Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Is It Just Me?

...or is there too much sexuality in advertising? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with sex, but there is a time and a place for it, and I think most of my readers would agree. What has started this tirade was a new M&M's commercial. If you have not seen it then check it out. It is the little Green Lady M&M. And she is doing a photo shoot, for her company, but it is laden with sexuality...trust me on this.

What are we telling our children. I can see it now, out on the school playground. A little 6 year old, licking her lips and pouting for little Johnny and his friends, because she saw it on a candy commercial.

I have seen it with other things as well. Rosetta Stone, great product, and yet, they have a new commercial with a woman in a red satin blouse, with have of her girls showing to the camera. I don't want to buy her bosoms, I want information on Rosetta Stone, just the facts ma'am. Now, I am guessing that the few male readers I do have will read this and go..."So, what's the problem?" Men...pffft. But would they want their daughter to be the one out on the playground showing Johnny and his friends how she has learned to pout her lips and lick all at the same time? I don't think so. Everything is hunky dory until it is your daughter. You can ogle all you want until someone is doing it to your teenage daughter who looks nothing like a teenager, because Mother Nature has blessed her. And whoever came up with the notion that being well endowed was a blessing. I tell you it is not. Who wants dirty old men drooling over you when you walk down the mall. Ick! I just want to take a shower when I see men looking at my daughter. You have to remember. She dresses super modestly and wears just a scant of lip gloss, so you tell me what are they looking at. She is by no means looking for attention like some of these Daisy-Duke wearing shorts girls are doing(hope they waxed).

I feel very strongly that our society and moreso our children are being exposed to way too much, way too early. It is my job to inform her of these things, not an episode of CSI. And yet, that is what is out there for our children to watch, read and ingest. Sex is everywhere. But could someone tell me why? Why is it a necessity in TV, and advertising, two of the largest venues that our children are exposed to. Movies, are a bit different. You have to pay for them, but TV is nearly in every room. Magazines grace practically every home in America. did you know that for the past 20 years, nearly every movie that has won an Oscar has been R rated!! I kid you not. And why is that necessary. Cannot we not make a good film, unless it has blatant sex and plenty of "F" words in it. Sex and violence does not a movie make. Did we not make some great films in our recent past did not need the in your face sex? I mean we all knew what happened when Rhett carried Scarlett up the stairs, but we did not need to see it.

I don't know, maybe I am just getting older and don't feel the need for so much sexuality. I know it's out there and I have 2 children, so I know it exists, but come on. Let's leave something to the imagination. And this is not only for the sexuality angle. That goes for violence and language as well. I know it is out there, but why do have to see it all the time. Move on guys.

And to think I tiny little M&M commercial got me this heated.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I so agree with you on the sexual overtones. My dd is 15 and I refuse to let her watch "Survivor" with her father. He gets upset with me, but I can't stand how they always "match" up for a while. My children and I discuss how these commercials and tv shows could be done in a better way. I love shows like CSI, Ghost Whisperer, Bones, Criminal Minds, etc but I tape them and watch when the kids are in bed.
I have seen the M&M commercial. What about the (I think) Dove commercials where the chocolates melt together...they also have them in print also.
You have a wonderful way with words. I love your insights!!
Bunny

Sherri said...

Yes, Yes, and Yes!!!!!! This is a huge pet peeve of mine. I am no against sexuality either in its right place. I'm sorry, but there's a certain microwave meal that had to stretch pretty far to make its commercial sexual, but it did. Maybe it's just me, but when I am heating up my lunch, sex is the furthest thing from my mind, yet in the commercial, the lady's man is falling all over her as she practically makes love with the bowl to tease him. REALLY!!!!! It's that bad!!!!!!!!
I don't need to hear the woman screaming in the shower with delight in order to want the shampoo.
Okay, shoes might can be sexy, but let's use our imaginations on that one.
Yes, you will feel better about yourself if you whiten your teeth, but we are not looking for men to drool all over themselves and grope at us as we walk down the street with our new teeth.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
I am so mad sometimes when I am trying to watch tv with the kids and have to sit through commercials that attempt to give a sex ed. class in 1 minute...somehow sell a product through it. "sigh"
I'm sorry this is so long, but like I said, it is a pet peeve of mine. You are so so so right....It's NOT just you!!!

Skippy said...

HEAR HEAR!!!

I agree with everything you said. When I saw the m&m comerical, I freaked out, I mean really do we need to see this?

Freakmom said...

I agree completely!

Lee~William said...

I want my daughter to have an honest view of sex ..certainly not the ones used to sell something or manipulate somebody. I want her to be able to pass by the oglers dispassionately ..without feeling like she has to take a shower ..or strangle the son of a bitch like I do .. but, I feel very strongly about censorship. I don’t want other people’s squeamishness to be the basis for what I, or my daughter for that matter, sees and reads. I’m more afraid of that than I am the content of TV commercials. Believe me, she’s gets more lurid details from friends on the schoolyard ..I can only hope that I did my part OK. I wrote an opinion about this subject and posted it here ~~>[link] ..if you’re interested in reading another opinion.

Anonymous said...

Wish I knew!

I so want to smack the droolers down when I catch them ogling Sweetums. The fact that she is obviously mentally impaired doesn't even seem to register with them. :o|

Frankie said...

I'm kind of a prude and I often wonder why sexual ads and sex everywhere is so common.

I don't like the thongs showing, the boobs everywhere, low-cut clothing, tight-fitting clothing, etc.

I'm a prude, and I've often wondered what's wrong with me. Maybe, after reading your post, the answer is nothing!

Anonymous said...

An older friend of the family introduced my younger three (8, 6, 4) to classics like Singing in the Rain. They LOVE these films and ask to watch them over and over. There IS a market for clean, family-oriented entertainment. If only more folks would take notice.