Aren't stereotypes wonderful?

[reveal]

/sarcasm

So I'm at home yesterday, sick, and I see a commercial for Russell Stover's candy about 5 times. In the commercial, 3 or 4 guys say that they can't go home without that little box of candy. That their wives said not to bother.

What the hell is that about?! Are women that vain? Are men that stupid?

Maybe it's just the fact that I've been married to a strong, independent woman for *gasp* 9 years this April (wow, did that come up fast) but I find this kind of nonsense highly offensive.

But on the other hand, maybe it's an accurate stereotype and I just happen to be married to a woman who doesn't fit it.

Anyone with/know someone who matches this steretype?

 

[Belen]

/sarcasm

So I'm at home yesterday, sick, and I see a commercial for Russell Stover's candy about 5 times. In the commercial, 3 or 4 guys say that they can't go home without that little box of candy. That their wives said not to bother.

What the hell is that about?! Are women that vain? Are men that stupid?

Maybe it's just the fact that I've been married to a strong, independent woman for *gasp* 9 years this April (wow, did that come up fast) but I find this kind of nonsense highly offensive.

But on the other hand, maybe it's an accurate stereotype and I just happen to be married to a woman who doesn't fit it.

Anyone with/know someone who matches this steretype?

Not entirely sure. Your description is somewhat confusing.

 

[reveal]

Not entirely sure. Your description is somewhat confusing.

Ok, let me rephrase it.

The commercial had guys saying things like "My wife told me that if I didn't have a box of candy I shouldn't even bother coming home." This just seems to play into the stereotype that women want chocolate for Valentine's Day and if you don't have it you're a stupid man who doesn't deserve their affection (or am I just reading too much in to it? )

Anyway, this just way to stereotypical for my tastes.

 

[Belen]

Ok, let me rephrase it.

The commercial had guys saying things like "My wife told me that if I didn't have a box of candy I shouldn't even bother coming home." This just seems to play into the stereotype that women want chocolate for Valentine's Day and if you don't have it you're a stupid man who doesn't deserve their affection (or am I just reading too much in to it? )

Anyway, this just way to stereotypical for my tastes.

Ah....the sentence "that their wives said not to bother" was what did it. Without the subject or direct object, it appeared that you were saying that the wives said don't worry about the candy! lol!

I have never given chocolate for V-day. I do not know anyone who does. Stover is just reinforcing the stereotype for their own $$$ benefit. It is a marketing thing.

Another great marketing ploy were diamond engagement rings. The diamond companies paid Hollywood millions in the 20 and 30 to depict men proposing out of the blue and giving the woman a diamond ring. Before that, most rings were colored stores and proposals were not a surprise.

Ah..the power of marketing manipulation.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Ah..the power of marketing manipulation.

Yup. Wife's wedding band itself is still only a plain gold band (props to Tolkein, we're both fans). Since then, I get her a ruby ring of some sort every VDay/Anniversary (anniversary is 12Feb05). She hates diamonds (unless they're canary diamonds...yeah right, after the lottery ), and loves rubies and emaralds. So I have it easy. Bling is not need here.

 

[BOZ]

commercials... playing into sterotypes? no! i refuse to believe it!

 

[reveal]

commercials... playing into sterotypes? no! i refuse to believe it!

To quote Gee Dubya, I was shocked and awed.

 

[der_kluge]

I hate the ads that show men as not liking to cook, or totally into sports, or not wanting to clean, or being domestic idiots. Bah, grow up, advertisers.

As for jewelry, rubies are actually more rare than diamonds are. The diamond cartels bought up most of the diamonds in the world at one time and held onto them to artificially inflate the price of diamonds. That, coupled with a hugely expensive ad campaign propelled diamonds to be the gem of choice. It's what I got my wife for her engagement ring, but personally I think emeralds, sapphires, or rubies are much more pretty. My wife's ring has sapphires in it, but they are not overly prominent. It's a beautiful ring though. Damn thing cost me almost $7,000 so it should be.

 

[Abstraction]

Would it be okay for a commercial to portray women as clueless, shallow, disgusting or just plain dimwitted? Then why is it okay with men? White men, particularly.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I hate the ads that show men as not liking to cook, or totally into sports, or not wanting to clean, or being domestic idiots. Bah, grow up, advertisers.

You beat me to it. Of course my house blows apart a huge number of the stereotypes.

As for Valentine's Day, my wife hates the usual flowers/chocolates crap and doesn't go for expensive jewelry. She likes interesting jewelry; different, hand-crafted stuff. THere is a great place called Mineralistic in Philadelphia that I drop in on every time I have a chance on a business trip. They have great stuff, usually under $100, that she absolutely loves.