Nonsense on stilts
A Swedish government inquiry proposes that sexist advertising should be banned. No, I am not making this up.
Just a few problems spring to mind...
Sexist? As defined by who? Professional litigants / bores / offence takers, thus giving us complaints over the use of men in adverts for beard trimmers and women in adverts for sanpro? Yes, I have chosen extreme examples, but there are many, many products aimed at particular demographics, and they are advertised accordingly. Note that clothing / hair care / scent etc models are selected to appeal to women rather than men.
Advertising? Is it merely the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket, or should it be seen as commercial art? I would argue the latter, strongly.
Freedom of speech? Yes, it is a freedom of speech issue.
Just a few problems spring to mind...
Sexist? As defined by who? Professional litigants / bores / offence takers, thus giving us complaints over the use of men in adverts for beard trimmers and women in adverts for sanpro? Yes, I have chosen extreme examples, but there are many, many products aimed at particular demographics, and they are advertised accordingly. Note that clothing / hair care / scent etc models are selected to appeal to women rather than men.
Advertising? Is it merely the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket, or should it be seen as commercial art? I would argue the latter, strongly.
Freedom of speech? Yes, it is a freedom of speech issue.
Labels: Common sense? What's that?, Liberty, Sweden
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on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 9:30 am.
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