gender

Before ADD/ADHD, ritalin was prescribed to tired, overworked mothers. This 1967 ad claimed that ritalin could cure “Tired Mom Syndrome”:

Amazing!

Thanks to my friend, Jake L!

This bit appears on the Maxim magazine website. It uses rape, and women’s apparent attraction to men who look like rapists, in order to be humorous. I think it’s particularly interesting that it includes a jab at a Republican (or is it just “the establishment”?). If they are obviously leftist/anti-establishment, are we to believe that they must be good guys, therefore this use of rape for comedic value is okay? Or is this just another manifestation of the equal opportunity insult comedy found in products like South Park and Knocked Up? There is a lot going on here and I’m pretty sure I have yet to fully grasp it. Any thoughts?[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVcyNANK5cY[/youtube]

Text: “Back then, you didn’t look through your closet for something to wear. You wore your closet. You’ve come a long way, baby.”

Here’s an ad for breast implants:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8RL9Wm5-n4[/youtube] Clearly in this situation the solution is to get breast implants, not a new date.The company’s website is here.This ad encourages women to be envious of “perfect” women and to compare themselves unfavorably:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arf9LzdIY2s[/youtube] Try plastic surgery if your eating disorder doesn’t do the job:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzTPOAzgwQE[/youtube] The center is still in business, but I think a different doctor is in charge now.

Gwen Sharp is an associate professor of sociology at Nevada State College. You can follow her on Twitter at @gwensharpnv.

Just try to imagine this advice aimed at a woman:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGmX6m78zDM[/youtube] How I dream for the day that I, as a woman, get permission to buy a bigger shirt and forget about it.

This commercial affirms the notion that only women can be expected to do housework because children and husbands are absolutely useless.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fwTtJZ6Db4[/youtube]

I find the wife’s acceptance of her husbands ass-ish behavior (still her “best friend”) particularly disheartening.

Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Axe body spray is so powerful, a woman will give up all her dreams and become putty in your hands if you wear it.

Axe and Dove are owned by the same company, so keep that in mind when you encounter the “pro-woman” Dove ad campaigns.