Mitch posted on the sorry depiction of men in advertising these days, using the Progressive ad where the wife sends the hubby back to get more information answered as an example. He then opines:
But what does this tell boys in our society? "This is what you have to look forward to; a life of working away like a good little boy, but having your intelligence and dignity denigrated because of your gender". Combine that with the message boys get in schools - "Boyhood's natural exhuberance and competitiveness and energy are things that, with enough time and medication, we can overcome" - what do you think you'll get?
To me there's one compelling reason for the way men are disparaged in advertising these days. They're the only group left that it's politically correct to denigrate. US humor oftens depends on having a fall guy, someone we can all be happy snickering at. You know if an ad did that to a woman or a minority the special interest groups would be up in arms. Which leaves us with white males. The last group we can all make fun of without incurring the wrath of the PC crowd.
Add that to the movement to emasculate males and medicate away their male traits, and we have a recipe for trouble. As much as some people would like to forget it, men bring valuable qualities to our society. For example, men generally encourage their children to take risks more than women do.
At the risk of incurring the wrath of the 'oh so enlightened' 21st century readers out there, I have a confession to make. In our home, my children have been informed that Dad is the head of the household. This means if he and I hold differing opinions on a situation and we can't come to an agreement, his view wins the day.
I know some of you are shuddering in shock, imagining that I have succumbed to doormat status. Nothing could be further from the truth. You have probably not often met a woman as strong as I am. I am opinionated from the word go. I can play with the big boys in the boardroom. Passive has never been used to describe me.
See I married an adult, whose opinion I trust and value. I recognize that he has a role to protect his family among other things. There are times we will disagree. If that happens when we need to make a decision that affects the family and we can't resolve it, I am willing to allow him to make the final decision. That doesn't make me a doormat. It makes me the wife who loves and respects him as the head of our home.