That is, if they haven’t already hit rock bottom.
Now don’t get me wrong. I love sex and I love being a vegetarian. I wouldn’t give up either for the world; but this whole using sex women’s bodies to get people men to be vegetarians thing is annoying and stupid and insulting and degrading–to all parties involved. And yes, I really do believe that these ads are all about the menz. Witness the Super Bowl ad that was recently rejected by NBC:
‘Veggie Love’: PETA’s Banned Super Bowl Ad
Not that this point hasn’t been made, oh, about a zillion times.
But I wonder if the folks at PETA understand that they are playing into stupid and stereotypical gender stereotypes by focusing so much of their ad campaigns on men getting laid?
Too Hot for TV: PETA’s Banned Ads
I can’t think of how many times I’ve had conversations similar to this:
Meat Eater: “You’re a vegetarian? So what, did your girlfriend make you?”
Me: “No. Actually my girlfriend eats meat. I was a vegetarian before we even met.”
Meat Eater: “Wait! You’re the vegetarian, and your girlfriend eats meat?!”
Me: “Um, yeah…”
Meat Eater: “That’s fuckin’ weird!”
Me: “Why?”
Meat Eater: “Well, ’cause…y’know…”
Me: *Sigh*
The underlying assumptions behind these ads don’t challenge the status quo. They merely reinforce the tired stereotypes that men, being all “Me horny and me want meat!” won’t become vegetarians unless they’re going to get something out of it–mainly sex–and that only scantily-clad women–unicorn and dolphin loving people that they are (WTF?)–can get men to become vegetarians by either offering sex (but make sure it’s during half-time!) or belittling their “manhood.” Heaven forbid someone becomes a vegetarian because they’ve come to simply believe that eating meat is wrong (or for that matter, for health reasons or they just don’t like meat).
I’ll leave the heteronormativity of all this for another post.
I’m pretty tired of PETA’s advertising skillz. As a vegetarian (transitioning to vegan) woman, I’m pretty fucking tired of my body being appropriated for the heterosexual male gaze in PETA’s version of animal liberation. I fail to see how stupefying women (Unicorns versus dolphins in a pillow-fight? Really, that’s how much respect for veg*n women PETA has? Well, shit, sign me up!) draws any attention to the animal rights that PETA holds so dear. See, I’m a vegetarian partly because I don’t support oppression of animals. I believe humans are animals. I believe women are humans. Therefore, oppressing women to get your oh-so-important message across? Is, as the internet would phrase it, an epic fail.
It reminds me of a conversation I had just after Prop 8 passed in November. I got into a heated discussion when the man I was talking to thought it would be a brilliant idea to use lesbian softcore porn to convince the audience that gay marriage is a good idea. The sad part is, I don’t think I managed to get through to him why that was a bad idea, beyond further objectification of women. It breaks my heart that self-professed liberals don’t view advertisement of this sort as wrong-headed or cruel, that something so fucking clear to me as immoral can be seen as an overreaction on my part by people I otherwise respect.
I have to say that I was thrilled to learn that this ad has been banned. I am sick and tired of this approach by PETA. It is demeaning to all concerned.
They claim it is the only way to get attention but their ads just fade into the background because everything uses sex to sell. If they wanted to stand out they should try respecting women.
The other thing that gets me about this is the way that it only targets men. Do they think that women are natural peace loving, vegetarians. I am female and a meat eater and if anything these ads push me in the opposite direction.
@niemaodpowiedzi: Wait a minute here. You actually had a conversation with someone that thought it a good idea to advance gay rights through lesbian softcore porn? *sigh*
Frankly, I don’t think anyone who advocates showing T&A “for the cause” is worthy of any of your respect.
@Renee: Exactly! That’s my point. If they devoted as much ad space to naked dudes, I might consider taking their claims seriously, but as it stands, their ads are no different than beer or car ads.
Cool, I didn’t know you were a vegetarian. (I actually *did* become a vegetarian because of my girlfriend, but then after she dumped me I stuck with it, and later started dating a meat eater, who I am gradually converting.)
PETA’s ad inspired me to go out do a barley grass shot
Me thinks that PETA needs to get their frickin’ heads screwed on straight.
How is it that animals are treated with so much passionate concerned. Yet a woman is treated like a animal in heat? This is truly a triffling way to promote a vegan lifestyle.
I read an interview of Ingrid Newkirk (is that her name?) in The New Yorker several years ago, and it explained a lot. She basically said she would do whatever it takes to get people to stop eating meat, wearing fur, etc. I think this was a few years after the ad that pictured a woman in a bikini with “fur” all along her bikini line and a tag that said something like, “Why wear fur?” Her comment above was in response to a question about ads like this. Anyway, Ingrid has a single-issue approach. The thing is, I doubt that feminists are going to start supporting animal-testing or stop being vegetarians because the ads are sexist. We’ll just not support PETA. Meanwhile, I wonder if the sexist ads will reach their targets…which is not me saying that the ads are ok, but I am curious.