Mild rant. Why is this? There hasn’t been one female in these anti-driving drunk ads that I’ve ever seen. In my whole life, I can’t think of one and I know they exist. What’s the deal!?
(Not sure if the BBQ Pit is the right place for this).
Because they want to stir up anger towards drunk drivers probably, and people tend to be less sympathetic towards males. Just like appeals for charity virtually always use images of women or children. Advertising psychology.
Yeah, it would make sense to single out women once in a while since recent news reports show that female DUI arrests are up 30% from a decade ago.
Dammit, here I am agreeing with Der Trihs.
Here’san interesting stat for you:
*While men still outnumber women by 4 to 1 in DUI arrests, statistics show, when drunk women cause fatal car crashes, they’re more likely to have a passenger in the car. And more likely than men to have a child under 14 with them. *
I guess, but that doesn’t make it right. If most advertisers taget men because it causes less a reaction, doesn’t that help delude people’s responce to ‘men in trouble’? Doesn’t it just feed the notion that we shouldn’t give a shit about men?
Yes, but complaining men look weak. And as Norah Vincent said in her book Self-Made Man: One Woman’s Year Disguised as a Man, people see weakness in a woman and their natural instinct is to protect from harm and nurture it until it’s strong. People see weakness in a man and feel revolting disgust and their natural instinct is to crush it out of existence and get it out of their sight as soon as possible.
I just know that when I was a child, these types of things fucked me up. I feel for young men watching these, (or young people in general). Why shouldn’t a man be emotional… that was what I was told in the late 80’s and 90’s. I never wanted to live in a world where equality wasn’t a goal to forever shoot for, so I would wonder why men were the butt of every bad stereotype. I felt like I was ‘bad’ for being male by default. It’s not healthy imho. If I’m a wuss for that, I was just acting in the way I was told was right.
Heh, don’t believe the hype. Despite how our culture changes and celebrates gender equality, it seems our biology hardwires us to expect strength and leadership from men yet excuses the lack of these traits in women. Maybe it’s an unfair double standard, maybe it’s not, but it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so you better accept it and adapt. People, and especially women, are ruthless about their disgust at weakness and lack of leadership in men.
Well, let me play devil’s advocate; why isn’t it right?
The purpose of anti-drunken driving ads isn’t to present a statistically accurate sampling of drunken drivers, it’s to raise public awareness of the problem, convince people not to do it, and create social and political pressure for resources to be dedicated to stopping it. Whatever works to achieving those goals determines whether or not the ad is effective.
Are men being put out by being (allegedly) overrepresented in such ads? As a man, I don’t see how it adversely affects me, to be honest. Nobody’s accusing me of being a drunk driver. I’m sorry MyFootsZZZ feels these things fucked him up, but I watched the same ads and I’m honestly glad I was born a man all the same, 'cause on the whoile we have it easier.
Well, who do I blame for this? The women’s moment? Or people trying to cash in on the women’s movement? I was a kid, it’s a little difficult to undue a lifetime of being taught these things. I feel this is a relevant grudge to have.
Because my beef has nothing to do with drunk driving, and everything to do with stereotypes. What if they were to show a woman, you’re saying that wouldn’t be effective? As for ‘us’ having it easier, I can’t say that for sure because I’ve never been a woman, (and even if I were to dress as one for a year, I would never get the whole experience). I would say in general, you’re right. But I’m an individual, ya know what I’m saying?
I’m not trying to be rude. I’m not trying to say women don’t still have many struggles. I’m just sick of men being vilified, or made to look stupid in every sitcom. I’ve seen MUCH less of this recently, BTW. So it’s getting better.
Well sure, if you want a villain, the women’s movement is as good as any. They were wrong (as in factually wrong, not morally repugnant) in claiming that there were no innate differences between the sexes, and continue to claim that women should act like men and vice versa; they’ve yet to recant their error, to the detriment of those who heeded that dictate. Fortunately we’re now seeing some pushback as people start to recognize the neurobiological differences between the sexes, and society’s ingrained different treatment of women and men. (For one thing, after several decades of feminism, men are still regarded as less sympathetic and more disposable, as Der Trihs noted.)
I agree with you about the whole sitcom thing, among other idiotic things. Men are intelligent, capable, and responsible as a general rule, just as women and “others” are. The recent depiction of them as goofy, brainless, incompetents with the oh-so-savvy dear wife (for example) is ridiculous. For the record, I think that for every 4 men who are depicted driving drunk, one woman should be. Lets actually show the demographics, and give people a real look at the fact that alcoholic women are the ones more likely to have a couple drinks to relax at home, and then drive junior to <insert activity>.
Even though I brought it up, I want to be careful about point fingers. And I know I would have to point to myself for being so… “sensitive”, (though I WAS A FREAKING kid). I’m not sure the ‘women’s movement’ is to blame as much as SOME forms of feminism. I love most women. I don’t even think it’s exclusively ‘women at the helm’ of all of this, especially in the media. And some feminists have stuck up for men in this regaurd
Since we’re just going to talk out our asses and speak anecdotally with no evidence, I’m going to call bullshit on this. Men are much harder on other men who are perceived as weak or feminine than women are. When I hear someone calling a boy a faggot, or a pussy, it’s always another boy doing it. When I hear of someone deriding a man for being pussy whipped or weak, it’s always another man doing it. So if you want someone to blame, instead of slagging off on the women’s movement, which IME has encouraged men to be more sensitive and open, focus on men who are enforcing these cultural standards of masculinity. You all are doing it to yourselves. Do you think women are making these drunk driving commercials? Probably not.
As usual, Der Tris is just plain wrong when he posts in the pit.
The ads aren’t about stirring up anger, they are trying to prevent the viewer from drinking and driving. It’s not that the viewer should be angry at somebody else for doing it, it’s that the VIEWER shouldn’t do it. There’s no anger or sympathy involved. How can you sympathize with your own damned self?
Myfootszzz, if he can slow down the male emo angst, has a good question. Why don’t the “powers that be” target the female viewers for the same thing? He is right, there does seem to be a disparity in the target demographic. I don’t know why, but I have a guess. No statistical data here, but in social drinking situations where there are men and women, it’s the man who usually drives. On a date, the man pays for dinner and the drinks. He also drives.
Hence targeting men for the ads. “Hey buddy, buzzed driving is drunk driving.”
Right.
I agree. BUT it’s hard for a guy like me to get a date. I have a LOT of women friends.
What does you having trouble getting a date have to do with why more men are depicted in drunk driving commercials? Please god do not let this turn into another one of those “I’m a nice guy, why don’t women like me?” threads. Please.
Date one of your friends, damnit! That’s what I do.