Comments on: Safer Sex PSAs Conflate The Penis With A Firearm (NSFW)

By: Tiffani Jameson

Tiffani Jameson — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:05:00 +0000

I agree. Any genitalia can be deadly weapons if people are inconsiderate. Don’t be too offended. They’re probably going to do a land mine vajayjay next.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:36:03 +0000

Not really touched on yet is the extreme objectification of men in this add. The concept that a penis is inherently dangerous and is analogous to a bullet or even gun is beyond offensive. Any kind of sexual objectification has the ability to be negative, but the idea of representing male reproductive organs as instruments of injury and death is deplorable to say the least. I am disgusted and personally offended of this type of depiction of male anatomy.

By: lyssa

lyssa — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 12:52:09 +0000

http://www.coloribus.com/focus/top-safe-sex-ideas/12438455/ What IS this? This makes absolutely no sense. Am I just missing something?

These three are actually very good, I think.
http://www.coloribus.com/focus/top-safe-sex-ideas/10003305/ http://www.coloribus.com/focus/top-safe-sex-ideas/10003255/
http://www.coloribus.com/focus/top-safe-sex-ideas/10003205/

By: Presenting the Penis as a Dangerous Weapon (Mildly NSFW) » Sociological Images

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:32:00 +0000

[...] punishment for inappropriate behaviors; for instance, a lot of campaigns that encourage condom use compare penises to guns. So does this one. This anti-drunk driving poster threatens young people with the idea of prison [...]

By: Violence Against Women on Prime Time Up Since 2004 » Sociological Images

Violence Against Women on Prime Time Up Since 2004 » Sociological Images — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:05:10 +0000

[...] nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four, thirty-five, [...]

By: Portuguese safe-sex ad draws ire of American feminists | David Shankbone

Portuguese safe-sex ad draws ire of American feminists | David Shankbone — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:48:47 +0000

[...] takes these ads out of context, the ironically-named Contexts.org. They have a running “Sociological Images” bit. They make the point that the penis is, once again, shown as “inherently or [...]

By: American gun culture | Toban Black

American gun culture | Toban Black — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:28:12 +0000

[...] Lisa on the Sociological Images blog – “Safer Sex PSAs Conflate The Penis With A Firearm (NSFW)“ [...]

By: “Is that a gun in your pants or are you just happy to see me?” « Adam Joseph Drici

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:32:57 +0000

[...] (via Zelda Lily & Sociological Images) [...]

By: alana

alana — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:19:55 +0000

wiggles – There are actually two posters; one with a woman surrounded by a sea of male parts, and one of a man floating in a female part space. You can see them here:http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2008/aides-explore-just-protect-yourself/

By: Kandeezie

Kandeezie — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:38:27 +0000

Notice how it’s suppose to be from the women’s perspective, warning us of the dangers of having unprotected sex, yet the positioning of the woman is from a male point of view, the same one used in male-centered pornography to help men visualize the experience. If it were truly for women, the viewpoint would have been reverse.

By: Pauline

Pauline — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 02:04:42 +0000

Sorry but could I have a translation for the copy on the ads? I’m really curious as to what they say….

As to the imagery itself, I’m pretty disgusted.

By: T B

T B — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:12:52 +0000

A perspective on guns in the U.S. -

Marie Cocco -
“Guns and the Link We Won’t Admit”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/06/16-8

I recommend that article (which was published just 5 days ago).

By: wiggles

wiggles — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:32:33 +0000

Ethyl – good point about what men are doing to women in the Congo. That’s what that third ad made me think of too.

By: wiggles

wiggles — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:30:10 +0000

Kelly – the PSA you linked to isn’t as bad, but I’m not over the moon about it. Why no female sex organs?

By: T B

T B — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:03:00 +0000

The gender and sex issues should be our primary focus here, of course, but I also find it striking how these ads normalize gun culture.

Regarding the guns -
The basic message here is about protecting ourselves without challenging the disemmination of the guns (to bring another penis metaphor into this). The guns basically are equated with natural body parts — as though guns are normal outgrowths of our bodies. More generally, mainstream displays of guns (on TV, etc) tend to encourage people to take them for granted.

(If I were to outline my own view on guns, I would stress how we should challenge the gun industry.)

Obviously people view guns from different perspectives. I’m not assuming that everyone who reads this site has an outright anti-gun POV — of some sort; however, I don’t see how anyone could say that these ads bring a constructive contribution to controversies and conflicts surrounding guns.

(I haven’t read through all of the comments, by the way. But I did notice that “Dusk_Blue” has posted a comment — not far above this one from me — that connects up with what I’m saying more than most of the comments here seem to.)