Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Sexist Asda ad cleared - feeling bit depressed about this verdict

35 replies

ashesgirl · 01/02/2013 10:26

www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/30/asda-christmas-ad?INTCMP=SRCH

So the Asda ad was deemed not likely to have caused widespread offence. 8 out of 10 women questioned said it didn't bother them and just reflected reality.

Does anyone else feel a bit disillusioned by this?

OP posts:
CashmereHoodlum · 01/02/2013 11:23

The advert certainly didn't reflect my reality, but I have found that many women think it is appalling that I am not running myself ragged with domestic stuff. Therefore it doesn't surprise me that 8/10 women thought this was ok.

As an example, I ordered the Christmas presents online (not a time consuming task), husband wrapped them all, and set things up with batteries, downloading stuff etc. I wrote all the cards to my family (about 20), his family doesn't send cards so he didn't do any. We don't send joint cards. I mentioned this arrangement to everyone who was moaning to me about how much there was to do for Christmas and they all thought I should have done everything.

I will not be a martyr to my family but most people think I should be. Whether this is because I am quite vocal about not being a martyr I don't know, but it seems to me that most people insist on sticking to their sexist and stereotypical arrangements.

fallenangle · 01/02/2013 11:13

ashes i didn't actually say ads, I said tv. But for ads: Fairy Liquid through the ages. Mum and daughter - message 'washing up is womens work, always has been, always will be.
Any hapless man doing housework ad ( they are going out of fashion a bit) Message, don't expect men to do housework they are not wired for it.
Notice that it is always women obsessing about hidden germs in the toilet or on the kitchen worktop, never men. message 'housework is womens work.

Original poster
ashesgirl · 01/02/2013 11:06

Um, not sure that follows - that everyone would automatically scream misogyny in that scenario.

Yeah can see how it may seem a little dramatic :-) On the flip side, it makes me think how easily we accept these stereotypes and what a long way we have to go before we'll ever reach true equality.

OP posts:
LalyRawr · 01/02/2013 10:57

See, people getting offended at stuff like this does make me laugh.

So they showed a woman preparing for Christmas, everyone screams it's sexist.

So what if next year they show a man preparing for Christmas? Suddenly it will be 'Oh look, the Mum is getting no credit again, she does everything all year and suddenly the man comes along and gets all the credit for one day. Bloody misogyny again!'

It's an advert.

It's a bit...dramatic to feel depressed about it.

Original poster
ashesgirl · 01/02/2013 10:49

She sits on an inflatable thingy at the table because not enough chairs so is lower down than everyone else. But she beams nonetheless.

OP posts:
TheSurgeonsMate · 01/02/2013 10:47

Shock Where does she sit?? I dont like the sound of that at all.

Original poster
ashesgirl · 01/02/2013 10:44

Which other ads have you seen that are more sexist, Fallen, out of interest?

OP posts:
Original poster
ashesgirl · 01/02/2013 10:43

Because it represented a Christmas where the woman runs herself ragged, is entirely self-sacrificial, doesn't even get her own chair at xmas dinner but is glowingly satisfied at the end of the day that she's just made everyone else happy.

OP posts:
fallenangle · 01/02/2013 10:40

Not sure what illusion I might have lost OP.

fallenangle · 01/02/2013 10:38

It felt to me like an exaggerated reality of my Christmas, even though it wasn't. All that rushing to get to school plays, make sure there are enough hot cross buns (they were in the shops) etc. DP did a lot of the work. It didn't reflect reality, but then advertising doesn't. There are far more sexist things on tv than that ad.