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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

AWFUL new Boots ad!

128 replies

Skinit · 21/03/2011 00:37

Just saw it...it's now 12.30am so doubt anyone's about now....but will bump tomorrow.

Basically it has a man and a woman in bed, she's reading and he is kissing her arm....in a suggestive manner.

She then says "Oh not tonight I've got a..." and he iterrupts with a pushy little wave of his box of headache tablets!

At which she looks resigned.

Shock

Who do I complain to? What utter claptrap!

I won't have my DDs seeing this kind of shit...and thinking it's acceptable to bully or pressure women into sex.

Can anyone advise/join me in complaining?

OP posts:
Mymblesson · 21/03/2011 10:47

As I mentioned in the other thread, I used to work at Boots Head office for Boots.com as a webmaster and frequently had meetings with the Marketing Department regarding online content to fit in with ad campaigns. These ads are commissioned and approved by teams consisting mainly of women.

Head Office was a weird place though: all the women made up to the eyeballs and looking thin and glam, as though there was some sort of competition going on. Which perhaps there was.

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 10:49

Chippingin I will tell you what I like when I like. Free speech dear.

Anyway...I am going to call Boots in addition to complaining. I wonder what they'll say. I will find their PR dept. contact and either email or write.

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/03/2011 10:59

that is interesting Mymblesson, you can see how sexist ads might emerge from a culture like that, where everyone is competing to see who can be the coolest and have the best sense of humour and be in with the men the most.
not saying that is what's happened here, but it seems possible.

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 11:03

I just spoke to a representative from Boots and he wanted to know exactly why the ads are offensive, he did listen and appear to take the concerns seriously and he was keen to assure me that he would be passing theinformation on to the team responsible for coming up with the ideas.

I mentioned the cold advert too. I am still complaining though.

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 11:03

is he going to get back to you skinit?

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 11:06

seth....it's an interesting thought. I have worked on BBC Radio comedy shows and sat around a table with ten men as we brainstormed for sketch ideas and not once did I feel as though there were any pressure to be all lads together.

Funny was funny...weak irony was weak irony.

The teams which come up with ads are given many stats and customer profiles to consider when they brainstorm, marketing in this way is hard to do well and I think Boots would do well to get some fresh blood on their teams.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 11:06

He said he would BooyHoo. I gave my number.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 11:09

Another point is that often, when coming up with this kind of stuff, the teams have to please the suits who come in to add their thoughts...and often they end up compromising in order to keep everyone happy.

I did some script work for a major price comparison site and these guys would insist "Oh put this line in!" and it was some old crap, barely relevant...but they'd get a "joke" in their head and think it was great...so I had to oblige.

OP posts:
pookamoo · 21/03/2011 11:12
sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/03/2011 11:13

what are the odds that when people complain they will be told it is an ironic popular culture reference to that film?

BertieBotts · 21/03/2011 15:59

Yes, pookamoo, I thought that too Grin

It's fairly early on in the film and it's one which is repeated a lot on the various ITV channels if anyone particularly wants to see the reference.

Chandon · 21/03/2011 16:06

I saw it and thought WTF?! Angry and cancelled my order form Boots Confused.

I guess it is supposed to be funny.

It could have been thought up by those charming add execs in "mad men" circa 1961 Grin

I bet anyone 100 quid it was thought up by a man. As are all those inane "here come the girls" adds Confused

bemybebe · 21/03/2011 16:29

Skinit lighten up! The man is offering the remedy to his wife who (obviously) will be complaining about the headache. It shows he cares! Grin

What about the phrase "not tonight Josephine!" supposedly (not documented) have been uttered by Napoleon to his 'hungry' wife. Would you be complaining about people mentioning it also?

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/03/2011 18:02

I think I must have missed the bit in the Napoleon/Josephine story where she gives him pills and he shags her after all....

bemybebe · 21/03/2011 18:49

Haha, history keeps quiet about the Napoleon story. Grin
I think I must have missed the bit in the Boots ad where the woman gets 'shagged' (i hate this word) after all. Is it shown after 9pm or is it your imagination doing overtime?

I hope I am not offending anyone here, just lurking to see what the feminism board is like. Smile

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/03/2011 18:52

I don't think you're going to like it very much, and if you go around telling people to lighten up I don't think they will think very much of you either Smile

bemybebe · 21/03/2011 18:56

Sorry Blush it really was not meant to be taken in a bad way.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 18:58

I can honestly say I do not see the big deal with this. Advertisements can be objectionable for all manner of reasons, but I can't understand how this is so hideous it requires complaints to be made.

JMO.

everythingchangeseverything · 21/03/2011 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StewieGriffinsMom · 21/03/2011 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 20:54

really tidy? do you not value the right to decide when you have sex? does it not bother you that some people think it appropriate to relay the message that your desire not to have sex is less important than someone else's desire to have sex with you?

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:17

No, I don't get the inference tbh. I don't think that's what it's suggesting at all. Everyone's entitled to their opinion of course, but I think some of the views on here are extreme. I guess I just don't get why everything has to be seen as evil when it comes to this 'gender based humour'.

Meh, as I said, JMO. But I'm sticking to it.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:19

And you can't really be serious Booy, that just because I don't find an advertisement abhorant, that means I don't value the right to decide when I have sex....

Wow.

Having a different opinion about something doesn't make my opinion any less valid.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 21:21

i am very serious. you say you dont see the need for complaints. your right to decide when to have sex is important enough to complain about hwne that right is being made to appear less important than anyone else's right to have sex with you.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:22

Oh, and if anything, looking back, the campaign seems to have been, more or less, a giant pisstake against men. Which is, FWIW, how I think this latest advertisement was intended.

I completely respect the way some of you see this, and if it offends you, then it's great that you feel strongly enough to do something about it, I just don't agree with the reasoning is all.

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