It’s not news that Lynx’s revels in degrading representations of women to promote its body spray.
I’ve talked about the company’s ‘Spray More Get More’ campaign which features women transforming into out-of-control-sex-maniacs the second they smell Lynx on a man.
Collective Shout has also exposed the sexism and misogyny of the Lynx brand in a recent post about the ‘Lynx Lodge’.
But what is new is the discovery that Lynx has the support of one of the world’s biggest supermarket chains – Woolworths. Is Woolies to be known as the women-as-fresh-meat people?
Described as the ‘ultimate man-cation’, the Lynx Lodge appears to be parent company Unilever’s foray into the sex industry. The lodge seems to have all the trappings of a brothel, without explicitly identifying itself as such. “Lynx Lodge – Get Laid Back” declares the website.
“The ultimate man-cation destination to get you back to your primal roots.”
“Get laid back, as lodge staff pamper you with breakfast in bed and on-the-spot massages.”
“Golf range: Grab your wood.”
“Pool hall: Scared of being beaten by a girl? Some of our guests quite enjoy it.”
“Ball Games: Teamwork is everything, so be sure to focus on your partner’s backside to make out her block signals.”
The Lynx Effect site presents provocatively dressed women (including in busty maid outfits) ready to do a man’s bidding, entertain and excite him. Emma, for example, is a “great cook” and “can do the splits – what more could you ask for?”
A video ad on the site shows a number of young women lonely and desperate for men to arrive at the lodge. Helpless and passive, they have no man to serve, therefore no meaning in life. One girl takes off her clothes and wades naked into the lake waiting for him to arrive.
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/15270497[/vimeo]
Another video shows more women in sexually inviting poses and scenes. While called ‘hospitality staff’, the message is they will provide forms of sexual entertainment. Women are shown in wet t. shirts, borrowing from girls-gone-wild type themes.
“The concept of the Lodge is a play on popular male fantasy, so the girls are there to hang out and ensure Lodge guests have fun,” Lynx spokeswoman Laura O’Donnell told the Courier Mail.
She claimed all activities would happen in open public areas and that Lynx security staff would keep a watchful eye on everything. Does that include in the master bedroom where the site promises lodge staff will tuck you in and prepare you for sweet dreams?
Lynx draws attention to the backsides and cleavage of their models, but doesn’t expect any physical engagement? What about sleazy jerks who come expecting the girls to get their kit off, and try to grope them? Male visitors are primed to expect compliance, with the models at the ready to cook and serve them breakfast after a ‘sexy wake-up call.’ The Lynx girls are represented as seeking – indeed desperate for – every kind of male attention.
What is in place to protect women from sexual assault at the lodge? Will they have panic buttons? (What if they’re in the boat?) Given that the place is spread out and there are many different activities each day, how will a woman’s safety be guaranteed?
The theme repeated over and over is that the Lynx Mynx is to be ‘told what to do’. Lynx comments on its Facebook pages suggest a voyeuristic web-cam scenario:
“… if you love Faye so much, you’ll tell her what to do”
“The videos get released tomorrow and we’ll reveal more Tom… basically imagine a big brother-style house with these girls and you have to vote for your favourite and give her stuff to do….”
“so yesterday we filmed the first things you told the Lynx Mynx to do… it was a lot of fun, video coming soon so watch this space, but here’s a couple of pics to give you a little taste…”
In case you didn’t know, the Lynx brand is owned by Unilever which also owns the Dove ‘Real Beauty’ campaign. Unilever is fueling borderline-prostitution of women through its Lynx brand while claiming to care about women’s true beauty and worth.
Last Thursday Unilever took its Lynx Lodge promotion to Sydney’s Martin Place. The event featured young women in bikinis in a hot tub while men were offered massages on their way to work. Lynx shower gel was spread across the women’s breasts, in an image reminiscent of porn shoots. (Being linked with porn is no problem for Unilever, with cross promotions for Axe- the US version of Lynx- with Playboy models. For example “Watch how Playboy.com gets dirty and how they get clean with Axe shower gel”).
The event was described in ‘Time Out Sydney’ this way:
Lynx Lodge Pop-up SpaDate
Bikini-clad ladies, steaming hot tubs and on-demand massages sound like your thing? They’ll all be on offer at Martin Place for one day only to offer a sneak preview of the soon-to-come Lynx Lodge. The new all-male travel concept, located at Lake Macquarie and set to open in November this year, comes courtesy of the team behind its namesake, lady-wooing antiperspirant.
In the meantime, dudes can dive into one of the pop-up resort’s many spas along with a bevy of female beauties, or opt for a stress-relieving back rub from an accommodating hostess. Stop off on your way to work to take part in the ultimate boys’ trip draw – the chance for one guy and seven very lucky mates to initiate the first of many man-cations at the Lodge.
Did Sydney City Council have no qualms about approving this event? Were there any objections to offering sex-based entertainment in the middle of the street? Or should we expect to see more of this?
Now we discover that Woolworths is supporting the competition for eight men to be the first to visit the lodge.
“Lynx is holding a competition with Woolworths, where a winner will be the first to stay at the resort with seven friends.”
Here’s an extract from Woolworth’s commitment to its customers:
As Australia’s largest food retailer and second largest private employer, Woolworths recognises we have a high level of social responsibility, and we take these responsibilities seriously…
And
As a member of those communities we understand that we have a duty to be more than just a retail outlet, but to also make a positive impact on the societies that we serve. We work to the principle that we can never take our customers for granted – we need to earn their trust and respect and this means acting responsibly both inside and outside our stores.
And
All Woolworths’ businesses are active in the local communities in which we operate…Our partnerships and programs are continually reviewed to ensure they align with broader social issues and community concerns.
How is supporting a view of women as subservient sexual slaves having a positive impact and acting responsibly? Does “high level of social responsibility” apply to the status of women in the community?
Does this look like one of your fresh food mum’s, Mr Michael Luscombe, Woolworths Managing Director and CEO?
Comments from men on the Lynx Facebook fan page show the effect of its advertising on them. Women are products to be won, they are ‘it’ or ‘that’ and judged mercilessly.
“DO I WIN A BLONDE , NICE ASS , LARGE NATURAL BREASTS,NICE EYES”
“you no that you would ruin that all night long”
“nice PAIRsonality!”
“ugly”
“nah i seen better”
“flat-chested”
“she’s not that great”
On a pic of Jessica Simpson: “isn’t she a whale now?” “yeah she is”
On Scarlett Johannssen: “Scarlet get me a beer “
Lynx asks: “We thought it’s time we started talking about those annoying irritations when it comes to the dating game. Her clingy mates, the drunken brother, the barman that ignores you… what else shall we add to the list…?”
Jay Cooney: “the fuckin horrible moose that attempts 2 dance wit u”
Nathan Ireland: “The fat ugly mate that drags them away because she is upset the fittest bloke in the pub (besides us*) does not fancy her hippo-croc-a-pig ass!”
Allan Davison: “The fat friend”
And there you have it, the Lynx Effect, proudly supported by Unilever, Woolworths, Sydney City Council and maybe even Lake Macquarie Council.
The ultimate man-cation is, really, the ultimate objectification.
And even if the lodge is just a marketing ploy and not a real place, Unilever’s contemptuous attitude to women still comes through, loud and clear. Its campaign is a threat to the equality, freedom and wellbeing of all women.
Details on how to complain can be found here. We at Collective Shout are about to launch our Lynx Stynx campaign. Keep an eye on the Collective Shout website for more on this.
49 Responses
Just when it seemed sexism and misogyny in marketing and advertising these days couldn’t get any worse, this new low is plumbed….
What sort of people are actually employed to think up this stuff and presumably get well paid for doing it? How can they sleep at night?
doesn’t unilever also own Dove?
For goodness sake! I really did not think Lynx could stoop any lower. Well, they showed me didn’t they? I cannot believe Woolworths would be foolish enough to damage their brand in this way. Lynx is a product aimed squarely at teen boys – how many of these do you think do the weekly groceries? Why would Woolies want to burn their bridges with women in order to sell a few sticks of BO Basher? I shall be letting Woolies know I will not be shopping there again until they rethink this campaign. In fact, Woolies head office is located quite near my place. I may pop in and visit them?
Thanks for bringing this to our attention melinda. I will be telling girls in our Real Girl Power workshop too as I know they would love to join in the boycott!
With a tag line like “Get Laid Back”, can there really be any question about what Lynx is peddling here? I’m surprised the company spokeswoman isn’t too embarrassed to put her name to the excuses she’s making.
I look forward to joining you in kicking up a stink no shower in a can will be able to mask!!
I just sent a complaint to Unilever, saying I will not be buying Lynx again and I will be sharing this news with my facebook friends. Let’s hope someone pays attention!
My jaw just dropped at this story. It seems for every step forward we take, there are one hundred giant leaps back. The message that guys should be able to do what they want with women just makes me sick.
If they’re not expecting trouble at a place like that, they’re insane.
So many reasons not to like Woolworths.
They place a large, concrete box in a residential street in my small, country town in Northern NSW (their friends in the NSW planning department overrode the decision of our local council after it said no to its DA and after the majority of its residents expressed their disapproval). Their latest round of propaganda advertising is spinning the line that hippies will like shopping there because of their organic range. My town didn’t need the “Fresh Food” people to tell us about fresh food!
They are also “Woolworths the Pokies People”, owning 11,000 poker machines in Australia and hundreds of gamling venues in Australia. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/17/2545971.htm?site=local.
And now they are the Fresh Meat people, all the while spruiking their good work in the community. I’m angry.
Having just visited the links in the article above and read this story all I can say is that… I feel ill. Really.
I saw this ad on TV the other day and couldn’t believe it. It made me angry and sad. It makes me really sad when I see women like this, for our all the people who have this vision in their head about women and also for me too because I feel so bad about myself after seeing this.
BTW – Coles decision to align itself with Cathy Freeman and sports for schools seems like absolute genius in comparison!
Unilever should write a joke book.
Thank you, Melinda, for compiling such a comprehensive and informative case against Lynx and its supporters, I know many women are grateful for all your hard work. Your observation that Unilever is using Lynx as a means of getting into the business of the sex industry is excellent. I think the advertising that Lynx is using goes beyond mere efforts to sell deodorant products through dehumanising women. The creation of a ‘Lynx Lodge’ surely has to have commercial potential beyond body spray. Unilever will no doubt profit from the licensing of this kind of ‘man-cation’ brothel business all over the US.
I think your tactic to expose the private industry and government bodies that are supporting Lynx’s sexist propaganda is a really good one–Lynx doesn’t have to care about losing the support of women, but other companies will. And Unilever will be crucially relying on these companies in the early years for the social acceptability it needs to develop its sex industry business wing.
Like most companies mission statements, they are lovely words strung together by PR & Marketing people that really don’t reflect the values of the organisation and it’s workforce but sounds delightful to what they believe is the stupid gulliable public. Unilever, Lynx & Woolworths you will discover that this is not the case.
Another example of woolies “social responsibility” one only has to look at their treatment of our farming communities to see how socially responsible they actually are.
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner – just check out the body shaming comments it has incited its fans to post. As most are aware, Lynx and Dove are both child companies of Unilever. The way I see it, Unilever essentially spits in the face of the hard-working employees at Dove. For all the efforts Dove staff put into changing culture and encouraging positive body image, Lynx continues to fuel body shame and gender inequality through promoting culturally damaging scripts about women. If I were working at Dove, I’d simply resign.
Not only have I emailed both Unilever and Woolworths, I’ve blogged about it myself (link under my username).
We need to speak up and contact both companies and let them know this is not acceptable.
It’s really vital that men know what this product is now being associated with – the sex trade – in your campaign you need to re-associate the term ‘Lynx effect’ with something like the ‘loser effect’, ‘creep effect’, ‘john effect’ etc etc. Interview ordinary and celebrity women about what they think about Lynx and what ‘effect’ it has on them… Let men know women are really repulsed by it. Let’s face it, the women at the lodge will only ‘service’ men if they are paid money! Where is the ‘Lynx effect’ there then! You need to rework the image to so the focus is on the desperate creepy pigs that these sex workers/models/paid workers are paid to ‘service’. The public understand full well what ‘types’ of men they will be paying for these ‘services’ i.e. men who are more than happy to pay for false ‘attention’ and you really need to go for this angle as this will do far more damage whilst a) exposing the mindset of the advertising execs and importantly who they are trying to target (i.e. appealing to real pigs and creeps, i.e. desperados who most women wouldn’t ‘touch’ with a barg poll) and b) will stay in the public imagination and do far more long lasting damage to the brand and product and c) take attention away from the liberal ‘choice’ argument, i.e. the company will say that the women involved should be allowed to make their own ‘choice’ and that they are not ‘forced’ etc and will no doubt get one of the women to come forward to say how much she loves her job etc. Yes they are not forced but hey the money had better be good!
Very well-written & well-presented article. Lynx is so repulsive, and Unilever should be ashamed. The Dove real beauty campains & self-esteem funds are such a sham. And now Woolies is in on it – I’ll be doing 100% of my groceries at Coles now!!!!
Thanks for posting this info. Have just written my letter to Woolies & will be boycotting them & Caltex petrol stations until they decide that women are worth being reprresented with dignity.
Wow…my jaw is still on the ground. This really is the pits. Well done for formulating such a great piece Melinda – keep up the good work. I’ll be emailing both unilever and woolworths and boycotting woolies.
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
Lynx as a corporation is behaving in an opprobrious manner
That was worthy of being repeated. Great line and ever so true.
I have contacted the Mayor and other MP’s in the Lake Macquarie area to ask for clarification on the Lynx lodge and also present my disgust and astonishment that this application was passed.
Will feedback any responses I get.
I have learnt to expect this from Lynx – they have showed throughout their campaigns that they care little for women.
Porn, brothel, objectification, sex acts, dirty innuendo, sex industry themes. Just a few words that come to mind.
I have contacted Woolworths in disgust. Asked them to clarify their position.
I also requested they get the dirty porn off their shelves during their ‘clean up’ of the stores.
I dont think it is too much to ask.
This hypocrisy and bad behaviour has been excused by Unilever as ‘light hearted’ and tongue in cheek’ for some years now.
Here are excerpts from my email exchange with the Corporate Social Responsibility & Communications Manager at Unilever Australasia. Dated 26 October 2007
Dear Julie,
Thanks very much for your email…
You have raised some points that we within the organisation struggled with and which we have discussed at some length as a result of your letter…
However, I can certainly appreciate that although Lynx is not breaching any national advertising standards, these standards may not represent what other groups or individuals find acceptable. I also recognise that for them, this may not appear consistent with Unilever’s position as an organisation committed to “the highest standards of corporate behaviour”.
Your considered and balanced letter highlighting the apparent inconsistencies within our business has encouraged me to escalate your comments to the Global teams responsible for Dove and Lynx/Axe with a view to bringing the issue to a head at a senior level…
…as you have identified, there is a risk of inadvertent exposure to children of images such as those portrayed in the Lynx/Axe web sites. This is a matter that we have yet to fully consider, and I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will be certain to raise it in my correspondence to the global brand teams, along with your comments.
I will also ensure that the AANA is made aware of the issue of inadvertent exposure of adult advertising to children.
Regards,
Sarah Clarry
Corporate Social Responsibility & Communications Manager
Unilever Australasia
Unilever released a ‘Global Statement’ which included this:
“The chosen vehicle for Axe/Lynx is a series of light-hearted and tongue-in-check adverts. They are all designed to be tongue-in-cheek propositions and are not meant to be taken seriously. Every new campaign is tested, not just with the target market of 18-24 year-old males, but also with their female counterparts and their mothers. If they don’t understand it as humorous, the adverts don’t get used.” Unilever Dec 2007.
So people…where’s your sense of humour – this is all just a bit of fun.
You know …subjugation – sexual exploitation – objectificaiton…it’s hilarious!!
“The chosen vehicle for Axe/Lynx is a series of light-hearted and tongue-in-check adverts. They are all designed to be tongue-in-cheek propositions and are not meant to be taken seriously. Every new campaign is tested, not just with the target market of 18-24 year-old males, but also with their female counterparts and their mothers. If they don’t understand it as humorous, the adverts don’t get used.” Unilever Dec 2007.
Wonder if the mothers of the women staffing the Lynx Lodge are giggling at the ‘joke’?
SBS’s ‘Insight’ program is always willing to hear suggestions for future stories. If you’ve watched the show, you’ll know that it really does get people discussing the topic.
I’ve suggested to them that they run a show on the sexualisation of children, so if you want to suggest something as well, just leave a comment at http://news.sbs.com.au/insight/suggest.
Who knows: if enough people suggest, maybe these issues will get some airtime?
I’d love to hear responses of men – do you feel insulted that Lynx assumes you are this low?
It would be great to see men voice their disgust to Woolworths and Lynx.
In the meantime I hope everyone shops at Aldi or Coles and wears Norsca not Lnx (or rexona or dove – all Unilever – ie Lynx’s parent company).
WOW – how can we educate those ‘model’/employees and girls in the adverts.
That is where you can make a mark, they do not have to accept these jobs, let them protest for all of us and then the adverts cannot get made. Shame on women doing this for money.
Oh NO! I can’t believe I entered the Lynx comp’! I was sucked in big time! Around fathers day, Safeway had what I thought was a Lynx comp’ for a Mini dirt bike! Oh, well, I know what I will be doing if I win the weekend at the Lodge….LOL! It will be interesting when no one turns up!
My boys have just been told they will no longer be using Lynx products! Anyone know of a better alternative?
Lynx stunt not for public consumption
Last week, Sydney’s Martin Place was transformed into something resembling a cheap porn filmset. Lynx deodorant was running a promotion where multiple big-breasted, blonde models sat giggling in a hot tub wearing skimpy fluoro orange bikinis, splashing about like brainless twits. One average-looking bloke sat among them looking smug and self-satisfied.
The hot tub was placed on a raised platform, blocked off by rails. Male suits pulled out iPhones to take photos through the rails, like tourists peering through the cage bars at a zoo. Other Lynx models pranced around in tiny French maid outfits. Another had set up a masseuse table and was busy giving a semi-naked man a massage.
Unsurprisingly men ogled the women, slapping each other on the back, while making comments like “she’s a bit of all right” or “I wouldn’t mind a bit of that”.
I felt like I’d walked into a middle aged man’s seedy buck’s night. It was 9am on a Thursday morning.
One man standing next to me elbowed me and commented, “I wouldn’t mind seeing you in that hot tub, love”. Perhaps he meant this as an innocent comment. Perhaps he thought he was being complimentary. But the fact is I was simply on my way to work and I did not want to be inserted into this man’s sexual fantasy.
When women complain about promotional models or female strippers hired for mixed gender parties they are often told to “lighten up” and stop being so “prudish”. Alternatively they are told that they are “just jealous” because they are not as good-looking as the models or strippers and that they resent the models getting all the attention.
The reality is that the reason some women feel uncomfortable around promotional models, such as the Lynx models in Martin Place, is because their job encourages some men to believe that it is their right to ogle women and to treat women like sex objects, and that women actually love this.
I have no problem with naked or semi-naked female bodies. But context is important. Topless sunbaking at the beach is fine. Topless sunbaking at Martin Place would not be appropriate.
Similarly, when people go to a strip club or a nude beach they know what they are walking into and they are consenting to the experience. But people should have the choice to not be bombarded with this stuff in public space.
Ultimately the problem is not that promotional models and strippers “steal” all the male attention away from other women. The problem is that they give tacit licence to some men to bestow unwanted attention on women who do not invite or want it.
I suspect I will be told to lighten up and that it was a harmless promotion. But, like most women, I have lost count of the number of times I have been groped in public. I have lost count of the number of men who have yelled “show us your tits” at me from a moving car. This promotion would only be harmless if there wasn’t an entrenched sexualised culture that was already harming young women.
Of course, the overwhelming majority of men do not treat women as meat. Many are appalled by it. But some do. The onus of responsibility must always lie with the individual who behaves poorly. But companies like Lynx should consider how their promotions contribute to a problematic culture of female exploitation.
Nina Funnell is a researcher at the journalism and media research centre at the University of NSW.
See full article here:
http://www.watoday.com.au/opinion/politics/lynx-stunt-not-for-public-consumption-20100927-15tlq.html
Whilst I appreciate the position of the comments on this feed, I find it interesting that when a male is used as a symbol of women flirting – it seems perfectly acceptable? There are more cases out there than I can point a stick at (Diet Coke was a massive player in this space over the years, recently Philidelphia Cheese has had their two handsome ‘naughty’ cooks in the kitchen, Kelloggs All Brand featured two rather ‘sexy’ looking guys in a TV spot about a year ago). No one here battered an eyelid at these spots. I’d be interested in what people think of using people (from either gender) and using ‘sexy’ to sell.
Matt, I think the whole idea behind using sex to sell, is that it’s aimed at making people feel inadequate and bad about themselves. “If only I bought that _________, I might be as attractive as that model” is the desired reaction from the consumer.
I personally think it’s lazy whether they’re using a male or female, that people resort to that because they can’t think of a better way to sell their product, or because in fact their product is totally useless.
The difference between using males and females, though, is that women live in a society in which their bodies are perpetually used as a sexualised commodity. This is something that assaults us from all directions every single day. So, while I don’t agree with using sex to sell with either gender, the use of females to sell is more harmful because the connotations are deeper. The effects of the two aren’t really something that can be compared.
Oh and also, what I think you should be offended more by, as a male, are those ads aimed at married women with kids that always show men to be completely idiotic and incapable of tackling the most basic of tasks. You know the ones I mean, they’re normally for washing powder and other household items. I can’t stand the message behind those, either. But, this IS a blog aimed at female issues, so that would be a whole other blog, I think!
I phoned Woolworths yesterday afternoon and drew a big blank – adamant claims that the company has nothing to do with Lynx Lodge and this campaign. So I did a little more research, and wrote a second post.
http://ohmykozy.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/lynx-stynx-part-2/
Woolworths are most definitely connected to this campaign, whether their PR people are prepared to admit it to a phone caller, or not.
I dropped into the council offices today to try and clarify if the council knew of the Lynx Lodge facility. The women on the front desk explained to me that I would be unable to find out about any development application or DA for a future property without an address. Catch 22 as we dont know the location.
So I asked if they had heard of such a place and they advised me they had not. I spend just under 10 minutes with these women and saw their faces change as I explained the details of the lodge. What was funny was when they tried to google the site and the councils restrictions on adult sites kicked in!
I was advised to send an email to council.
Her closing remarks to me were ‘so you can’t find out the location without entering the competition the? Sounds suspicious to me!’
YOU DONT SAY!!!
I thought the advertising a bit much so I made a comment on the Woolies rewards blog
https://www.everydaymatters.com.au
this is what happened:
Lynx advertising offensive,
I am a father of 5 with 3 girls and i find the advertising campaign for lynx overly sexual, their way of advertising is not a good example to my girls. I’m sure it would be plain offensive to many women. And as your company is mainly supplying families I suggest you look at this. What does everyone else think?
————————————
Can I suggest that you make your complaint to Lynx company, as this is for Woolworths Everyday Matters and Rewards Cards. They won’t be able to help you here.
Posted by Jo. S on 28-Sep-2010 at 03:25PM | Go to top
Reply
——————————
Comment: *
Thank you Jo.S for your reply, I am surprised at your answer though because this blog is connected to woolworths and you have a section here called products, I shared my idea. I thought was the right thing to do.
You have to know that in marketing everything is connected: product, customers, relationships & profits. This rewards program is a form of marketing any feedback would be valuable wouldn’t it?
I get emails about rewards that are explaining your products and another one explaining the latest specials. Sometimes this communications feels like a one way street. It could be felt that in woolworths there seems to be no one who cares or is interested in what one lonely customer feels.
I love the fact that this rewards program is attentive to the customer that there is a form of interaction and uptodatedness with the communications. The rewards are useful and can add up to something significant, quite a contrast to others.
Is there a feedback webpage for woolworths, because if I had a business with a product that was putting half my customers off, I sure would like to know.
Thanks
comment:
I have read your response to Jo. S and im sorry but i have to agree with her that if the Lynx products advertising has really upset you then to get the best action for your complaint it would be best to take it to the manufacturers of Lynx.
If Woolworths or any other Supermarket listened to each and every customer then im thinking that you would find that there were no goods on the shelves at all.
Remove junk food including all chips, lollies, softdrinks, chocolate etc
Remove products containing too much fat, to much sugar, colourings, Additives, etc
Remove all products that arnt Australian produced
Remove all products that dont use organic goods
Remove all produts that arnt 100% Eco Friendly
The list goes on…what would we have on our supermarket shelves???
Seriously if you want action then its best to contact the manufacturers
BUT..if you simply wanted a friendly chit chat about the Lynx product then i guess as you have said the Produts section here is the place….
Im a Mum of 3 girls and i must admit that certain things advertising wise are a little over the top but at the same time my girls and i saw some sights in public as they were growing up. The best you can do is to bring your children up with a good moral and ethics base and let YOU and the way you treat and talk about woman be their example of whats exceptable and whats not. YOU are spending more time with them then the Lynx Ad so if the Ad was to impact them so greatly then i would think there would have to be something seriously wrong within your family structure. Its very possible that you are the one thats worrying and your daughters would have no idea what you were talking about if you asked them tomorrow morning what they thought of the Lynx Ad.
Posted by maree64 on 28-Sep-2010 at 07:46PM
I tried to post this reply (below) but it seems that the ability to post or reply is no longer working on my post ,,, it is still up and has been for few days at the top, I guess as a reply is made it bumps it back to the top so they switched it off 🙂 I am not sure if the like or dislike button is still working as well……
Thanks Maree64 for commenting,
I didn’t think about all the different groups who would want to suggest what Woolworths should or should not have on the shelves, Phew what a pain that would be. But in the end people will support a product by buying it, the trick for Woolworths is to gauge those changes and have it in or out of stock.
I was wondering why you responded in a sort of attack suggesting that there is a “serious problem in my family structure”? That seemed strange to me.
I have over the years seen some big changes in what is acceptable in the marketplace, lately the constant almost fever pitch assault that seems to be invading our family home and personal space is getting a bit much.
I have like most Aussies not rocked the boat over the years but lately I have had the feeling that I should not put up with rubbish, that is why i raised this.
I guess I am going to get ridiculed and put down but I think that is par for the course for people who try to make the world a better place. I try in my family, with the people who I come into contact with and how I conduct myself to contribute something positive, life is hard enough for us all.
I just hope that others think about doing the same for all our childrens sake.
Have a great day
I’ve just been on the Woolworths website and voiced my opinion via their “Contact Us” link.
Many of the comments focus on the impact on young women and girls and that is fair enough. But as the mother of two young boys, I have the task of counteracting these types of messages provided in the media. In some ways I’m glad my lads are happy on their (non-violent) computer games rather than watching very much television or surfing the net! As they get older, they will be exposed to more of it.
Its important not to think of boys/men as the ‘other side’- they have been exposed to as much misinformation and exploitation as women. The problems of pornography are society’s problem. Body image is also an issue for boys- in the UK one in 10 anorexics is male, including many children. The reason you’ll see many primary school aged children running around in shorts and t-shirts is that “coats and track pants make you look fat”. This from my own children and corroborated by other mothers I know.
Now I’ve seen Tip-Top slipping some sexual innuendo into its bread ads in the 5-7pm time-slot. Its a big job we have as parents to educate our children, boys and girls in these things.
I am friends with one of the Greens Councillors on Lake Macquarie Council, a young feminist woman who has said that a development application for “The Lodge” has yet to be filed with LM Council, so as yet, it has not been discussed by council.
I am certain that when it does, it will be vigorously debated and perhaps concerned people should attend council chambers that night to express their disgust and petition council not not allow such a debased thing to happen within Lake Macquarie Shire.
Esca of Newcastle.
Hmmm if there hasn’t even been an application for development filed, how can they be running a competition for it? Unless it is at a place that is already built, an ex-resort or similar?
The lack on information on the “Lynx Lodge” has got me intrigued.
I wonder if it is actually a private residence – used in the same way a house in Hunters Hill was used for the Australian Idol contestants. It probably wouldn’t require a development application unless substantial renovations were being done.
Astonishing. And, as astonishing as these and other images documented here, are, it all seems a piece of the fabric: males spend little money, and “we” must do something desperate to get that money out of their wallets.
I pause to wonder, though, why it is that as women do most of the spending, and a man’s purse size is important in the mating ritual, the “objectification” of women ( or, rather, the bodies of slender females with obvious secondary sex characteristics) is moaned. Men are objectified. In fact, it seems to go without saying.
It is one of those unspoken curiosities: that graphical/visual use of females forms ( and accompanying suggestive reproductive acts) is bad; yet, the verbal, mathematical, “normal” use of male behavior is OK.: No one complains at the distribution of images of male sports stars, the distribution of their talismans ( in the form of shirts with numbers), etc.
Rather than bemoan the use of pre-teens, and slender “beauties” in ads, all those who find this graphical display abhorrent should satirize it, make fun.
It further amuses me that reactionary efforts, as this, are started, funded, and operated by women “well-educated”.
Astonishing on both ends.