Thursday, 15 November 2012

What even is sexism?

Today I stumbled across this article by AdWeek that showed ten of what it deemed to be the most sexist ads ever made. After watching, and laughing, at every single one of them, I found myself wondering whether or not I was actually one of the 'total pigs' the article was talking about. I put this to a friend and they said that I was a total pig but for completely different reasons, which didn't really help me come to an answer, so now I'm asking you: Is it sexist to find sexism amusing?


Recently there's been a bucket load of Christmas commercials suggesting that it's women who do all the work, buy all the presents, fetch all the shopping and effectively make Christmas worth having. Are they sexist? Who are they sexist towards? Sure, they portray an image that women do everything, but they also tell a story of incredibly lazy men who sit around on their backsides all day scratching their balls. Is that sexist to males? Should I be offended?

To help us decide let's have a look at a few examples, shall we? Come on, you've come this far, may as well see it through to the end.

This commercial is from the 1960's when people didn't know what sexism was (especially the women, bless 'em.) It's sexist because the man expects the woman to make him good coffee and that is WRONG.


This commercial is not from the 1960's and people do now know what sexism is which is very good of them. However it still happens here, suggesting that men are big fat idiots who don't know how to use maps. How dare they?!?


And this one is even worse! They reckon (who the hell are 'they'?) that male sufferers of domestic abuse are far less likely to tell someone about it than female sufferers, so it's obviously alright to make a joke about it isn't it? 


Now ask yourself if you laughed at any of that. If you did you're just as bad as me, who found all of them equally amusing. Has this brought us any closer to finding out if I am a total pig or not? 

No, but it has wasted a few minutes of your otherwise productive days.

Now someone bring me a coffee and none of that week stuff. The mountain is where it grows best.