Boots Advert

[pommedeterre]

The current Boots advert for cold remedies shows two women obviously suffering meeting in the street and discussing their (huge) current to do lists. One says she's been to Boots to buy cold remedies for her husband as he's in bed with a cold.
Strapline is something like 'When he's ill and you don't have time to be'.
I feel uneasy about this somehow although I'm not too sure I could articulate very well why beyond '...it's not fair'.
Am reading 'Wifework' at the moment so maybe I'm just being sensitive but would like to hear others opinions.

[sethstarkaddersmum]

it's one of those ads that insults men but at the same time normalises the 'women doing all the work' scenario.
so not great.

[JessinAvalon]

Haven't seen it but will keep an eye out for it.

I hate the current M&S Christmas ad. Lots of girls dancing around in Nuts/Zoo outfits. Very retro. But you all know what I think about M&S!

[msrisotto]

I saw it for the first time this evening and thought it was bad.

When he's ill that takes precedence over his gf/wife being ill and she must pander to his superior man cold and struggle on with the housework and chores despite feeling pants.

[pommedeterre]

Yes, a woman with a cold carries on with her job commitments, paints the house for HIS parents coming to visit and buys his medicine. It is fine for him to lounge in bed while this is going on.
All part of the 'funny' side of being a woman and looking after a man, chuckle, chuckle.
Dd only 8 months but the idea of her sucking all this up as she grows up sends shivers down my spine.

[AliceWorld]

I had to change myself to a man on spotify to avoid bloody boots ads. Apparently I could put make up on and put a video of myself on youtube to be in some competition or something. A few listens and I was throwing things. Now I get deep voices appealing to my masculinity trying to sell me stuff.

[Unprune]

I did wonder why I was getting card ads on Spotify - it didn't occur to me that they were gender specific. I just thought it was for boring people who are obsessed with cars

Here Comes the Girls has obviously been successful, since it's still going on, but what a shame Though I can't think it's specifically unpleasant, unlike the medicine ad.

[scallopsrgreat]

Saw that ad about a week ago and both me and DH nearly spat our tea out! Insulting and patronising to both men and women. Man can't cope with a little cold and takes to bed to be pathetic; woman runs around like a headless chicken to be superwoman thereby facilitating said man's patheticness!

Hate it!

[AliceWorld]

I tried to remove my sex, which is what I do on facebook, but it wouldn't let me. I'll have to alternate depending on which stereotyping I get most fed up with

[teon]

i fail to see how these ads are misogynistic. the brand has been 'flowered'. the theme tune is 'here come the girls'. apart from the slightly dippy present buying girl who cant keep a secret, every female character is bright and in touch and held in a good light for knowing about the wonderful products at boots - whereas the only men to feature, are pathetic and merely for the amusement of the viewer. apart from the beard trimmer, boots have not advertised a single product for men on radio or tv for nearly a year.

do boots even sell men's products any more?

[tethersjinglebellend]

The advert is vile- no time to be ill, girls! Buy our products so you can carry on looking after your pathetic men! Chop, chop! Lots to do!

I wonder if they would be allowed to show the advert if we had another swine flu outbreak or somesuch? It's a very dodgy message.

[ISNT]

What does a brand being "flowered" mean?

[AnnieMT]

My concern about the ad is that is runs in the face of public health advice - if you have something infectious, stay away from people (don't have dinner parties) do your best to get better (don't over-do it decorating bathrooms)and don't sneeze all over friends in the street. It's macho, bravado behaviour and not sensible, thoughtful stuff we know woman are more likely to demonstrate.

[KRITIQ]

Gah, reason 72 why I'm glad I have no TV (and avoid shopping at Boots.)

[clairefromsteps]

Gah, hate Boots adverts. When I saw this I couldn't decide if they were trying to say that women are more stoic than their feeble male counterparts, or that men somehow deserve a lie-in when they're poorly and women should be looking after them. I suspect they meant the former, but either way it's not a great message.

[louandcupoftea]

I think the reason I hate it is the way it stereotypes the sexes. I also hate things like features in magazines, eg what to buy your sister, mother, etc for their stereotype of what they assume are women's things - pink, fluffy, soft teddies, chocolate. I don't like any of it.

[buzzswellington]

Teon:

Referring to women as girls isn't necessarily positive, it can be seen as patronising and infantilising.

The brand being flowered(?), I assume that's something about 'feminising' the image - but to be all flowery & pink etc appeals to a very limited, stereotyped version of femininity.

And the over-all message of the particular advert seems to be it's expected for women to soldier on with the grind, even when ill. That's not a woman-friendly message.

It's not particularly positive about men either, the useless know-nothings - but at least they're wrapped up safe in bed - so who's really winning there? Bless.