Controversial Commercials

This month I decided to take a look at the depiction of women in Television Commercials. Here are a few of the commercials that stood out...

The first commercial that I came across was an Android cell phone commercial. This commercial depicts a "psycho/stalker" girlfriend who is hiding in her boyfriend's closet. While she is in the closet she is texting her boyfriend and checking his social media updates. The commercial then ends with her stating that it's a good thing that her data plan for her phone has unlimited access for only $25 per month. Although this commercial is supposed to be humorous, it reinforces the stereotype that women are obsessive, needy, and crazy! Here it is!

http://youtu.be/2l7k0BI74EE

Next, I came across a Mercedes commercial where a Blonde woman enters a library and loudly tries to place a fast food order with the librarian. The librarian then tells her that they are in a library. The blonde woman looks around and softly repeats her fast food order. Then the words "Beauty is nothing without Brains!" is flashed on the screen. This commercial depicts the typical stereotype of a "dumb blonde". Why are "funny" commercials always at the expense of a woman? Take a look at the clip for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/GHX2mvFVQMs

Another commercial I came across was a prescription drug commercial for Abilify. The main character of the commercial is an animated woman. Again, this commercial portrays a woman being depressed and needing drugs in order to feel better. This commercial also shows how women are the main targets for prescription drug sales. How ironic is it that the depressed person in this commercial is a woman, and her doctor is a man? Take a look for yourself!

http://youtu.be/tGymr78FtbU

The next commercial I think is hilarious! It pokes fun of the ambiguity of most tampon/pad commercials. Most of the time with tampon commercials, you can't even tell what they are selling. The commercials always show the demonstration of a pad's absorbency by pouring blue liquid on it, why not be more realistic and dye the liquid red? Another thing is that tampon commercials always show women wearing white. I rarely wear white pants, but I sure as hell don't wear them when I have my period! Lastly, tampon commercials many times depict smiley women, twirling, or dancing. After all, a woman is always expected to be happy, even when it's her time of the month! Here's the U by Kotex commercial...

http://youtu.be/FRf35wCmzWw

Last but DEFINITELY not LEAST. I saved the most offending, objectifying commercial that I came across. It is a commercial for Nissan. The entire 30 second commercial is focused on the chest of a woman in a teeny tiny bikini. Her breasts are bouncing up and down, sometimes together and sometimes one at a time. Then the commercial shows the words "Nissan Pathfinder with front independent suspension". How clever, NOT!!! This commercial totally objectifies women, and shows that women are their breasts. Our face and minds are not important, just our bodies... Grrrr!!! Check this out!!!

http://youtu.be/zKO-tZGuFDg

So, those are just some of the negative depictions of women in television commercials. I'm sure there are many more out there, but I just wanted to share a few of them with you all. This is Moani signing off until the next blog!!!