"There is difference and there is power. And who holds the power decides the meaning of the difference." --June Jordan

Friday, July 18, 2008

Men Beware: Fear of spiders will make you grow boobs!

Luckily, all you have to do to become manly again is drink some soda:


(Via Sociological Images)


But wait! Sexist advertising also informs me that men want to have breasts:

9 comments:

Cola said...

I love the contradictions... especially how we're supposed to pretend they don't exist or we're bad feminists... or bad women... somehow. One way or another.

It's all part of the same cultural doublethink that keeps us all from making any meaningful progress.

Anonymous said...

The fact that men like boobs means we should do cancer checks?

Wait, so the reason I don't want invasive surgery to remove cancer which could potentially kill me is because, dangit, there are GUYS who would have liked to have those boobs!!!

Is this like the starving kids in Africa who always wanted my leftovers from dinner?

Crissa said...

Uhh, while I think 'guys would take care of breasts!' is a stupid, unbased argument...

...I don't think Touch Learn Care or this post has anything to do with 'invasive surgical procedures' or 'ignoring your breasts'.

I really am getting annoyed at the man-food commercials... Ugh, and that soda ones is terrible.

Caitlin said...

Yep, this 'man food' idea is driving me mad - saw the new McCoys advert (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n4MLHA7HTo) and I fumed...I don't understand how they can get away with this kind of advertising at all!

And since when does men wanting breasts have anything to do with how women treat their bodies? They clearly didn't think that ad through at all...

Myeah, they should just get rid of advertising altogether. The world would be a better place for it.

Anonymous said...

Is it so strange they use a broad generalization on fear of spiders attributed to sex. Even though I'm sure there's millions of women that can take care of the pest (spider i meant mind you feminists)the image of the woman that prefers sending the man to do the nastier things still pervades because it does happen repeatedly. I may sound obtuse, but is it that wrong to generalize about some things based on gender?

There are a great many things where it IS wrong (work perfomance, etc) but still others will continue happening as long as the current social education continues at home. I hope there comes a time when the difference between man and woman can be celebrated and enjoyed by either sex, be it for dominant physical or psychological traits that pervade on that moment. When no generalization is considered an insult but just a way to differentiate between gender.

Its hard to try to please everybody. Both sides (chauvinism and extreme feminism)are wrong because both sides expect the impossible, not because complete equality is not attainable, but because equality in ALL aspects would probably not work. Pointing out that when I say equality I hope that feminists do not think that automatically that means women being in a lower position, it goes both sides in different aspects. Still, feminism needs its place in current society, until women finally take their rightful place as humans, equal but different.

Well I feel like I'm repeating myself here so... The second is just a joke on men and our obsession with large breasts as a sexual attractant. Harmless I'd think since I'm sure there's physical traits in men you'd be drawn to.

Tracey said...

carl: That first commercial didn't just make use of the broad generalization that women are afraid of spiders -- it implied that men immediately become feminized simply by feeling that same fear. Not only that, but it made it overtly clear that being associated with the feminine is so undesirable that it must be immediately corretcted with the consumption of a "masculine" product.

And as far as the second commercial goes, I can't even believe that I have to point out here that the implication that women should take care of their breasts because they're attractive to men is incredibly objectifying.

Anonymous said...

Oh, thank god the spider thing isn't true. Mine would be uncontrollable.

Don't you kinda think the second commercial is awesome, though? I think it could've been less . . . lamely . . . done, but I liked the sentiment.

Tracey said...

It's the humorless feminist in me, I'm sure, but I HATE the sentiment of that commercial. It feels entirely gross and creepy to me. The first time I watched it when it was posted on some sites a while back, I let out the biggest groan of disgust.

Anonymous said...

I get it..the only reason to value your body is because men like breasts..way to encourage autonomy and agency in women. I also particularly the soda commercial. It devalues the female identity and I think that it is also a mockery of those that have a trans identity.