Woe to the woman who enjoys food and does not restrict: society just doesn’t seem to like her. Women, guilt, and food are constantly working together to sell products. But half the time, it’s hard to tell what those products are: the women, the guilt, or the food. The great news? Dannon’s latest Light &… Continue Reading →
Tide seems to understand that men know how to operate a washing machine
Ok, Tide. Stop sending me conflicting signals. We all know that the vast majority of advertisements for cleaning products like detergents and mops feature women doing all the acts of cleaning and housekeeping. And it’s important to note that it isn’t just women; it’s usually moms. This isn’t just reinforcing the stereotype of women, but… Continue Reading →
Kia’s new ad gives a refreshing look at “The Woman and Man of Now”
As we’ve discussed here on About-Face.org, car companies are not known for their progressive, non-sexist advertising. But the new Australia Kia advertisement breaks the mold, presenting two separate ads (one starring a woman and one starring a man) that offer alternative perspectives on stereotypical gender roles. The “Woman of Now” ad features a woman in business… Continue Reading →
Axe does it again – disembodiment and sexism galore
Unsurprisingly, media critics have always had a tough time with Axe advertisements. Their overtly sexual nature and not-so-subtle caress of the male ego make it hard to believe that they’re selling body sprays and hair gels. But the commercial “Office Love,” just out on August 20th, takes Axe’s advertising to a whole new level. And… Continue Reading →
According to Old Navy, new clothes make a “new you”
I’ve never been a big fan of Old Navy commercials. The music is cheesy, everyone’s way too happy, and the clothing quality just doesn’t seem to match the price. But this month, Old Navy released their newest commercial, “New Girl” — and this one takes the cake. Basically, the premise of this commercial is that… Continue Reading →
Thanks SO much for that 90-calorie brownie, Fiber One.
Oh, Fiber One. Like other popular snack manufacturers, you decided to take the low road in selling your [not-so-]tasty treats, and have tried to convince women that they can — horror of all horrors — break their diets and satisfy their sweet tooth with your desserts! Fiber One’s approach to selling their 90-calorie brownies isn’t… Continue Reading →
Study confirms that TV makes all kids, except little white boys, feel bad
Color me surprised at yet another study evidencing TV consumption, specifically for young girls and black boys, as self-esteem squashing. The exception? Little white boys. Yes, this is yet another indication of the lack of diversity represented on television, but I think this is only a small slice of a much larger problem. Released last week… Continue Reading →
Sexualized Svedka fembot, go away!
Ok, so – I know that the last post I wrote was about an alcohol commercial promising to make you manly, and I can’t say that I was exactly expecting to be hit with another wave of sexist advertisements for an alcohol brand – but then again, given what we’ve seen thus far, we can’t… Continue Reading →
Tequila 1800 will make you a man!
Did you know that alcohol has a gender? Well, in case any of the other examples written by myself and other fellow About-Face writers hadn’t convinced you, 1800 Tequila is here to really drive that message home. In a series of ads meant to emphasize the supposed purity of this brand, two specifically stand out… Continue Reading →