Because only boys need strong muscles

Barf.

I saw the most ridiculous commercial the other day for One A Day® Teen Advantage. It showed a couple of teenagers frolicking around town - in a distinctly non-sexual way, I should add, which shocked me since Gossip Girl has me believing all 17-year-olds are too busy gulping gin martinis and grinding in the back of their private limos to do anything else. Anyhow, mixed in to the commercial, of course, was product information about the benefits of these new gender-specific pills. And it ended with the kids holding signs professing their support for these new Boy and Girl vitamins, with the young woman smile-shouting, "For her healthy skin!" and the guy chanting, "And his healthy muscles!"

Get it? Because girls only care about their looks! And only boys need to worry about being strong! It's so obvious, and as easy as popping a pill! Um, offensive, much?

This reminds me of that Target ad with the girl in the snowsuit lying spread-eagled over the giant red bulls-eye. Seriously, how does some of this crap get through layer after layer of approval from the ad agencies and product companies themselves? Did no one stop One-a-Day and say, "Hmm...maybe we should rethink promoting vitamins for girls as being good for their pretty little faces, when we're telling boys our pill can help them grow up big and strong"?? Don't we ALL deserve a little magnesium and Iron, regardless of whether we pee standing up or sitting down. To that point, many girls need to employ the quad-shaking Squat-and-Hover while peeing in nasty public bathrooms, making improved muscle function all the more necessary.

Perhaps I'm over-reacting. I understand that this is not as bad as, say, this.

But still. This is one pill I just can't swallow.

Comments

OMG that Dolce and Gabbana ad! Wow - hadn't seen that before. Who approved that?

I agree that the vitamin is playing into stereotypes and is a little offensive. When I was a teen that was how I thought though - my mom still thinks it's horrible for women to have visible arm muscles. I overcame that issue, thankfully. I'm also glad that somehow my daughter is not getting the "her great skin/his strong muscles" message and was just waiting to turn 13 (yesterday) so she could start using the local community center gym where she lives. Because she wants to be strong and have muscles.

OMG that Dolce and Gabbana ad! Wow - hadn't seen that before. Who approved that?

I agree that the vitamin is playing into stereotypes and is a little offensive. When I was a teen that was how I thought though - my mom still thinks it's horrible for women to have visible arm muscles. I overcame that issue, thankfully. I'm also glad that somehow my daughter is not getting the "her great skin/his strong muscles" message and was just waiting to turn 13 (yesterday) so she could start using the local community center gym where she lives. Because she wants to be strong and have muscles.

I haven't seen those ads but they carry over into the grown-up versions of vitamins for sure. The other day I was in GNC to get Vitamin D and the salesman asks me "So what's your health goal?" and before I could even answer he finished, "Well, obviously it's to lose weight." Um, excuse me???? Either he was saying that I am fat (which I'm not) or he was assuming that because I'm a woman, my main goal must be weight loss. Which it isn't. Bite me, vitamin companies.

Sorry for the double. Blame my 4-year-old son, who is "helping."

I'm sure they were just marketing it to be more enticing to teenagers. I know I cared a lot more about my looks when I was younger, and I might have fallen for something like that. Perhaps they could have aimed it at healthy skin and muscles for both? Either way, that's just marketing.

I find it obnoxious, and agree with colleen that it should be healthy skin & muscles for everyone!

And charlotte - that's just terrible! I hope you kicked the sales guy in the kneecap.

OK wait: some guy told CHARLOTTE she was "obviously" trying to lose weight?!?!?!
Not only is he an a$$, he's a blind a$$!

Anyway, yeah, they should totally market that vitamin as promoting good muscles, skin, etc. for males AND females! Although the vitamin ads the same company run for their mens' and womens' formulas are pretty bad,too.

I've seen that Dolce and Gabana ad, and who the bleep thought that would be a good idea?!?!?! "Hey! Let's sell our jeans with gang rape! Yeah, that's swell!"
Luckily there was a huge outcry, and they were forced to pull the ad.

It's irritating! We ALL need both healthy muscles and healthy skin.

How depressing!

Not to mention that perhaps teens should be focusing more on eating more real whole foods rather than popping supplements?

Just kidding. Like THATS gonna ever happen.

Athletic and toned looks good on all of us, and in my opinion, is the healthiest way to go!

Yeah, I don't like. Not one bit. Guys AND girls should both want healthy skin and muscles. Muscles are good. I have too many friends who are all anti visible muscles on women and I think it's so stupid.

And while it's not nearly as bad as the Dolce Gabana ad, it's still perpetuating stereotypes to the nth degree.

I had the EXACT same reaction when I saw that ad last week. I actually called my husband into the living room just to vent about it.

coming here for an education, Leslie!

Hadn't seen those ads, but I totally agree with you.

Bikes aren't torture devices!! I've got three and can't wait to ride again and again.

uh WHAT?!

I totally lost my train of thought after I read the comments and saw Charlottes.

Ive got yer back, Sister.

I can't believe that guy said that to you, Charlotte! You're tiny! I probably would've been dumbstruck and walked out. At least, that's what I would've liked to have done. I have no idea whether I'd really do that or just say something defensive. That guy was obnoxious.

As are these commercials. But I also think that while this is perpetuating the stereotypes, it probably would resonate better with the teens. Because girls are socially trained to care about their looks, and boys about their muscles...so if the ad company flipped it, the kids would probably be thinking "wtf do I care about x?" I think that it's unfortunate, but I think it's a vicious cycle - we're raised to focus on the stereotypical stuff, so that's how they're going to reach us in their ads, which just reinforces the stereotype.

This is sort of like those Happy Meal toys that are segregated by gender. Why must we be continually perpetuating the stereotype?! Yeah, I know that's what marketing is all about (thank God I get to promote performing arts and not products like this!), but really, how do these people live with themselves knowing that they're putting stuff like this out there that's just going to keep us rotating in a vicious cycle?

Seriously?! Those kinds of stereotypical commercials are STILL allowed? Um....it's 2008, people!

And, Charlotte, I woulda knocked that guy out COLD. Then I would have said, "Actually, my goal is to gain muscle strength." (really I would have immediately teared up and bawled, but the previous scenario is so much better). What a blind a*&!

I have a teenage daughter that likes to respond to everything, "Thats how I roll"
The media can be rather silly at times and our children are so influenced by it...scary! Thanks for sharing!

OMG that Dolce & Gabbana ad. It's promoting a gang rape as sexy? Shame on One-A-Day for the skin vs. muscles bit.

I may be virtually pummeled for this, but...I didn't have nearly as strong a reaction as most of the people commenting. Yeah, it's lame and I would have been much more impressed with the company if they had gone a bit more out on a limb and flipped the comments of the boy/girl, but I guess I just have really low expectations for advertisments in general. I guess I'll save my outrage for the D&G ad campaigns of the world...

I have seen this commercial at least 5 times and it never even occured to me that it might not be exactly pc. That's why I love this blog, makes me look at things in a whole new light!

www.modbehav.com

lianyk Welcome to our wow Gold and store. We are specilized, professional and reliable website for selling and service. By thewow gold same token,we offer the best WoW service for our long-term and loyal customers You will find the benefits and wow power leveling value we created different from other sites. As to most people, they are unwilling to spend most of the time grinding money for mounts or repair when they can purchase what they are badly need. The only way is to look for the best place towow gold buy cheap WOW gold. Yes! You find it here! Our WoW Gold supplying service has already accumulated a high reputation and credibility. We have plenty of Gold suppliers, which will guarantee ourwow powerleveling delivery instant.