'So easy, even a man could do it'

[format]

Did anyone see this advert yet?

It's for an oven cleaning product - you put the oven tray or grill in a bag along with a chemical, shake it around for a while, then rinse it down with hot and soapy water.

The advert depicts a man doing with a woman supervising, and at the end of the advert, the woman giggles - " So easy, even a man could do it'

Now, personally, i'm not particularly offended by this. I can see it's basically a light hearted joke. But, IMO, if there was an advert with something claiming to be so easy, even a woman could do it, there would be widespread outrage about it. Am I wrong to be concerned about the double standards here?

[TheAnimus]

if there was an advert with something claiming to be so easy, even a woman could do it, there would be widespread outrage about it.

Damn right there would be outrage... It would be false advertising, the last time I was queueing for the self service tills at M&S woman once again proved that no matter how easy it is, they can't do it.

That is why they are relegated to oven cleaning, making pie, and producing babies.

[Russ]

It's the whole "White Men Can't Jump" argument all over again.

[Jay]

who cares, we are secure enough to put up with the race and sex jokes.

[LWA]

who cares, we are secure enough to put up with the race and sex jokes.

Oh if only we were - maybe the world would be a simpler place.....

[Jay]

imagine "so easy a 'insert colour here' person could do it"

There would be riots

[scaryjim]

Am I wrong to be concerned about the double standards here?

If we lived in a society where we had anything approaching equality, then no, you would be quite justified. However, we do not currently live in that society. Women are *still* genuinely disadvantaged and discriminated against, and men are unfairly elevated. So while an advert making fun of men is potentially insulting, an advert making fun of women is adding insult to injury and reinforcing the prejudice and discrimination. The whole reason the advert works is because no-one really thinks that men can't clean ovens: whereas there genuinely are people out there who think women can't do anything, really.

That said, I could be wrong - thinking of some of the all-male student houses I knew when I was at uni maybe men *don't* know how to clean ovens...

p.s. the same argument applies to race, btw. It's the difference between subverting a prejudice and reinforcing it. Although the subversion also acknowledges the prejudice, so it maybe almost as bad - but not the way you may think...

[Russ]

At the end of the day, it's a little marketing gimmick thats got people talking.. not Gorilla on a drum kit talking however..

[Lanky123]

Next time I'm asked to do any washing up or cleaning I'm going to assume the blankest expression possible and make baby noises.

[scaryjim]

Next time I'm asked to do any washing up or cleaning I'm going to assume the blankest expression possible and make baby noises.

I would do this but I value my appendages

[JPreston]

Damn right there would be outrage... It would be false advertising, the last time I was queueing for the self service tills at M&S woman once again proved that no matter how easy it is, they can't do it.

That is why they are relegated to oven cleaning, making pie, and producing babies.

Mmm-hmm. I've never cleaned an oven in my life, I hope this is not because I lack the mental capability to do it but because I've always had a woman around to do it.

To be honest either it's OK in all cases for advertisements to make sweeping derogatory generalisations about people based on their gender race or sexual orientation - or it is not. The fact that I am indeed a lecherous and lazy slob does not justify adverts in characterising all men as such.

As it happens I used to live with a whole bunch of chicks and ended up having to give a serious of seminars explaining why biological washing powder does not work at high temperatures, what the inside of a dishwasher does while it's switched on and why it doesn't work when they put a saucepan over the pipe in the middle of the top drawer or block the rotor with a baking tray, and so on. Don't they teach girls Home Economics at school anymore? A bit of domestic common sense goes a long way.

A more truthful advert would have said "Acme Oven Cleaner - developed by very clever men to make women's work easier and less time-consuming, freeing up time for them to make themselves look pretty and prepare a nicer tea for when he comes home".

[Fraz]

Unfortunately the most privileged just have to put up with this crap without much complaint. I.e. if you are white and male, you've just got to take it on the chin. It isn't particularly fair, and it isn't right either, but on the other side of the coin we don't have to put up with being generally disadvantaged through racism and apparently we get paid on average 25% more than women in equivalent roles.

So, in the grand scheme of things, I'm more than happy to put up with some silly sexist adverts.

[JPreston]

Better to be the gender lampooned in the adverts for oven cleaner, than the gender buying and using the oven cleaner .

Still wrong though, until someone comes up with a valid reason as to why an advert for a domestic product needs to be so bigoted in the first place.

[tiggerai]

Yorkie - it's not for girls.
McCoys - MAN CRISPS
Nuts/zoo/someotherladsmag - Girls, don't expect help on a thursday...

Do you see me kicking up a fuss??

[Russ]

Yorkie - it's not for girls.
McCoys - MAN CRISPS
Nuts/zoo/someotherladsmag - Girls, don't expect help on a thursday...

Do you see me kicking up a fuss??

Off the computer, ovens need cleaning

[Behemoth]

Oh the OvenPride advert lol. Can't say I'm offended if anything its just stating that the product is easy to use.

Anyone seen the one for the automated sun awning ? So easy to use a golden retriever could do it !