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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:
TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:48

No, I'm not excusing anything. As I said, if offense has been caused, that's for each person to decide, but I won't be railroaded into changing my opinion just because that's what some think I should do. I just do not feel that your take on this is correct. Same as you think mine isn't. Certainly does not make either of us wrong.

And David, I never said it was my right to tell women what they should be offended by. People have a right to take offense, what I have said is that I do not believe this advertisement to be offensive enough against either sex to make a formal complaint about it. That in no way suggests that I think my opinion is the correct one.

Invisiblesoul · 21/03/2011 21:49

But what if we dont all want to change??

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 21:51

Well Tidy, it seems to me that it's more a case of you not understanding where the offence comes from...you said yourself "I don't get the inference".

So that would explain it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 21:52

Invisble then tough...change is inevitable. If you're not changing and growing then you're dying.

OP posts:
TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:52

Perhaps what I moreover believe is that while this is an entirely valid debate, I just don't think the 'feminist cause' is being helped by the fact we are concentrating on a Boots advertisement which was likely intended and largely received, as a silly joke. Yes, it's stereotypical, but I don't think that needs to mean it was anti-feminist.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:55

Yes, I did say that. I meant that I didn't get why the inference was being made, that's probably more accurate, I was typing on the go!

I keep coming back to my original thought, that I just don't believe this advertisement is that big of a deal, because I genuinely don't feel that it would ever have been intended to cause offense, or would be perceived that way by the majority.

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 21:56

The ramifications of many, many, many "silly jokes" which are sexist at heart is a grave one Tidy.

There's a build up....the trickle of crap being poured into the minds of people via the media, is steady...and it's constant. Speaking out against them as they occur will slow the stream.

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 21:56

"But what if we dont all want to change??"

why on earth would you want to keep the world a sexist place?

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 21:58

And I think if you really believe that, it's certainly valid to make a complaint over it, of course. I just do not feel that, in this instance, it is that serious. But as I have said before, that is just my opinion, which is as valid as the next persons. :)

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 21:58

Of course it was not intended to cause offence! Boots would hardly release an ad which alienated people!

That doesn't mean that the offence shouldn't be pointed out. And to be fair, the majority don't look beyond the ends of their noses with regards to this kind of thing.

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 21:58

"I genuinely don't feel that it would ever have been intended to cause offense, or would be perceived that way by the majority."

lots of racists are not aware that they are being racist when they make a comment. they dont intend to hurt anyone. does that make their comment any less offensive to the person it is about?

Invisiblesoul · 21/03/2011 22:01

Can't you see how extremist you sound? Like a military regime. I agree that some Change is good. But I feel your taking it too far. Women are different to men. There could never be total equality and I wouldn't want there to be. That's my opinion and the opinion of every woman I know personally.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 22:01

some people tackle lots of little issues. some people tackle a few of the big ones. this mightn't be 'big enough' to be on everyone's radar but it is there. i am always reminded of the "look after the pennies and the pounds will look afetr themselves" phrase, when people say they dont think a small issue is worth bothering with. if lots of people tackle lots of little issues, it stops those issues becoming the bigger ones taht cause more hurt.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 22:02

And you are pointing out the offense it caused you, which is fine, I just don't see it that way.

I don't personally feel we're on that scale Booy, so I don't consider that to be an appropriate comparison. Again, it may seem that way to you, just not to me.

I don't know why my perspective on this seems that strange. I'm not being anti-feminist at all, I just see this differently.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 22:02

who sounds like a military regime? Confused

i feel for you invisible. i really do.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 22:03

what scale tidy?

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 22:03

Maybe that's the difference here, that some of you see this as an issue, when I don't. I don't see that as wrong though, just a different way of seeing it.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 22:04

Asking me to qualify a comparison between racism and something I don't even really see as sexism.

BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 22:04

ah yes i understand you mean the racism comparison.

Original poster
Skinit · 21/03/2011 22:04

Invisible...I lost you at your last post. No comment.

OP posts:
BooyHoo · 21/03/2011 22:06

xpost.

alot of people dont see sexism as a big an issue as racism. women hold less importance than men so sexism is less wrong than racism.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 21/03/2011 22:06

'There could never be total equality and I wouldn't want there to be.'

I find incredibly sad that you have such a defeatist view, and I don't actually believe you would find it was the opinion of every woman you know, if you asked them.
arguing for difference is one thing, saying you don't want equality is tragic.

TidyDancer · 21/03/2011 22:08

No, that's not what I mean. I do see sexism and racism as equally important issues. I just don't think this advertisement qualifies as discrimination, etc. Again though, that doesn't mean I don't think it's acceptable that some people disagree.

Cantstopshouting · 21/03/2011 22:35

I am totally shocked by it and also shocked that my DD's might be subjected to behaviour like that. It's not funny at all. My cousin was forced to have sex up to 10 times a day by her lunatic exH and was beaten when she didn't comply. Thankfully, she got the strength to get her and their DC's away from him but she was abused horribly and she still can't talk about it because people don't take her seriously. I know this ad does not imply any violence but when I see it I always think of her.

dittany · 21/03/2011 23:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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