Is this misogynistic?

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2013, 06:42 PM

I've seen this ad a bunch and I'm starting to conclude that it's uncomfortably misogynistic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amBTr9kcJes

First off, it seems to play off the idea that everyone is trying to save this poor ignorant woman from herself (with the 'Hey lady!' underscoring it). And just as you think it could redeem itself with a, "Hey, idiots, she knows what she's doing" message...it ends with her giving a look at the MAN that we didn't know was with her giving it a, "Didn't you all realize I have a man with men?" vibe that just seems wrong. Why did he have to be there?

Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

SzczerbiakManiac · 09-29-2013, 11:04 PM

It didn't strike me as misogynistic. "Hey lady!" didn't feel like a comment on her gender. I just thought it was something one yells to get a female's attention. I didn't get the impression they were yelling at her because she's a woman.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-29-2013, 11:51 PM

I didn't think it was overt, I just got this uncomfortable subtext of, "Oh ****, that woman clearly has no idea what she's doing!" And that was underscored with the completely unnecessary reveal of a man at the end. "Oh...nevermind, she's got a dude with her, everything's fine."

Seriously, can someone give me another plausible explanation for the guy at the end?

Alex · 09-30-2013, 05:30 AM

I don't think the guy is with her. My take is that he's at another pump about to do the same thing and they're exchanging a look of "how behind the times are these rubes?"

She's clearly the only one in the car when it pulls up to the pump.

Ghoulish Delight · 09-30-2013, 07:26 AM

Hmm, yeah, hadn't caught that. Alright, I'll buy that I guess.

alphabassettgrrl · 09-30-2013, 01:47 PM

What a stupid commercial. The "stop her!!!!" thing from everybody is waaaaaaaaaaaay overblown. I don't see it as misogynistic. Just dumb.

Strangler Lewis · 09-30-2013, 02:22 PM

It's a car commercial. Everyone's an idiot. I agree that it could be clearer about who's in which car and at which pump. I also briefly considered whether we were supposed to recognize wrestler Kevin Nash's "Diesel" character, but the guy's too young and short.

Onward.

Alex · 09-30-2013, 05:33 PM

While hyperbolic, I do know it isn't horribly uncommon for gas station people to have to deal (or used to be, I'll admit I haven't known a gas station employee for quite a while) with someone who mindlessly put diesel in their car.

alphabassettgrrl · 09-30-2013, 06:41 PM

The gas pumps are different sizes than the regular gas. To prevent exactly that. I'm guessing the diesel are larger than regular.

Strangler Lewis · 10-01-2013, 11:40 AM

Driving around Europe, we had the option of two different diesels, and the pump handles and gas caps were appropriately color coded.

But I must wonder why GD is concerned about the misogyny directed at the sleek pretty lady with the world on a string and not that directed at the coffee spilling husky lady who looks like she takes all her meals at the gas station and risks serious cheap coffee burns to worry about Miss Fancy.

09-29-2013, 06:42 PM	#1
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Is this misogynistic? I've seen this ad a bunch and I'm starting to conclude that it's uncomfortably misogynistic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amBTr9kcJes First off, it seems to play off the idea that everyone is trying to save this poor ignorant woman from herself (with the 'Hey lady!' underscoring it). And just as you think it could redeem itself with a, "Hey, idiots, she knows what she's doing" message...it ends with her giving a look at the MAN that we didn't know was with her giving it a, "Didn't you all realize I have a man with men?" vibe that just seems wrong. Why did he have to be there? Maybe I'm reading too much into it. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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09-29-2013, 11:04 PM	#2
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	It didn't strike me as misogynistic. "Hey lady!" didn't feel like a comment on her gender. I just thought it was something one yells to get a female's attention. I didn't get the impression they were yelling at her because she's a woman. __________________
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09-29-2013, 11:51 PM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	I didn't think it was overt, I just got this uncomfortable subtext of, "Oh ****, that woman clearly has no idea what she's doing!" And that was underscored with the completely unnecessary reveal of a man at the end. "Oh...nevermind, she's got a dude with her, everything's fine." Seriously, can someone give me another plausible explanation for the guy at the end? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

09-30-2013, 05:30 AM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I don't think the guy is with her. My take is that he's at another pump about to do the same thing and they're exchanging a look of "how behind the times are these rubes?" She's clearly the only one in the car when it pulls up to the pump.
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09-30-2013, 07:26 AM	#5
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Hmm, yeah, hadn't caught that. Alright, I'll buy that I guess. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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09-30-2013, 01:47 PM	#6
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	What a stupid commercial. The "stop her!!!!" thing from everybody is waaaaaaaaaaaay overblown. I don't see it as misogynistic. Just dumb. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
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09-30-2013, 02:22 PM	#7
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	It's a car commercial. Everyone's an idiot. I agree that it could be clearer about who's in which car and at which pump. I also briefly considered whether we were supposed to recognize wrestler Kevin Nash's "Diesel" character, but the guy's too young and short. Onward. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes

09-30-2013, 05:33 PM	#8
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	While hyperbolic, I do know it isn't horribly uncommon for gas station people to have to deal (or used to be, I'll admit I haven't known a gas station employee for quite a while) with someone who mindlessly put diesel in their car.
	Submit to Quotes

09-30-2013, 06:41 PM	#9
alphabassettgrrl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,978	The gas pumps are different sizes than the regular gas. To prevent exactly that. I'm guessing the diesel are larger than regular. __________________ Why cycling? Anything [sport] that had to do with a ball, I wasn't very good at. -Lance Armstrong
	Submit to Quotes

10-01-2013, 11:40 AM	#10
Strangler Lewis Doing The Job Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In a state Posts: 3,956	Driving around Europe, we had the option of two different diesels, and the pump handles and gas caps were appropriately color coded. But I must wonder why GD is concerned about the misogyny directed at the sleek pretty lady with the world on a string and not that directed at the coffee spilling husky lady who looks like she takes all her meals at the gas station and risks serious cheap coffee burns to worry about Miss Fancy. __________________ Live now-pay later. Diner's Club!
	Submit to Quotes