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Topic: "For Men"
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So I've been going shopping a lot lately and I realized, that EVERYTHING is being advertised as "for men" or "for women." For example, a Dr. Pepper commercial came on the other day and its slogan was "Dr. Pepper 10. It's not for women." WTF? It's soda, how does saying "it's not for women" even make any kind of sense? "Men's Pocky Sticks" is another example. What makes them so much more "for men" than the original? Nothing except the fact that they're dark chocolate covered instead of milk chocolate.
This whole "for men" and "for women" thing is really getting out of hand. I mean, when it gets to the point that companies feel they have to label DRINKS and FOOD as for men/women, it's time to take it down a notch. All it is, is just a dumb marketing scheme.
I feel it can actually damage society though. Segregation and competition among the sexes is already rampant and this isn't helping. Now, I'm not saying this is going to be responsible for like "war of the sexes" and I can understand having a few things labeled "for (wo)men," like soap, but not so much that 1)Unisex items start to become non-existent and 2)it causes seclusion of another sex/gender.
I just feel it's all really unnecessary. What do you think? Am I just super over reacting?
You laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same.
"Rub that glitter and grease around"
~Lady Gaga
"I'm fierce and I'm feeling mighty. I'm a golden girl, I'm an aphrodite, alright!"
~Kylie Minogue
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Post: #649903  , Thu 17 May 12, 6:08AM |
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In absolutely no way Re you overreacting! I understand for things like perfume and underpants and stuff, but soft drink? Makes no sense! And also I think it's really unfair because girls can like dark chocolate too, and boys can dislike it. For me, it seems as though it's an unnecessary prolongation of the boy-blue/girl-pink stereotype, and although I haven't seen it quite so blatant here in Australia, I can't see how this type of advertising would have positive effects in the long run.
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Post: #649928 , Thu 17 May 12, 1:50PM |
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I can understand it. At the end of the day, its branding. Branding is the most powerful tool a business has, and if a company feels it can sell products better with a single gender target market, then thats how they will brand it. Its all to do with market research and them saying, women dont like it that we sampled, but men loved it. We'll say its for men, cause then men will buy it :3 its not a personal attack on gender. Of course you're allowed to buy it. Its only branding...
I don't think you're ready for this jelly, I don't think you're ready for THIS jelly, I don't think you're ready for this! My body's too bootilicious for you babe ;)
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Post: #649929 , Thu 17 May 12, 2:07PM |
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It's a goofy marketing technique and I'd hate to see someone buy something like a soda because they thought it was more "manly". How manly do you have to be to define it by products labeled "for men"?
Now, I'll admit I have some soap and body wash labeled "for men" but that's just because I'd assume it has a stronger non-flowery scent to cover up manly body odor 
OMNIA SUNT INGRATA |
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Post: #649951 , Thu 17 May 12, 6:37PM |
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They were probably lacking in that demographic so they set out to appeal to them with their "for men" line. I agree with you that it was poorly executed. But the silver lining to this is that through people like us voicing our opinion they came out with the all inclusive Dr.Pepper 'One of a kind' commercial.
Check it out its pretty cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...&feature=relmfu
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Post: #649954 , Thu 17 May 12, 7:23PM |
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:: Dood
:: QA6 Livin' it up! | |
I know what you mean, I saw that commercial when it like first started getting aired on TV and I was like "WTF?! It's a drink! And I know a lot of girls who like it to! This is not good marketing...", I mean seriously if you segregate a product by gender that makes it less likely for the other gender that wasn't represented to actually buy the product which, in turn, means less money. Hell it could even anger some women enough to not even want to buy the original Dr. Pepper anymore. I understand products like deodorant, soap/shampoo, a majority of clothing and the like being primarily gender-based because they have characteristics that appeal to the majority of that specific gender but soda? I mean come on! It's soda, anyone should be able to drink it. Labeling it just for men is ridiculous! As for the chocolate well, that's also pretty ridiculous because I know a lot of women who like the taste of dark chocolate. Plus, there are a lot of woman, including my mom, who are on diets and eat it because it is healthier for you than, say, milk chocolate. So yea, I understand certain products made to fit a specific gender getting labeled as something for that gender but something like a soda that is made for anyone to consume being labeled for a specific gender just doesn't make sense, and that's that!
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Post: #650005 , Fri 18 May 12, 1:07AM |
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Food? Really?
Dumb asses -_- its like segregation between sexes
Homophobia is gay
LOKI'D!!!!!!
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Post: #650018 , Fri 18 May 12, 1:58AM |
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oh my god i love Dr.Pepper and i saw that commerical. its totally sexiest. im like wtf?? when i saw it im like how could that be okay? It plays on both sterotypes of men and women. its so annoying and dumb and makes no sense. it makes men look like all they do is watch action movies, like explosives or whatever. and really they make the guys look almost stupid. thats so bad. and then its like what? women can't like the outdoors or explosions?
i personaly think homophobia and sexism go hand in hand. really its all about what they think women should be this and men should be that. its rediculous.
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Post: #650047 , Fri 18 May 12, 3:30AM |
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I am glad you posted this. I sometimes feel that I get overly angry about things like that. In reality, it is a stupid marketing scheme. It is never smart to market in such a way that you completely shove a party out. Marketing that aims towards a specific group, like beer commercials and college parties, whatever. But if you explicitly state that women cannot handle a stupid soda pop...yikes.
"You don't have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body."
- C.S. Lewis
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Post: #651558 , Fri 25 May 12, 5:27AM |
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It isn't dumb marketing if it turns a higher profit. Most successful marketing is targeted towards gut reaction, and if they were lacking in male buyers, they made the smart choice. This type of marketing almost exclusively works on males though, women aren't as likely to be discouraged by a "for men" label.
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Post: #651562 , Fri 25 May 12, 6:27AM |
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I'm in two minds about this. On one hand I understand the marketing concept and I can readily admit it is a successful one. On the other hand it irritates me that things are broken down into two such distinct and separate categories that can easily be taken as sexist (and sometimes are).
The thing is, for the most part it amuses me, especially the 'for men' adverts that pump in every possible stereotype of masculinity possible. It's ridiculous, but not harmful, I wouldn't say. I can understand how people would take offence to it, and I can see the potential for it to be taken too far, but for the time being I'm leaning more towards just dismissing it as marketing without reading anything deeper into it.
I'm a ratfish trying to practice doing back flips on your mattress.
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Post: #651577 , Fri 25 May 12, 10:49AM |
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I really dont get why people would deem it sexist. Is the ad saying, "women are stupid or inferior because they dont buy our product"? No! it's just saying, this product is aimed at men! There's no distinguishing. It's objective. It has no bias. It's just a marketing campaign!
I don't think you're ready for this jelly, I don't think you're ready for THIS jelly, I don't think you're ready for this! My body's too bootilicious for you babe ;)
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Post: #651611 , Fri 25 May 12, 4:44PM |
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Well I remember hearing the Dr. Pepper 10 ad and laughing because I knew exactly what the point was. Guys see diet soda as a "girly" or "women" thing for, well, obvious reasons & stereotypes. So they figured Hey, let's make this diet soda as "manly" as we possibly can. I think it's a very clever marketing technique, and it works. I don't see the big deal in this, I mean yeah I get that we want to break down gender stereotypes, not reinforce them, but I just don't think that the effect of these marketing techniques goes much further than getting people to buy a certain product. Hey, I drink Dr. Pepper 10 and I'm a gay male who isn't particularly manly
"All men should strive to learn before they die: What they are running from, and to, and why."
-James Thurber
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Post: #651614 , Fri 25 May 12, 4:57PM |
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i admit that i have seen that dr pepper ad and it kind of pissed me off there... i was like... okay so am i gonna go up in flames if i drink it?? LOL.... that's just stupid.
I can understand cleaning products(shampoo, razors, etc) but food? that is stupid... good thing i don't like dr pepper anyway.
There's no diversity because we're burning in the melting pot.
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Post: #651972 , Sun 27 May 12, 7:01AM |
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the illusory society in which we live, innit
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Post: #652608 , Tue 29 May 12, 11:11PM |
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