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AIBU?

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Original poster

To absolutely LOVE the new Gillette advert!! Outrage on Twitter.

477 replies

gluteustothemaximus · 15/01/2019 12:07

Have you seen the new Gillette advert?

It's in line with the #metoo movement and it's just brilliant.

Reaction online is depressing though. It has pissed Piers Morgan off royally though, so that's excellent. Poor little snowflake. Offended at an advert Grin

OP posts:
Ostagazuzulum · 15/01/2019 20:25

Brilliant advert!!!

Drogosnextwife · 15/01/2019 20:25

There are however adverts with messages aimed at everyone, to be inclusive, respectful and accepting of minority groups, race, sexuality, gender etc.

JohnCRaven · 15/01/2019 20:27

First half was preachy cliched trying too hard lecturing.

Second half was advertising gold. The boy watching his dad being caring towards the bullied boy was really moving.

The boys watching today will be the men of tomorrow Really powerful.

IfNotNowThenWhy · 15/01/2019 20:29

Toxic masculinity kills as many Men as it does Women.
YES!
This. Not "maculinity" but " toxic masculinity". There is a difference!

IRanSoFarAway · 15/01/2019 20:29

Just watched it, thanks for the link. Yes is really good!

IHeartKingThistle · 15/01/2019 20:32

Oh that is brilliant.

Jux · 15/01/2019 20:36

WhatnOw123 what would be wrong with that?

Advertising/marketing are a kind of social engineering to a greater or lesser extent. Why not have them use their influence to make society a little better whilst simultaneously trying to make us buy more stuff and fuck the environment?Grin Believe me, the irony is not lost on me, but if they do have a little morality and thoughtfulness included with their "buy this it's better than everying else" message, then isn't that a little bit of good?

Geminijes · 15/01/2019 20:38

This ad begins by assuming all men are not the best they can be and are bad, while ads out there encourage women to go for it, they are worth it, told to be happy the way they are. Are women the best they can be?

LeukaeLucky · 15/01/2019 20:45

Beautiful! Just shed a tiny tear
Thanks OP

Yvaine1 · 15/01/2019 20:48

Not really totes on board with a multinational wanting to direct behaviour in order to make money. Acedes too much influence in the market place.

Amara123 · 15/01/2019 20:49

The argument that ads aimed at women are positive is utterly ridiculous. The premise of most women's ads are that we are too old, not pretty enough, need to work harder at being mothers, minding our children etc. Mitchell and Webb nailed it below! This is literally the first time I've seen men being asked to step up and be amazing, all the usual ads aimed at men tell them they are fabulous already!

derxa · 15/01/2019 20:52

Not really totes on board with a multinational wanting to direct behaviour in order to make money. Acedes too much influence in the market place.
Yes. It's manipulative drivel. Where are all the ads with toxic MILs, SILs etc etc

Yvaine1 · 15/01/2019 20:58

That's not the whataboutery I was seeking. Any social pressures from a money making machine is a bit questionable imo

Original poster
gluteustothemaximus · 15/01/2019 21:00

I love that one Amara123 Grin

OP posts:
Dutch1e · 15/01/2019 21:01

Marketing needs to appeal to those who purchase the product, and in this case, it’s misfiring badly as it’s only really approved of by groups who are a minority of their customers.

The vast majority of household purchases are made by women. Gillette probably know this.

The poor lads foaming at the mouth can always take over the family's grocery shopping duties and boycott the company. Or is that too much like women's work?

BejamNostalgia · 15/01/2019 21:03

It’s a fucking cynical marketing ploy and you’re all daft enough to fall for it.

Gilette’s parent company, Proctor and Gamble, pay female employees 18.9% less than the male ones.

The median of hourly rates is even worse for women, 29.8% less than the males.

Women receive 39.1% less in bonus pay than men do in their company.

They charge a ‘pink tax’ and women pay 20-60% more for products aimed at them.

But yeah. They care and want change and this isn’t just a clumsy money making venture to try and convince bearded millennials to have a shave.

People will believe anything? How are they going to change the world when they can’t even change themselves?

Birdsgottafly · 15/01/2019 21:04

"Where are all the ads with toxic MILs, SILs etc etc"

The toxic Mother-in-law has been gas been the butt of jokes since time began.

But being a toxic MIL/SIL isn't causing deaths of Women, sexual assaults, street harassment, keeping Women out of Senior roles, the pay gap and everything else that everyday sexism causes.

They also aren't telling Men to suppress their emotions to the point of suicide, or that they have to be prepared to fight/stand their ground so many are dying on nights out. Telling them to carry a knife to they aren't humiliated etc.

Thays why there aren't advertising campaigns aimed at them.

Dutch1e · 15/01/2019 21:06

It’s a fucking cynical marketing ploy

Well, yes, I'm pretty sure most people realise that cat food commercials are not for your cat. We do grasp the concept of advertising

Birdsgottafly · 15/01/2019 21:09

BejamNostalgia, we aren't arguing in favour of the company behind the product.

We are arguing against the likes of Piers Morgan and the MRAs.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/01/2019 21:11

I like it. Piers Morgan says he is never buying their razors again....that I believe says more about you Piers than the advert.

Angrybird345 · 15/01/2019 21:11

It’s just an advert..... it’s quite good.

zeeboo · 15/01/2019 21:12

Aaaaaand instant tears! Gillette ads always get to me with the whole father/son/granddad thing but this is truly powerful. The men in my life don't need this to remind them or change their behaviour but I know there are many who will need it.

RedTartanLass · 15/01/2019 21:13

WTF! I cried! Gillette, hats off to you!

Original poster
gluteustothemaximus · 15/01/2019 21:19

I thought it didn't just deal with the female side of things (calling out on sexual harassment) but also the male side of things too (young boy in tears over being called a cissy).

My DS1 was forever being called gay or a pussy/being bullied for being a nice gentle boy and not liking football Hmm

Toxic masculinity hurts men and women. I thought this advert highlighted both.

OP posts:
BejamNostalgia · 15/01/2019 21:34

The vast majority of household purchases are made by women. Gillette probably know this.

The poor lads foaming at the mouth can always take over the family's grocery shopping duties and boycott the company. Or is that too much like women's work?

Nope. 2 million men live alone. 14% of lone parents are men, that’s another 400,000. One million gay men (at least) who aren’t very likely to live with women.

At three million, that’s likely to be around one in ten of their main customer base potentially. Add in men who live with a female and have input in what is bought for them or buy it themselves. Then consider that men who don’t have input and have their supplies bought by women are much less likely to be getting an expensive premium brand and much more likely to be getting cheaper products. And women who buy products for men: they might like the idea, but I’m not sure that would translate into sales when women have an eye on the family budget.

We’ll see in a few months how it affects their sales. Although the did see quite a dramatic increase in their share price when trading opened today, so I could yet be proven wrong.