Monday, November 16, 2015
Parodying Female-Friendly Advertising? Consider the Alternative.
Disclosure: I am clearly #biased because not only was BlogHer a mission-based FOR-profit, but we were obviously heavily advertising and sponsorship supported. As is SheKnows Media, our parent company now.
Now, with that said: I love this oped on Fortune.com by Samantha Skey.
I too both laughed and cringed at the "Jane Street" parody of #Femvertising.
I understand the gripes behind the satire, no doubt. But I also got a little annoyed.
Because:
- Advertiser are gonna advertise.
- Advertising enables (monetarily) many of the things we love a lot but aren't willing to pay for ourselves.
- And frankly, advertising has therefore enabled the wider democratization of media, both re: entertainment and raising your voice, gatekeeper free. Would you want a world where only people who can afford to pay for access can attend conferences, access web sites, watch TV, blog, etc. etc.?
So given the above truths, wouldn't you prefer advertisers TRY to do a better job. TRY to employ women talent? TRY to bust stereotypes? TRY to empower AND entertain WHILE they, yes, gasp, horrors!, market something?
I would. Every time.
The alternative is much much worse.
So:
Demand continuous improvement? Yes.
Call out points of hypocrisy? Reasonable.
Call out points of hypocrisy? Reasonable.
But. Shut companies down completely when they attempt to do good while doing business? I think it's short-sighted.
You keep doing you Dove, Always, Cheerios, Wells Fargo, and all you other brands exhibiting your corporate ethos via #Femvertising...and other CSR programs.
I'm here for it!
