[bikepacker67]

Has anyone seen a commercial for an insurance company (Progressive, I think)? A woman is spying on her spouse through a web cam (or such item). He is in a bar hitting on a lass. The commercial continues with the wife creating a cyber scissors (or similar item) and then placing them over his crotch. This is shown to the viewer at home. She then smiles when she clips away and he is seen in agony.

Ya that one irritates me too.

As they leave the room, I wish he'd shout: "Guess who's paying the fluckin bill!"

[loborojo]

Bingo! Hetero equals dumb. You nailed it.

[fooman]

I hate that commercial too. This stuff is created by Madison avenue.

[TChris]

I have always tried hard to treat all women with respect, so seeing this kind of stuff coming at men, fathers in particular, is beginning to irk me too.

[CDHart]

There's a commercial out -- I think it's Dish TV -- about moving the satellite dish and the control box. Makes the husband look like a real fool who doesn't care about anything but his precious TV. I think it's demeaning.

Carolyn

[UseYourHead]

Typical liberal media only portraying DEMOCRAT fathers and then implying that all fathers are like them.

[JakeWyld]

LOL! We can dream!

I swear I was working one day (retail) and the customer in the checklane behind me had the cashier throw out a receipt she had so her husband couldn't see it.

I can't tell you how long my blood boiled over that.

[Just another Joe]

My kids KNOW I'm an idiot...............until I get serious.
That's when they listen closely because their old man has shown time and time again that when he gets serious, the intelligence and experience comes through and knows what, when, where, and how to get the job done.

[new cruelty]

Any commercial that has a male and female, casts the male as the idiot.

For the most part. There is one commercial (I think it is for deodorant) with two young women sitting at a kitchen table, looking extremely bored and displeased while their boyfriends are watching a football game in the adjacent living room. One boyfriend runs into the kitchen and gives his girlfriend a quick hug then runs back into the living room. Apparently his scent immediately reminds her of all the nice things they have done. Her expression changes to joy and she tells her friend how great her boyfriend really is.

[WildTurkey]

Most commercials use the White Male as the idiot because idiot commercials are funny but it would be racist to use a minority figure as an idiot.

[Paradox]

I have noticed that this is a common theme in advertising. Fathers/Husbands being portrayed as the lovable dopes, wives/mothers save the day, or make things right, giving the man a "bad boy" look. Not sure if this is merely a reflection of the culture, where "boyish" men are pretty much the norm these days...

[fooman]

Its Ann hit a nerve when she said on H&C that women were intellectually inferior to men. I dont think anyone really beleives that, but at least it added some VARIETY to the constant, dull and predictable PC droning in the media.

[jwalburg]

Love your tagline.

[bikepacker67]

For the most part. There is one commercial (I think it is for deodorant) with two young women sitting at a kitchen table, looking extremely bored and displeased while their boyfriends are watching a football game in the adjacent living room. One boyfriend runs into the kitchen and gives his girlfriend a quick hug then runs back into the living room. Apparently his scent immediately reminds her of all the nice things they have done. Her expression changes to joy and she tells her friend how great her boyfriend really is.

Ya, but even that one portrays the "boys" as mindless sports nuts - and the chicks are kvetching about it, until those olfactory driven memories tames the bitchfest.