Comments on: “Because You Never Know Who Else has been Sitting There” http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/ Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Fri, 25 May 2012 04:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: steff_ http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-4070 steff_ Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:10:56 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-4070 I agree with Esme: the pictures are telling us that white skin is equal to clean. I agree with Esme: the pictures are telling us that white skin is equal to clean.

]]> By: Esme http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-4004 Esme Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:10:11 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-4004 Actually, that last one looks a little more like the Republican "welfare queen" than a transsexual to me (the cap over the hair, pregnant belly, and dark skin). With this level of stereotyping, I expect a transsexual probably would have been depicted as a hooker. Also, unless someone is literally defecating onto the seat, this product is unnecessary for disease prevention. But many restroom products rely on this idea of dirty toilets (especially those damned seat covers), except instead of the usual voiceover from someone who quotes figures and names diseases, this advertisement relies upon a fear of the other, particularly targeting the skinny white people whose feces and urine is obviously cleaner than that of people of color or fat people. Actually, that last one looks a little more like the Republican “welfare queen” than a transsexual to me (the cap over the hair, pregnant belly, and dark skin). With this level of stereotyping, I expect a transsexual probably would have been depicted as a hooker.

Also, unless someone is literally defecating onto the seat, this product is unnecessary for disease prevention. But many restroom products rely on this idea of dirty toilets (especially those damned seat covers), except instead of the usual voiceover from someone who quotes figures and names diseases, this advertisement relies upon a fear of the other, particularly targeting the skinny white people whose feces and urine is obviously cleaner than that of people of color or fat people.

]]> By: Tim http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-3999 Tim Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:53:47 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-3999 What makes you think it's a transsexual? Not every ugly, pregnant woman that doesn't shave is a transsexual. Eallen you are reading way too much into it. The illustrations represent opposites, the ultimate other. What makes you think it’s a transsexual? Not every ugly, pregnant woman that doesn’t shave is a transsexual. Eallen you are reading way too much into it. The illustrations represent opposites, the ultimate other.

]]> By: _ http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-3986 _ Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:01:46 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-3986 Eallen: How else would you have them seated? Eallen: How else would you have them seated?

]]> By: eallen http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-3985 eallen Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:47:22 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-3985 Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but is there some sort of homophobic panic going on here, seeing as how the two characters in each ad are seated anus-to-anus? Is this some sort of weird equation between dirty toilet seats and homosexual sex? Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but is there some sort of homophobic panic going on here, seeing as how the two characters in each ad are seated anus-to-anus? Is this some sort of weird equation between dirty toilet seats and homosexual sex?

]]> By: eallen http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2008/11/02/because-you-never-know-who-else-has-been-sitting-there/comment-page-1/#comment-3984 eallen Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:45:24 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?p=3892#comment-3984 Furthermore, it's a cross-dresser who picks her nose and has bugs in her hair [?!]...because apparently cross-dressers are smelly, dirty and repulsive. Furthermore, it’s a cross-dresser who picks her nose and has bugs in her hair [?!]…because apparently cross-dressers are smelly, dirty and repulsive.

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