AIBU to complain about condom advert on the Tube?

[PerspicaciousGreen]

I regularly travel on the London Tube with my children. They have eyes. One of them can read a bit. They ask questions. I often have to have conversations with them that I don't think I should have to have at their age simply in order to get from A to B.

I know that I'm more sensitive than average to sexual imagery - both when it comes to me and to my children. For example, I don't like having to go past a whole platform of bra adverts featuring women in, obviously, nothing but their underwear. Yes, I can avert my eyes, but I can't opt out of being aware of them at all. But as I said, I know most people aren't bothered by it and I can't expect TFL to cater to my own personal preferences.

But today I saw an advert by Durex with picture of a young man and a slogan that said something like, "For the condom that fits perfectly every time".

Am I being unreasonable to think that if TFL is going to brand itself as being diverse and open and inclusive, that has to include families with children below the age of consent? And that openly advertising sex products to actual children is not OK? There was no adult-only innuendo or hidden message - I was just grateful our train arrived before my child asked, "Mummy, what's a condom?" A generation ago it would have been unthinkable to have sex adverts in a public place.

I am going to complain to TFL that their advertising policy allows "adult" adverts, but I don't expect to get anywhere with them. So AIBU?

Welcome to mumsnet

This is batshit. Did you time travel here from 1950?

There’s one grain of truth in amongst the pearl-clutching there, in that one of Khan’s first and worst decisions was to ban a nutrition campaign which featured a healthy, attractive woman, for being “body shaming.”

How on Earth can a picture of a smiling, athletic size eight woman be shaming?

Taking it down was effectively telling me and other women the same shape that our figures were shameful.

Here’s the poster that Khan had TFL cancel.

www.cityam.com/london-mayor-sadiq-khan-has-cited-controversial-beach-body/

YABU. Contraception should be well advertised. If your child isn't old enough to understand then it's easy to change the subject. If they are old enough then they should know already.

He moved to ban ads like this

www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jun/13/sadiq-khan-moves-to-ban-body-shaming-ads-from-london-transport

That picture is all about the male gaze

Well, it kind of is.... depending on how you refer to your fango 😉

But seriously op, come on. Is rather see an ad that promotes safe sex than hide it.
As for bras, well I have no words. Don't your kids ever see your bras, or see them hanging on washing lines?

It's not like they were showing a massive erect knob adorned in a condom.

YABVU!

The benefits of condom advertising massively outweigh the downsides of any slightly awkward conversations with children 🙄
When children are very young, they won't notice. At a certain age, they'll need to be fully informed. And in the transition period between those two just give a brief answer or tell them it's "adult themes". Children need to know that there are some things that they are too young to hear about in detail.

😂

@StillHappy Taking it down was effectively telling me and other women the same shape that our figures were shameful.

What a wilfully ignored comment, you’re just looking for a reason to be offended here. Literally no one has ever implied your size 8 body was shameful 🙄

The add was removed because women don’t need to be told they have to consume protein powder and weight loss supplements in order to go on a beach in a bikini.

’smiling, athletic size eight woman be shaming?’

She wasn’t smiling. She was pouting with her lips apart. It’s a sexualised image. She doesn’t look happy in spite of her excellent figure.

No it wasn’t, it was taken down for body shaming by representing an unrealistic or unhealthy image. It is clearly neither of those things.

Agreed. And it is body shaming - not shaming of that body but by the very obvious message it is shouting that every other body type is unacceptable

I actually think it's a good opener for age appropriate education. 'It's what you use so you don't have babies'

For example, I don't like having to go past a whole platform of bra adverts featuring women in, obviously, nothing but their underwear. Yes, I can avert my eyes, but I can't opt out of being aware of them at all.

Do you never go to clothes shops?

You do know sex can and should be a positive adult activity don’t you? It’s not something embarrassing or disgusting. My 7 year old knows what sex is and what a condom is. And I hope when she one day decides to have sex she has all the information she needs to have a fucking (pun intended) good (and safe) time.

you are being massively unreasonable

Condoms save lives.

If your DC is old enough to ask what one is they are old enough to be told.

What would you actually say if they asked?

This kind of thread is exactly why we /DC's need compulsory sex ed in schools.

Your DC's are more likely to have teen pregnancy/STIs because of your attitude, research has shown.

Oh give over. The idea that slim women can’t be shown in case the upset bigger women is ludicrous.

My mums standard response ‘oh I’m not sure, oh look a pigeon!’ Deflect! Or maybe it’s time to start the conversation with your children and work out how to answer questions. If you have a daughter please let her know about periods sooner rather than later, some girls are getting them at 7/8 years old. My mum was very open with me, I knew about periods and sanitary protection before my periods began. I knew about sex, safe sex and consent before I had sex. The first time I had sex I knew what condoms were and made sure we used them. You can only shelter them so much.

YABU. It’s not all about children.

This cannot possibly be real.

OTOH, Merseyrail banned adverts for Morrissey's album from its stations. He's a massive dick so maybe a precedent was set, good luck with getting penis-related items banned from TFL OP

My DS was an early fluent reader (before he'd started school). His older sister had multiple health issues so we spent quite a lot of time at the GP in the waiting room. There were many information posters on the walls/notice boards most of which DS read out loud and then ask questions. Many were not things you wanted to be explaining to a 4 or 5 year old in front of a captive audience eg abortion and sexual health clinics, but it certainly kept the other patients entertained. Obviously I was not going to ask the receptionist to remove the posters - they were more than aware that children frequented the waiting room. YABU OP - just distract or explain and move swiftly on.

I don't think the comparison between condoms and porn is a reasonable one at all.

I do often feel we live in a very sexualised culture but I don't think there is anything wrong with advertising condoms. They are an important product!

However PP who said this:

Its a natural thing. they WILL be having sex in the future and all you can do is prepare them

......I'd actually say Im reading a lot about porn culture atm which means young men in particular are having less sex than ever; suffering erectile dysfunction more than ever, and increasingly addicted to porn and sex robots. As a mother to 2 ds, I'd be pleased if when my sons are older they use condoms as a part of a healthy relationship.

Get a grip

Jesus it's not a photo of an erect cock with a condom being put on it!

Contraception is a normal part of life!