Kids back at school so Mum can relax ads!

[FunPartyIdeas]

Eurgh!
Am I the only one to be annoyed by these? Why the assumption that women are all permanent SAHMs?!!

@oviraptor21 “The reality is that lot's of women would choose to be a SAHM if they could afford it,”

The problems arise if their relationship breaks down. Often women have no means to support themselves and their children.

I agree. Obviously stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason - they are or have been true (to some extent) either now or in the past. However, perpetuating the stereotype is unhelpful. 'You can't be what you don't see' as the mantra goes and if we are surrounded by advertisements and marketing which capitalises on the fact that more childcare is done by women than men then it makes it all the more difficult to change that. Unfortunately companies trying to sell stuff don't care about furthering equality for women.

My OH is a SAHP, as it happens.

Stereotypes exist for a reason

It’s not really stereotyping when it’s a statistical fact that most SAHP are women.

@Droppedbrooch Most women are not SAHMs (which is great)

@topcat2014 I don't want to be stereotyped because I am a woman. I am just as capable of having a job as my husband is and I certainly wouldn't want to be sitting around doing nothing/having a lazy coffee as these ads are suggesting when my kids are in school.

I don’t understand why some ‘feminists’ judge other women for their personal choices. Many women are happier as SAHMs and many change their mind about what is important to them in terms of life/ career after having children, and that is totally ok. I know many women who would love to stay home and go back to more conservative ways of living. And I say this as a career driven person who at busy periods works 60+ hour weeks.

@Wishing14 They can of course make their own choices. But for me personally, becoming a SAHM doesn't sit alongside my feminist beliefs.
I want to be treated equally to men, not differently. So if I expect my husband to go out to earn in order to financially provide for our daughter, then he has every right to expect the same of me.
Just in the same way as I expect us both to share the housework and childcare.
And don't be expecting me to change my name and title upon marriage either (unless you also do so!)
Or take on sole responsibility for contraception.
Equality.

They don't annoy me for the same reason. I don't like the kids thinking they're a burden on me, i love the holidays with them

Your feminist beliefs are sexist. You believe traditional women's work such as childcare is worthless and "below you". I think it's one of the most valuable jobs in the world. And the most undervalued at the same time. Women have evolved to do it which is why we have more dense and complicated brains.

@yeah24325r2 So you think kids od working mums see themselves as "burdens"?
My two adult sons have nothing but respect for me for working, especially over my time as a single mum. My wages meant a roof over their heads and food on their plates.
My little girl will be raised with a similar work ethic.

I don't know, but that's the impression these ads are giving.

@yeah24325r2 You can do both concurrently as millions of women do. But no, you don't need any qualifications to be a SAHM.

That’s changing the topic altogether.

You’re mad that adverts are advertising to their target market and calling it a stereotype, when it’s a statistical fact. It’s like getting mad at a tool station ad being marketed to men.

Just look what happened to Budweiser after their disastrous campaign which alienated its main consumers.

There are plenty of jobs that don’t require qualifications either, it’s a redundant point to make.

@Droppedbrooch My career required a degree plus 3 years of training on top; I worked very hard to achieve this and it has afforded me financial independence which has been imperative.
Why give all of that up just because I became a mother?

And? Nobody said you have to give that up.
Your problem was with adverts advertising to their target market, except that appears to be guise so you could start a thread to whinge about SAHM.

@Droppedbrooch I think if I was a SAHM I still wouldn't appreciate the ad. Comes across as "get rid of the kids and go and have a coffee". Insulting?

Insulting or relatable? That’s the angle the marketing team would have been going for. You must understand wanting a break after 6 weeks with the kids at home, after all you wrote this post yourself.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/amibeingunreasonable/5566443-to-want-one-child-free-day-where-i-can-do-something-for-me?page=1

So it is ok for you to want a break but not ok for a SAHM?

@Droppedbrooch The big difference is I work term-time. Surely SAHMs with children in school have loads of time to themselves?

Even if they do have time to themselves when the kids are at school it doesn’t mean they can’t look forward to having that time back to themselves after the kids haven’t been at school.

You’ve had the 6 weeks off with your kids and said you needed a day to yourself.

Your post was about advertisers stereotyping women, when they were simply focusing on the target market. You’re working a stereotypical female job that has allowed you to have the school holidays off then complained about stereotypes.

It’s hard to discern if your problem is with the ad or the SAHM themselves.

@Droppedbrooch My job is in fact about a 50/50 men and women split.
I don't like any ads that stereotype tbh. Love the Purdy and Figg one with the lovely man cleaning the hob! We need more men in the world like that.

Again though, that’s not up to the advertisers. They just want to sell stuff. It’s literally their only aim! And MN’s main aim is to make money from advertising.

I’ve booked today off work because all of my kids are finally back and it means I get a day to myself. First thing I did was go for a coffee 🤷🏻‍♀️

@SlugJam Well I'd far more likely buy Purdy and Figg now due to their non-sexist ad. So actually, challenging the stereotypes could work?