Posted in Sex & Sexism on July 11th, 2009 by Morgan Elizabeth
For years, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has used actresses, reality TV stars, even porn stars to promote awareness of animal rights. They’ve been stripped down and sexed up for a variety of advertisements, including the “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” campaign.
And for years, it’s been somewhat difficult to criticize the activist group, because after all – they’re selling sex to save lives, right?
Well, sort of. Some argue that the borderline-irrelevant relationship between sex and activism has now ventured into ridiculous territory.The latest PETA promotional teaser? An online link via Facebook that merely says, “Like Boobies?”
After clicking the link, you are redirected to a game called “Breasts, Not Animal Tests”, where the goal is to click on as many cartoon breasts as possible before your time runs up. While some view the game as a witty way to raise awareness about animal testing in breast cancer research, others find it to be a farce of exploiting the female form in the name of an animal rights agenda.
Since sex always grabs attention – though generally not in a respectable or reputable fashion – was this brand of activism born out of laziness?
This mode of marketing rests on triggering the bottom-feeding base level human sex drive, without first attempting to stimulate a higher form of communication and education. Of course, it begs the question – if the campaigns work, do the ends justify the means?
PETA’S HISTORY of EXPLOITATION IN THE NAME OF ACTIVISM
While animal rights activism is a noble cause, PETA’s slogan might as well be “Exploiting Animals, Bad. Exploiting Women, Good.” Thanks for the sentiment, but let’s not advance one group at the expense of another.
Sources:
Thanks to StilettoREVOLT reader Elizabeth Dellner for the “Breasts, Not Animal Tests” link!
Posted in Sex & Sexism on May 21st, 2009 by Morgan Elizabeth
A Romanian teenager just sold her virginity for £8,800.According to the UK’s Daily Mail, Alina Percea, barely 18, auctioned her virginity on a website last week, so she could afford to pay for college.
The auction winner, a 45-year-old Italian business man, paid for her flight to Venice, met her with a box of chocolates, and took her sight-seeing before they checked in to a hotel. There, she had to provide a certificate verifying her virginity before she was paid for the service.
She said the man “didn’t say if he was married or had a family, and I didn’t ask him.”
Percea isn’t the first to profit from society’s virginity fetish. Most notably, Natalie Dylan sold hers for $3.7 million back in January of this year. Alina Percea credits Dylan with giving her the idea, saying she was “inspired” when she read the story on a German erotic website.
Dylan, a 22-year-old from San Diego, began her online auction in the fall of 2008. Bidding reached $243,000, until a breast augmentation and the added publicity of Howard Stern’s radio show rocketed her into multi-million dollar territory.
Natalie Dylan, Before and After
Since prostitution is illegal in most of America, she completed the transaction through Nevada’s Bunny Ranch brothel.
Unsurprisingly, these events have sparked a series of international debates, a mixture of public intrigue and outrage. Some laud the girls for making widespread perversions work in their favor. After all, they’re raising money to get an education.
On the other hand, at least in Dylan’s case, it’s arguable that America doesn’t practice what it preaches. With very few exceptions, our national laws decry and criminalize prostitution. However, the media rewarded Dylan’s behavior with incredible attention and financial success, not unlike the pseudo-celebrities whose careers were launched by sex tapes. She has since been paid to make appearances at parties, and recently signed a book deal with David Black Literary Agency.
The obsession with virginity is a widespread phenomenon that’s existed for centuries. If so many people are preoccupied with being “the first”, is it really about the appreciation of purity, or merely about conquering un-touched territory? Are they captivated by the presence of innocence, or just relieved there’s no frame of reference for comparison?
Britney Spears made a name for herself as a happy, wholesome pop star who was saving herself for marriage. Her image was shaped as a virginal lolita, a persona of “innocent seduction” that launched her to superstar status.
Former Spears lawyer Eric Ervin, however, said in November, 2007, that the “virgin” image Spears portrayed was a “PR blitz.” He’d been engaged in the media cover-up of her sexual activity from the time she was 14. They chose to hide it from the public because “virginity is a hot commodity, even if it’s an illusion.” And, it worked.
Punishing pedophelia is borderline hypocrisy in a culture that promotes rampant over-sexualization of teens and preteens. Young actresses and pop stars are harassed and objectified by men old enough to be their fathers and grandfathers. Stars like Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and the Olsen twins even had fan websites with countdown clocks to the very minute they became “legal”.
The Olsen twins, at ages 15 and 17
Britney Spears, at ages 16 and 17
Lindsay Lohan, at age 17
Many young female celebrities are promoted with implicit sexuality before they’re 18, and immediate explicit sexuality the moment that fateful birthday arrives.
In a recent CBS Sports Community discussion entitledWho’s On Your Countdown Clock?,one father writes, “mylie cyrus will be 18 soon,and i can finaley throw that bag of candy thats been under my truck seat away…besides im tired of bribeing my son into watching hana montana…lmmao” [sic].
Miley Cyrus, at age 8
Miley Cyrus, at age 16
Interestingly enough, the latest generation of tweenie-pop princesses (primarily Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale) have spawned from Disney shows and movies. With their images strictly managed by the Mouse, the girls are now the ones sexualizing themselves, as evidenced by Miley Cyrus‘ MySpace photos, above.
It’s no secret that America is obsessed with youth. But the insatiable appetite for seductive young virgins has led hoards of minors to ooze sexuality, often before they’ve even hit puberty.
They’re taught to seek unhealthy amounts of attention that they couldn’t possibly be emotionally equipped to handle. Is it any wonder why Britney, Lindsay, the Olsen twins, and more, have emerged from their teenage years so maladjusted?
If our society claims to be more civilized than generations past, we need a severe re-evaluation of this ever-present fetish.How can we raise our children correctly, if we’re so obsessed with taking their innocence?The quality of life for our young people, not to mention the future they’ll mold and create, is in serious jeopardy.
Posted in Sex & Sexism on April 26th, 2009 by Morgan Elizabeth
Carl’s Jr, a subsidiary of Hardee’s, has recently come under fire for overt sexism in advertising, so we decided to explore this company’s history, and pinpoint exactly where these messages originated.
They’ve always stood by their greasy, sloppy, all-American food. But who’s responsible for their greasy, sloppy, cheap American advertising?
Founder Carl Karcher, adevout Catholicwith an 8th grade education, raised 12 children, attended mass daily, and began every company board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Founder Carl Karcher
He was also a criminal.In 1988, Karcher was fined $688,000 by the SEC for insider trading. He freely permitted racism within the company as well, dismissing every single complaint about racial-slurs. That is, until 2002, when a group of minority workers pressed charges. They ultimately settled out of court, and Karcher paid $255,000 in damages.
The Car Wash Seen ‘Round the World
The new millennium brought an unprecedented overt sexuality to the Carl’s Jr. ad campaign. The media dubbed it “Hamburger Porn”, linking sex and burgers like never before.
ADage.com’s Ken Wheaton claimed the Paris Hilton Carl’s Jr. ad will make you feel unclean, like you need “a boiling hot shower”.
In an open letter to the president of Carl’s Jr., a concerned father writes, “My wife and I are parents of two teen-aged daughters and a 20-year son. … There are millions of us who still believe that sex is a very special act and should be reserved for that one special person with whom you plan to spend the rest of your life.
“Pornography can be terribly addicting and fuels marital infidelity, sexual abuse, rape, and pedophilia. To deny the harmful effects of pornography on our society is as mindless as the tobacco industry claiming that there’s no real evidence that cigarettes cause any kind of health risk!” (See the full letter here)
CurrentTV’s Sarah Haskins’ reviews the ad campaign
“Edgy–sometimes with humor, sometimes with sexuality–is what appeals to the ‘young, hungry guy’ who’s our target customer,” sums up Brad Haley, EVP of Carl’s Jr marketing.“Some find it annoying, but activating another sense or creating another appetite appeal”has proven highly effective, he says.
When Carl’s Jr. became aware of the backlash surrounding these ads, they made a feeble attempt at insinuating political correctness, without sacrificing overt sexuality. Such was the case for the most recent Padma Lakshmi spot.
The advertising firm responsible for the ads, Mendelsohn Zien, wears negative press like a badge. Hardee’s was once voted by consumers as “the fast food chain they most want to avoid.” But now, Hardee’s Thickburger reigns as “best burger” in 14 cities. Nevermind the fact that,at 1480 calories, one burger makes up nearly your entire day’s caloric needs.
According to their firm’s official website, “after eight years of decline and ten different advertising agencies, Mendelsohn Zien concepted a new product line and a new way of thinking” for Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr, resulting in the rebirth of their business.
Apparently, we live in a world where Hamburger Porn is a legitimate business model. And if the statistics are true, shame on us for buying into it, and shame on us for reinforcing the retrogression of women in the media.
