Sexist ads, have you ever made a complaint?

Morag · 09-01-2012 3:37pm #1

The procedure for making a complaint about ads here in ireland is pretty easy to do. It's just an online forum on the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland's website, http://www.asai.ie/complain.asp

With the rise in ads which have been showing men as hapless and stupid, have you ever reported an ad? Or felt like you might want to?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrnOqwXWJDA

MyKeyG · 09-01-2012 3:39pm

No but I never hesitate to use them as ammo when I hear some wagon ranting about how using women to sell mens products are sexist!

18AD · 09-01-2012 3:45pm

Wow. That had never crossed my mind.

The problem isn't ad content. It's ads.

They banned all outdoor advertising in São Paulo recently. No posters, no bus ads, no flyers etc...
Right on!

crazyderk · 09-01-2012 3:46pm

I never really pay attention to ads when it comes to any type of issue let alone sexism, however I made a complaint about an RSA AD one time, it was the one that was on the radio about a year or more ago, which was warning girls not to get into cars with guys unless they feel completely comfortable with their driving, it pretty much showed all men as little boy racers and irresponsible drivers whcih I took offense too I got a letter back saying as it was an information campaign that it didn't fall under their jurisdiction but they passed along the comments I think it got a high number of complains and it was pulled as it was only on for a short period.

Pawwed Rig · 09-01-2012 4:24pm

18AD wrote: »

They banned all outdoor advertising in São Paulo recently. No posters, no bus ads, no flyers etc...
Right on!

Now there is a proposal I can endorse

Dravokivich · 09-01-2012 4:32pm

I'd be more inclined to say, as yet I haven't really come across an ad that bothered me enough to put in a formal complaint in regards to it in reference to any subject.

Not really in a position to watch the example linked in the OP at the moment, but by the expression on the faces in the screencap, it looks like it is meant to be done in humour.

Raekwon · 09-01-2012 4:44pm

I've never complained about an advertisement and I don't think that I ever would unless it was really offensive. I have noticed the trend of how advertisements depicting men as complete morons has now become socially expectable for some reason. It consequently coincides with the new wave of female empowerment adverts with the Boots "Here Come The Girl's" campaign being the most obvious one.

In contrast advertisements depicting women as complete morons are extremely rare and the ones that are broadcast are usually taken off air just as quick because of the barrage of complainants that they receive from female viewers. This is just one example of an ad that got pulled even though it was obviously aimed at the lowest common denominator:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HN-kQmof70

Maguined · 09-01-2012 4:45pm

Same as Drav, Have never really been bothered by an ad, most adds that I have heard claim are extremely sexist I don't care about complaining as my view is private companies should be allowed advertise as sexist based as they like as it is up to the public to punish them by boycotting their product. If not a single woman purchases a Yorkie because of their "not for girls!" marketing then that is Yorkie's loss of revenue.

wilkie2006 · 09-01-2012 5:23pm

I think that Oven Pride ad is actually quite offensive to both sexes. Did you hear the woman's moronic, Barbie-esque laugh at the very end? I think that more than sexist, though, this is just a really bad ad.

Has this actually been aired? I'd be surprised if it ever sees the light of day. It doesn't look like a finished advertisement - the voice over needs to be redone and the visuals don't appear to have been touched-up (I've worked in marketing for quite a long time).

wilkie2006 · 09-01-2012 5:27pm

Maguined wrote: »

If not a single woman purchases a Yorkie because of their "not for girls!" marketing then that is Yorkie's loss of revenue.

Would you really consider that sexist? I would say it's very tongue-in-cheek, not sexist. All that they were doing was embracing the fact that women don't typically buy Yorkies and making a joke out of it (and yes, I'm sure that women reading this will say they do in fact buy them but you're not its demographic).

Sleepy · 09-01-2012 6:38pm

I'm getting very tempted to make a complaint about that ad Nova keep playing for a bar which apparently has the "four things that are all a man thinks about"... not so much for that wonderful generalisation, more so for the fact the girl giving about her boyfriend going to said bar exclaims proudly at the end of the ad "so I slapped him!" as if her violence was something to be proud of...

Otis Driftwood · 09-01-2012 6:39pm

If I ever become a person that gets offended by a retarded ad campaign I will punch myself in the face.

When ever I see some of those dumb ass ads that portray men or women as morons its a case of this lil fella - :rolleyes: - and thats about it.

There are much better things to get in a flap about than a poxy ad tbh.

wilkie2006 · 09-01-2012 6:44pm

Sleepy wrote: »

I'm getting very tempted to make a complaint about that ad Nova keep playing for a bar which apparently has the "four things that are all a man thinks about"... not so much for that wonderful generalisation, more so for the fact the girl giving about her boyfriend going to said bar exclaims proudly at the end of the ad "so I slapped him!" as if her violence was something to be proud of...

Youtube link?

G-Money · 09-01-2012 6:52pm

crazyderk wrote: »

I never really pay attention to ads when it comes to any type of issue let alone sexism, however I made a complaint about an RSA AD one time, it was the one that was on the radio about a year or more ago, which was warning girls not to get into cars with guys unless they feel completely comfortable with their driving, it pretty much showed all men as little boy racers and irresponsible drivers whcih I took offense too I got a letter back saying as it was an information campaign that it didn't fall under their jurisdiction but they passed along the comments I think it got a high number of complains and it was pulled as it was only on for a short period.

That one did my head in alright and I thought it was very sexist. Basically portraying ALL male drivers as boy racing w*****rs.

Could you imagine the opposite ad "Guys, do you want to get into a car with a woman who still has to do her make-up and will be using the rear-view mirror to put on lipstick while driving?" Yeah, it's ridiculous, but no more so than the ad about guys driving.

But then that's the way society is. It's apparently acceptable to say anything about men, but if you even raise an eyebrow about a woman, it's a case of "Sisters doing it for themselves" going on repeat and the pitch forks coming out.

Daftendirekt · 09-01-2012 7:39pm

I've never complained about an ad, though I don't remember ever seeing one that bothered me to that extent. My attitude towards potentially offensive advertising is similar to Otis's - stupid, but not a big deal.

That isn't to say I wouldn't ever file a complaint. Though sexist advertising in itself doesn't bother me all that much, the double standard at play does.

If I was to report an ad, it wouldn't be case of "This offends me... Ban it immediately!", it'd be more "There's no way this would be allowed if the roles were reversed. So why is this being tolerated?" I realise that if I don't say anything, I'm playing my part in perpetuating this double standard.

And we can't have that.

Sonics2k · 09-01-2012 7:54pm

Nope.

I understand that ads are aimed at a target audience, and even though seeing Ryan Reynolds arse bounce across my TV may not appeal to me, I get that this may encourage people to buy a brand of Aftershave.

Somehow.

Morag · 09-01-2012 7:57pm

Sleepy wrote: »

I'm getting very tempted to make a complaint about that ad Nova keep playing for a bar which apparently has the "four things that are all a man thinks about"... not so much for that wonderful generalisation, more so for the fact the girl giving about her boyfriend going to said bar exclaims proudly at the end of the ad "so I slapped him!" as if her violence was something to be proud of...

I lodged a complaint re that one. I was stunned to hear it, got an email acknowledging the complaint but that's it so far, but I haven't heard it on the radio in the last week or so.

Standman · 09-01-2012 8:17pm

Ads in general are poorly written shite thats been concocted by some companies woefully unimaginative marketing department. On the few occasions I do watch tv I mute it during the breaks so they I don't have to listen to they shite they spew.

Pawwed Rig · 09-01-2012 9:38pm

There was a show on Newstalk a couple of years ago regarding depression and suicide amongst men in Ireland. The commentator (apologies I don't remember his name) had an interesting take into advertising. He said, especially for young men, that the image of men given in the media is so imasculating for men that and completely contrary to the reality that it leads young men to question their role in society.
Since then I have paid attention to how men are represented and tbh if Aliens arrived tomorrow with only the media to go by they would be expecting a world ruled by women who look after the mildly retared males of the species who can do little other than make a mess of every task assigned to them while drinking beer and thinking about raping anything in a skirt.

mikemac1 · 09-01-2012 9:41pm

Fook you Road Safety Authority

But to answer the question, no I've never complained

Dudess · 09-01-2012 10:06pm

G-Money wrote: »

crazyderk wrote: »

I never really pay attention to ads when it comes to any type of issue let alone sexism, however I made a complaint about an RSA AD one time, it was the one that was on the radio about a year or more ago, which was warning girls not to get into cars with guys unless they feel completely comfortable with their driving, it pretty much showed all men as little boy racers and irresponsible drivers whcih I took offense too I got a letter back saying as it was an information campaign that it didn't fall under their jurisdiction but they passed along the comments I think it got a high number of complains and it was pulled as it was only on for a short period.

That one did my head in alright and I thought it was very sexist. Basically portraying ALL male drivers as boy racing w*****rs.

Could you imagine the opposite ad "Guys, do you want to get into a car with a woman who still has to do her make-up and will be using the rear-view mirror to put on lipstick while driving?" Yeah, it's ridiculous, but no more so than the ad about guys driving.

But then that's the way society is. It's apparently acceptable to say anything about men, but if you even raise an eyebrow about a woman, it's a case of "Sisters doing it for themselves" going on repeat and the pitch forks coming out.

Well to tackle this double standard, perhaps men should air their grievances like the women in question do, rather than just doing what's said and thanked in post 2 here - if that's not parody, it's extremely un-self-aware.
RSA ad was vile btw, so is that Nova one. So are lots of ads where men are portrayed abysmally - I remember a bank one where the woman giggles to her friend that she told her fella she was pregnant to freak him out as revenge for something trivial.

Daftendirekt · 09-01-2012 10:13pm

Anybody got a link to the Nova one? Google isn't giving me anything.

Morag · 09-01-2012 10:25pm

The one which gets mentioned all the time is the diet coke break ad, if a similar ad was to be used next week, would you complain?

Otis Driftwood · 09-01-2012 10:31pm

Sharrow wrote: »

The one which gets mentioned all the time is the diet coke break ad, if a similar ad was to be used next week, would you complain?

Those diet coke ads weren't sexist though.

Just some good looking bloke getting oggled by a few women.

Thats supposed to be sexist?

strobe · 09-01-2012 10:41pm

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

Those diet coke ads weren't sexist though.

Just some good looking bloke getting oggled by a few women.

Thats supposed to be sexist?

Agreed, you really have to mangle the definition of 'sexism' to apply it to ads simply featuring sexually attractive people being sexually attractive.

======
Re: the OP.
I've never made a complaint about an advert, no.

Daftendirekt · 09-01-2012 10:55pm

Sharrow wrote: »

The one which gets mentioned all the time is the diet coke break ad, if a similar ad was to be used next week, would you complain?

No. I've got no problem with ads that use sexuality to sell things. Same applies to the Hunky Dory ads that caused such a furore a while back.

Nothing sexist about it.

Raekwon · 10-01-2012 12:19am

Daftendirekt wrote: »

No. I've got no problem with ads that use sexuality to sell things. Same applies to the Hunky Dory ads that caused such a furore a while back.

Nothing sexist about it.

Yet the new Lynx ad campaign got pulled a few months ago because they were seen as degrading to women, similar to the Hunky Dory ads.

Link

So in a nutshell it seems that men couldn't care less about being portrayed as sex objects, morons, etc in advertising campaigns but women on the other hand seem to be more offended by being mocked or objectified in similar advertising campaigns?

Otis Driftwood · 10-01-2012 12:35am

Raekwon wrote: »

Yet the new Lynx ad campaign got pulled a few months ago because they were seen as degrading to women, similar to the Hunky Dory ads.

Link

So in a nutshell it seems that men couldn't care less about being portrayed as sex objects, morons, etc in advertising campaigns but women on the other hand seem to be more offended by being mocked or objectified in similar advertising campaigns?

I think there are some instances that warrant complaints - remember that rapey ad for cup a soup a while back - but I do think alot of it is people just looking for an excuse to get indignant about something.

Sonics2k · 10-01-2012 12:36am

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

Those diet coke ads weren't sexist though.

Just some good looking bloke getting oggled by a few women.

Thats supposed to be sexist?

I think that's actually part of the point as far as a lot of men are concerned. We don't view it as sexist, but if you remember the recent debate about Largo foods, women found that ad to be extremely sexist, even though it was basically the same thing, which again, most men didn't find to be sexist.

So either, we're not sensitive enough, or some people are too sensitive.

Standman · 10-01-2012 1:24am

Sonics2k wrote: »

I think that's actually part of the point as far as a lot of men are concerned. We don't view it as sexist, but if you remember the recent debate about Largo foods, women found that ad to be extremely sexist, even though it was basically the same thing, which again, most men didn't find to be sexist.

So either, we're not sensitive enough, or some people are too sensitive.

I think it has to do with the prominent view that men ogling at or commenting on a random womans attractiveness is harassment or inappropriate whereas women doing the same to men is just a bit of fun.

Perfect example of that in this ad for an Post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdZgYRbN0ZU

A group of older women snap a picture of a good looking young guy in his swimming togs without his knowledge. The implication is that men don't mind this happening and apparently most really don't.

jumbone · 10-01-2012 1:26am

How come a man is an expert on washing machines in a calgon ad but can't work one in a colour catcher ad?

Dudess · 10-01-2012 1:27am

I don't get bothered by ads featuring sexualised women, but I guess the reason it bothers some women is the way there is so much focus on women's looks in every sphere - a female politician: looks have to be brought into it; a female representative of a charity: looks have to be commented on; her do-ability etc... to the abandonment of her other attributes.

strobe · 10-01-2012 1:40am

Out of curiosity Dudess what would you think of the view that women taking it upon themselves to complain about the Hunky Dorys etc ads hurts rather than helps in relation to 'a female politician: looks have to be brought into it; a female representative of a charity: looks have to be commented on; her do-ability etc... to the abandonment of her other attributes.'?

Galvasean · 10-01-2012 2:08am

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

I think there are some instances that warrant complaints - remember that rapey ad for cup a soup a while back - but I do think alot of it is people just looking for an excuse to get indignant about something.

I don't recall that ad. Anyone got a youtube link?

re: politicians and whatnot, isn't Barac Obama constantly being commented on in relation to his good looks? Wasn't BIFFO constantly being slagged for his lack thereof?

Otis Driftwood · 10-01-2012 9:38am

Galvasean wrote: »

I don't recall that ad. Anyone got a youtube link?

There was a thread in tLL about it a while back,I think it was cup a soup but could be mistaken.

It wasnt a TV ad but it was a poster that showed that "3 PM slump" line with some hulking figure grabbing a woman from behind and forcing a bar of chocolate down her throat.

I did a search but couldnt find it,maybe someone with a better memory than I will remember it.

source · 10-01-2012 10:16am

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

Galvasean wrote: »

I don't recall that ad. Anyone got a youtube link?

There was a thread in tLL about it a while back,I think it was cup a soup but could be mistaken.

It wasnt a TV ad but it was a poster that showed that "3 PM slump" line with some hulking figure grabbing a woman from behind and forcing a bar of chocolate down her throat.

I did a search but couldnt find it,maybe someone with a better memory than I will remember it.

There's still one up in a car park in limerick, I'll try to get a pic later.

Sleepy · 10-01-2012 10:46am

Sharrow wrote: »

I lodged a complaint re that one. I was stunned to hear it, got an email acknowledging the complaint but that's it so far, but I haven't heard it on the radio in the last week or so.

Any chance you could PM me the email you used to complain? Can't remember the specifics of the ad bar the grating last line and the more complaints they get, the faster they tend to be to respond to these things.

Maguined · 10-01-2012 10:50am

wilkie2006 wrote: »

Would you really consider that sexist? I would say it's very tongue-in-cheek, not sexist. All that they were doing was embracing the fact that women don't typically buy Yorkies and making a joke out of it (and yes, I'm sure that women reading this will say they do in fact buy them but you're not its demographic).

No I wouldn't but a couple of people have told they viewed it as sexist.

Zulu · 10-01-2012 10:55am

Only ad I complained about was the "he drives, she dies", which was, frankly, dispicable.

Notably, the ad wasn't considered sexist, and so wasn't pulled.

Sleepy · 10-01-2012 11:10am

Maguined wrote: »

No I wouldn't but a couple of people have told they viewed it as sexist.

I think that was a clever ad. By pointing out their main demographic was men it encouraged a lot of women to start buying Yorkies in order to make a point.

Morag · 10-01-2012 11:19am

Otis Driftwood wrote: »

There was a thread in tLL about it a while back,I think it was cup a soup but could be mistaken.

It wasnt a TV ad but it was a poster that showed that "3 PM slump" line with some hulking figure grabbing a woman from behind and forcing a bar of chocolate down her throat.

I did a search but couldnt find it,maybe someone with a better memory than I will remember it.

This one?

Sleepy wrote: »

Any chance you could PM me the email you used to complain? Can't remember the specifics of the ad bar the grating last line and the more complaints they get, the faster they tend to be to respond to these things.

I used the online forum on the advertising standards website stating which station I had heard it on and quoted the line 'So I slapped him' and lodged the complaint as it trivialised intimate partner violence when the victim is male.

Bullseye1 · 10-01-2012 11:23am

What I find more annoying is the adds pertaining to show a family unit sitting down for breakfast or some other family activity and no father in sight.

um7y1h83ge06nx · 10-01-2012 12:36pm

Sharrow wrote: »

I used the online forum on the advertising standards website stating which station I had heard it on and quoted the line 'So I slapped him' and lodged the complaint as it trivialised intimate partner violence when the victim is male.

In fairness If that ad doesn't get pulled then there really is a double standard on how the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland view media. If they can't see that trivialising partner violence regardless of the sex of the victim is wrong it'll be strange.

Be good to keep us updated on any responses you get, just out of curiosity.

trebor28 · 10-01-2012 5:57pm

heres one for ye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzT7v4DUjSY

Fighting Irish · 10-01-2012 6:07pm

And we wonder why the world is so fooked up? lol some people need to get a life

Dudess · 10-01-2012 9:46pm

Fighting Irish wrote: »

And we wonder why the world is so fooked up? lol some people need to get a life

Which people? And how does it have anything to do with the world being fooked up?

Dudess · 10-01-2012 9:54pm

strobe wrote: »

Out of curiosity Dudess what would you think of the view that women taking it upon themselves to complain about the Hunky Dorys etc ads hurts rather than helps in relation to 'a female politician: looks have to be brought into it; a female representative of a charity: looks have to be commented on; her do-ability etc... to the abandonment of her other attributes.'?

I get a pain in me hole when some women get in a flap over the likes of the Hunky Dory ads. That said, if someone makes a well thought out argument explaining why they object to them, I won't dismiss what they have to say.

If a woman's looks are integral to her role, fair enough to comment on them, but I don't see the need for every woman ever in the public eye to have her looks scrutinised, e.g. Merkel.

Anyone see the latest Muller Light ad? Face-palm. Makes the man out to be completely hapless and subservient, and makes the women out to be manipulative bitches.

I wouldn't get particularly bothered by just an ad, but since we're discussing it here: it's interesting to dissect them.

Fighting Irish · 11-01-2012 11:23am

Dudess wrote: »

Which people? And how does it have anything to do with the world being fooked up?

People who have time to care enough about an ad on tv, that they ring/write a complaint to the makers of the the ad

MyKeyG · 11-01-2012 1:19pm

Fighting Irish wrote: »

People who have time to care enough about an ad on tv, that they ring/write a complaint to the makers of the the ad

Nonsense. Ads are the bane of the televisual experience, always have been. They're designed to evoke certain responses in people and move them to a particular action. You can hardly blame them when that reaction is a negative one!!!

Personally I think it reflects a modicum of decency still remaining in society when people are moved to act against something they consider wrong whether big or small.

Morag · 11-01-2012 2:16pm

Filling in the complaint forum on the advertising standards site takes less then 5 mins.
Often people spend more time giving out about things then doing anything about them.

I find it strange that men who have said they see ads which they have an issue with
wouldn't take those minutes to make a complaint, as it does make a difference.

Is it part of some strange man code which has 'mustn't grumble' or 'make a fuss'?

There are issues which effect men but complaining about them seems to be unmanly someone how, which I find strange.

strobe · 11-01-2012 2:32pm

Sharrow wrote: »

Filling in the complaint forum on the advertising standards site takes less then 5 mins.
Often people spend more time giving out about things then doing anything about them.

I find it strange that men who have said they see ads which they have an issue with
wouldn't take those minutes to make a complaint, as it does make a difference.

Is it part of some strange man code which has 'mustn't grumble' or 'make a fuss'?

There are issues which effect men but complaining about them seems to be unmanly someone how, which I find strange.

Because every woman that sees an ad she doesn't like always lodges a complaint?

'Man code'... 'seems to be unmanly'...really Shar? Is it not more likely that some men and women not reporting ads has less to do with the fact they are men and women and more to do with the fact they are who they are as individuals?

Is this where you were hoping to lead to when starting the thread from the beginning? 'You men don't report ads because you are subject to an imposed idea of manliness' or some such shite?

Sexist ads, have you ever made a complaint?

Would you/have you made a complaint about an ad? 81 votes

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