We’ve had enough of insulting ads. They recklessly stress that women are terrible drivers all the time. In their defense, they can say that they only released the Mini Automatic which is easier to maneuver. Basically, women can easily drive the new model. The marketing team failed to give off that message. They used the wrong set of tropes.
So, there’s a woman behind the wheels. She looks so terrified, with her widely-opened eyes and pursed lips. The ad comes across with a different message. It shows that women are clearly bad drivers that they had to create a new model just for them. Statistically speaking, women are more careful on the road. They could have simply said that they’re releasing a new model with automatic transmission for everyone. Simple, isn’t it?
A Sparkling Peroxide Smile
It’s kind of comforting to know that people back in the 50s felt pressure to whiten their teeth, too. Maclean’s has been around for over 100 years and has been pressuring us all to whiten our teeth with their toothpaste for about as long. Their claim to fame is selling one of the earliest whitening toothpaste formulas directly to consumers.
It’s kind of amazing, really, how similar this ad is to many of the tooth-whitening adverts we see today. Although the styles and slogan are outdated, this 1951 ad still features a beautiful woman with a blindingly white smile. And yes, our modern-day tooth-whitening formulas still use peroxide.
Cigarettes for Women
Undeniably, women have come a long way. The changes in the societal views show progress and gas up feminist ad campaigns. Women can work outside the four corners of a house; they are no longer stereotyped as homemakers by default. They can work in factories and toil in the labor industry. It was just right that from 60s-70s, feminists ads were screened on television.
Let’s look no further from Virginia Slims. It was the first cigarette brand to market cigarettes for women. Their ad shows a complete contrast from sexist ads that came before it. Suddenly, when you look left, you see the lyrics of “I Want A Girl.” Virginia Slims can ditch that song and the viewers can get the feminist message that it tries to convey. The lines are dated. Women can smoke and are given the right to suffrage. Thanks, Virginia Slims! Just let go of the lyrics.
Weyenberg Can Stay Underfoot Not again.
Another incident of sexism is present in a Weyenberg shoe ad. It could have been an interesting product. Weyenberg made a massagic shoe that can aid relaxation and keep one’s feet happy. This shoe could have been a big hit in the industry because it can also improve blood circulation. Something big got in the way, it’s called sexism.
The Weyenberg massage shoe ad is out-right offensive and there’s no redeeming quality in sight. “Keep her where she belongs.” That’s a perfect sentence to dismiss Weyenberg from being revered. Women have been fighting their way to be recognized in the society. They have long debunked the idea that women should remain in the house. Weyenberg could have been more radical. Women will never be kept underfoot.
The White Horse Phenomenon
Rape jokes are still rampant everywhere in the world. Until today, victim blaming and misogyny hasn’t been completely eradicated. Despite many societal awakenings, those who have been engulfed in the patriarchal hegemony have a hard time getting off the track. What adds to the difficulty of changing the misogynist mentality is the production of ads that reinforce its standards.
Here’s one of those ads that do not go the extra mile to undermine the status quo. The White Horse Liquor ad suggests that if a guy in a bachelor’s pad bears of brings a White Horse in the room, he’s automatically a good guy. This is an entirely wrong idea to cultivate to its viewers. Women are still afraid to report rape incidents because of the stigma. Don’t trust anyone, even guys who bring White Horse to pads or pubs.