Insurance Commercial Says Sexual Assault Is Okay...

[Kintsugi]

... as long as you're an "attractive woman."

This commercial has offended me since the first time I saw it.

 

[Neverthesame]

My phone doesn't have the plugin required so I will you my input on this a bit later, but your thread title reminded me of an old coffee commercial from years ago. This was probably the most offensive thing I have ever seen on the tele.

A man and his subservient wife sitting on a canoe, he wants coffee. Narrator pipes in about this amazing instant coffee that so easy to make. Man reaches down picking up can of coffee, hands it to wife saying "Wow honey, this is amazing, so simple even you can make it." To which the wife of course starts clapping. Thrilled naturally, about the coffee even a woman can't screw up making.

I can't believe that this kind of garbage actually gets on tv. One of many reasons why I no longer watch television. Just can't stomach the overwhelming stupidity. Heaped in with outmoded ways of thinking, that have not just been presented as if it is somehow acceptable to hold backward sexist views. But that we should throw our hard earned money at a rubbish product marketed by some bloke who is stuck in the 1950's.

Sorry it's been a long day. lol rant over. I'll see if I can't find that coffee commercial and link it once I get onto a proper device for media.

 

[Fadeaway]

Yup, if the roles were reversed people would be up in arms over this. We do have double standards.

 

[anonymous]

I fail to see how this commercial is saying that sexual assault is ok.

Ptsd glasses?

 

[Friday]

"You don't have to look at me like that! There are worse things than an attractive woman touching your body!!!"

 

[Kintsugi]

Anonymous, if it were a man grabbing a woman's pectorals and saying the same thing, I highly doubt it would be acceptable.

 

[anonymous]

I've watched this video five times now. SHES TWO INCHES FROM GRABBING HIS RIGHT ARM,NOT HIS MAN BOOBS!!!!!

 

[anonymous]

I really do think some victims see victimization everywhere. Whoa. Touching an arm is SO sexual! Can't hug your kids anymore, that's molestation! Next we'll need notarized legal forms before engaging in sexual activity from kissing on up. Craaaazy!

 

[scout86]

This is interesting,

I've had mixed feelings about that commercial all along, but for totally different reasons.

First, I could identify with someone walking through life being treated like they were invisible. Second, I love the way she chooses to deal with it. (Eat ice cream?) Third, she has the self confidence to refer to herself as "attractive.", The last scene, where someone finally sees her and reacts to her presence, I find a bit confusing, but I didn't make the sexual assault connection either.

 

[Kintsugi]

@scout86 Interesting take on the use of "attractive." I always felt like it made the scene 100X worse, because to me, she's saying, "Well if I were unattractive, this wouldn't be okay, but I'm cute, so STFU."

I will never agree that this commercial does not condone female sexual assault. I really think if this had been shot with a man, everyone would be flipping out.

I know if a man tried to grab me and said, "There are worse things than an attractive man touching your body," I would flip out. And yeah, I think the word "attractive" makes it worse, because I know cases (socially, not in a court of law) where "But I'm such a catch" was the great defense the male used to say it was okay.

My partner, in discussing this with me, thinks it's even more outrageous that the "invisible" woman only gains visibility when she tries to get physical with a man.

I really think it is unspeakably offensive that one needs to have "PTSD glasses" to think this commercial sends a bad message ("it's okay if an 'attractive' woman approaches a strange man to touch his body without saying a word"). I'm surprised more feminists aren't talking about this commercial. It is the epitome of anti-feminist rhetoric: attractive women are not a threat to a strong man, so this is fine.

I've known several men who felt violated by women, but they don't talk about it because it makes them feel effeminate. Equating a victim of non consensual touch to femininity is a big problem.

And equating a personal opinion with having a victim's perspective is a damaging piece of rhetorical gymnastics.

 

[Lucycat]

I too have just watched this several times - and she does not touch him. I am not seeing it in any way offensive to either sex.

I am simply confused as to what it is advertising?

 

[scout86]

I know if a man tried to grab me and said, "There are worse things than an attractive man touching your body," I would flip out

Me too. Actually, I'd do my level best to make him regret the day he was born, for what ever brief span of time he had to think about it. And, I think it's a good point that there's a gender difference.

Now, maybe I took it differently for another personal reason. My dad was a basketball coach. I couldn't play on a team back then, because it wasn't done, but I did play against him and my brother. So, to me, it looks like what she's doing is a pretty standard move to block the person with the ball in basketball. I just took that as "she's trying to get in the game, and they don't see her, but now they do". And the guy was understandably surprised to have this woman who he didn't think was in the game suddenly blocking him. You could have easily done the same thing with 2 guys. Although I'm now finding it "interesting" that they didn't. I suppose the ad was more likely to attract attention if they put an "attractive woman" in an "unexpected role.