Accessible Advertising?

Are the way products advertised create an accessibility issue?

I started thinking about this over the weekend.  I personally don’t have a TV or Radio because I am tired of commercials telling me I am not good enough… I should be thinner, richer and more beautiful.  Lately I have been listening to the radio in the car out of curiosity of what is the latest pop song craze.  This weekend I happen to hear an advertisement for the ‘Man’s Show’ that is coming to my area.  I was appalled at what it was telling me.  It stated that women have had their shows and now it is time for a man’s show…  Motorcycles, cars, video games, beer and sports people.  I couldn’t figure out which of these things are only for men… I ride a Harley Davidson FLHT, drink beer, love college football and have been addicted to my share of video games.  After hearing this commercial more than once (I wanted to be sure I wasn’t hearing it wrong) I wrote an email to the station:

I think advertising for the Man’s Show that is coming to our area is inappropriate.  I’m honestly surprised a show like that is even welcome in this area.

1.  It is advertising Gender rules… all men like motorcycles, beer, video games and cars?…. women don’t?
2.  It feels very homophobic because of advertising these above gender rules
3.  There is no women’s show but the advertisement makes it sound like there is.
4.  It is insulting to women because it makes it sound as if women make men do ‘feminine’ things and that all women only like so called ‘feminine’ things.
5.  Just a FYI: decorating, craft and home shows are not ‘women’ shows… in case that is the assumption with this advertisement.
6.  it is creating a line between the sexes that is not necessary.  We are in the 21st century and there are many people (men and women) who cross these ‘gender lines’.

It is time we take a stand on advertisements.  No one should be singled out, left behind or treated differently.  It starts with stations like you who choose not to use advertisements that suggest segregation. (color, gender, size, sexual orientation, religion, etc)  Make them sell the product not the people who use the product.

This afternoon I received an email response:

thank you for taking the time to write and listen. Greatly appreciated. I have also copied our Program Director on your comments.

Tonight I heard an advertisement for the Man’s Show and it just stated the facts… when, where and how to participate…. can’t help but think maybe I had something to do with that?

Change starts by letting people know what you think.  We all should be writing letters to our local stations requesting advertisements of the products instead of advertising the people who use the products.