Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

OH HAI SEXISM

storify.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 99 posts

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#31

Post by Cushman »

Pewpewarrows wrote: post #3

I really hope that everyone is as equally offended and quick to point out sexism for every advertisement, television show, and movie featuring a very fit, shirtless man doing a stereotypical "masculine" activity (construction work, heavy lifting, playing a sport, or fighting each other).

Everyone certainly isn't, but feminists tend to feel that stereotypically gendered depictions of men are as wrong as those of women, if not always as damaging. It gets passed over in mainstream discussions, but it's definitely a good thing to talk about.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#32

Post by japhyr »

Pewpewarrows wrote: post #3

I really hope that everyone is as equally offended and quick to point out sexism for every advertisement, television show, and movie featuring a very fit, shirtless man doing a stereotypical "masculine" activity (construction work, heavy lifting, playing a sport, or fighting each other).

This is not a legitimate counter-argument. The use of women in advertising, and our social treatment of women in general, has negatively affected most women's ability to be treated professionally and respectfully. The use of fit, shirtless men in advertising does little to hold men back in general.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#33

Post by eggbrain »

I appreciate rational talks on sexism and discussions -- but if I wanted to read articles with juvenile titles like "OH HAI SEXISM" and that deal with drama on twitter, I would go read TMZ.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#35

Post by untog »

badclient wrote: post #19
untog wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that it's a bad thing because it offends women in the tech industry and makes them feel alienated- the root of this entire story. It's quite likely that the models in the ads have no objection to what's going on- clearly, they chose to get into the industry. But that's not really the point- there is such a thing as being aware of your environment, and the tech industry has started making real efforts to b…

Those are two very different arguments. Are you saying that they simply made the wrong ad for their tech audience(easier to agree with for a moment) or that they made some huge moral blunder(more difficult to agree with, also the argument by the lady who started the conv).

I think that moral judgements are inherently difficult to make on an objective level, because everyone has different morals. It's why I said that her demanding they take it down wasn't actually a great move- clearly, it offends her, but that doesn't actually give her the right to demand them to take it down.

But imagine, for instance, that she tweeted something similar to @playboy. She'd be very unlikely to get a positive response, or really any support from others. But the tech world is not Playboy, we're supposed to be an inclusive community that wants to encourage more women to be involved.

So I guess my answer is somewhere between your two options- they made a moral blunder in the context of the tech community.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#36

Post by envex »

bct wrote: post #28
envex wrote: post #21

Is it only the fact that they're scantily clad? Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?

"Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?" It's not gross in the same way, but yeah, that is a great example of sexism!

I understand that it sucks, but it's targeted marketing. Same reason the use kids in toy commercials and sports in beer commercials.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#37

Post by lhnz »

Pewpewarrows wrote: post #3

I really hope that everyone is as equally offended and quick to point out sexism for every advertisement, television show, and movie featuring a very fit, shirtless man doing a stereotypical "masculine" activity (construction work, heavy lifting, playing a sport, or fighting each other).

Are you trying to assert that a couple of half-naked women in an advertisement for no reason is analogous to a shirtless man in the context of a masculine activity during a film? I would love to see your reasoning because I believe the context dictates the offensiveness of the message.

Also I can detect the implication that somebody is a hypocrite if they do not sit there and correctly judge every single case of sexism that comes their way. Do you believe that ethical decisions are black-or-white and that you cannot judge one ethical decision unless you have the ability and time to judge them all?

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#38

Post by ceejayoz »

envex wrote: post #21

Is it only the fact that they're scantily clad? Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?

> Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?

I can't speak for women, but I do. I'm tired of men being portrayed in those commercials as buffoons who can't possibly manage household tasks, as well.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#39

Post by Cushman »

bct wrote: post #28
envex wrote: post #21

Is it only the fact that they're scantily clad? Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?

"Do women also find the fact that only women actors are used in cleaning commercials "fucking gross"?" It's not gross in the same way, but yeah, that is a great example of sexism!

If anything I'd say it's grosser.

Re: OH HAI SEXISM

#40

Post by bct »

Swizec wrote: post #27

I've watched the video ... if that is sexist, then what about this perfume commercial with a half naked Matthew M McConaughey? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL83sQG8fFA Or all those commercials with half naked men aimed at selling male underwear to women (so their man will look just as good). Is that sexism too? Why does nobody cry about that type of sexism? Guess what I'm asking, in general, why is sexism towards w…

The difference is the societal context. Women are judged by and valued for their appearance (to the exclusion of other attributes) to an extent that men are not.
Post reply on HN