I know it’s the day before Valentine’s and I should either get in the spirit or post my sentiments to the contrary but I have other gripes on my mind today. What is getting me in a stink today is something my father pointed out a couple years ago and it just seems to be getting worse.
My concern is with the general state of marketing to women in America in past years. When and how did we become a land full of controlling, emasculating shrews? Did I miss something or did I not get the memo? I’m all for strong women, don’t get me wrong. Women who can speak their mind and hold their own in a room full of men are valuable these days, but I just don’t understand the point of a particularly heinous type of advertising.
You’ve all seen the type. A woman is blithely sitting at the kitchen table doing bills or finishing up with the dinner dishes talking to her inept husband about whatever-the-product-their-selling. He’s clueless; she patiently and magnanimously explains the finer details while rolling her eyes heavenward and carrying on with her perfection.
Now, what would a perfect creature of intelligence and femininity be doing with such a dolt of a husband? Is it assumed by the vast corporate marketing companies and retail conglomerates that women who make the buying decisions in their families would only respond if they are held up on such a high pedestal? Her perfection would have to be so glaring that all men by comparison are shown to be completely powerless to make a rational decision … or at least be able to tie their shoes and close the garage door without her input?
I think it’s about time for corporate America to get with the program and acknowledge that strength in one gender does not breed weakness in another. I don’t need to emasculate those around me to feel my own power, far from it, actually. It seems to me that only a weak person needs to put down others to feel powerful.
No comments:
Post a Comment