A Postfeminist Age? Not today!

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Pepsi’s marketing strategy for AMP, an energy drink:

An iPhone app encouraging men to identify a woman in whom they might be interested by a typology drenched in stereotypes (“Goth Girl,” “Treehugger”), and recommending specific pickup lines. 

Then, if the man “gets lucky,” he can add details about the experience to his Brag list.  To whom would he be bragging, you might ask?  His “buddies,” who apparently need to be kept “in the loop” about his sexual exploits.  

Pepsi’s response to criticism over this incredibly insulting marketing campaign:

“Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologize if it’s in bad taste & appreciate your feedback. #pepsifail”

IF?

This just in:  Apparently Pepsi received enough negative feedback  that they finally pulled the app.

Puebla, Mexico has a new fleet of taxis.  They are pink.  They are driven by women and only accept women passengers.  They come with a GPS system and an alarm button.  And a beauty kit.  This new business is a response to complaints about sexually harassing behaviors by male taxi drivers.

So, no consequences and accountability for the men who are engaging in harassment.  Instead, let’s segregate the women.  Where is Golda Meir when we need her?  

As Letty Cottin Pogrebin notes:  “When Israel was experiencing an epidemic of violent rapes and someone at a cabinet meeting suggested women be put under curfew until the rapists were caught, Meir shot back, “Men are committing the rapes. Let them be put under curfew.”

Fragoli, the “wild strawberry liqueur,” has a new splashy ad campaign.  This ad was published in a recent New York Times Sunday Magazine.
 


 
 

Toschi Vignola, the Italian manufacturer, says:  “We designed Fragoli's market approach with a very specific consumer in mind: women."

A naked woman with a big red lipstick kiss on her ass.   That’s supposed to make me want to buy this liqueur?

Are we ever going to ratify CEDAW: The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women?  It wouldn't solve all gender-related problems, but it wouldn't hurt!

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