A-Septic
This is not about whether a man has a PhD or is a labourer. Some of the most decent men I have ever met have not been through the auspices of Uni and some of the worst have held high positions in academe. It is not about class – if that is the point you are making.

I have never claimed victim-hood either, I am just discussing how how society is structured, how much of that is due to the present culture and how much is instinct (evolution).

An interesting article on how media stereotypes both men and women in linked below:

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/local/scisoc/sports03/papers/mmcconnell.html

Please, instead of just responding in knee-jerk fashion, consider the article and the impact it has an everyone's mental health and well-being.

Dear Houellebecq,

Actually, as Ian Robertson points out in his
Sociology text, "what is remarkable about
advertising is how little gender stereotypes
have changed over the past quarter century."

Robertson tells us that, "Men are the voice of
authority on 80 per cent of TV commercials,
including those directed at women."

"A barrage of advertisements still portray females
as simple-minded creatures, bickering endlessly over
which toothpaste or fabric softener is better."

I'm not trying to be contentious here or get into
a discussion with you about gender inequalities.
Simply stating relevant facts that have proven to
be true by market research and prominent sociologists.

You of course are welcome to disagree with them.

Foxy,
Excellent point!

*I agree that advertising uses such stereotyping which really insults the integrity of both sexes.*

Oh deary me, where is your tolerance, people?

Give advertisers their due. Nobody studies what works or does
not work, what sells or does not sell, more then they do.

Every little detail is analysed to the endth degree. If these
ads were putting off consumers, clearly they would not buy
the products.

Humour plays a huge role, but some people are even insulted
by humorous adverts.

Well, you can't please all the people I guess. If it works
for 90%, the rest really don't matter.

If adverts were insulting to a large % of men or women, clearly
companies would not pay millions of $ for these campaigns, for
they would not notice increased sales.

Perhaps some by nature, are just more inclined to nitpick then
others :)

Dear Yabby,

This isn't about nitpicking.
As Fractelle pointed out in her earlier post -
it's about the way things are. Men control
the media. That's a fact. It's not about
blame, or gender inequality. Every society
categorizes its members according to sex,
treating men and women in different ways and
expecting different patterns of behaviour
from them.

You actually need to read Fractelle's posts
and understand the points she's raising.

*Men control the media.*

Foxy, both men and women work in the media. The media
gives people what they want, or they would not watch or
listen.

Consumers ultimately control advertising, for if the ad
does not work, if consumers hate it, they won't buy the
product.

I do read Fractelle's posts and I think she nitpicks
far too much :)