Am I the only one who wasn’t aware that there’s a stigma attached to men drinking diet soda?
The campaign for Dr. Pepper’s new 10-calorie diet soda is trying really, really hard to be manly.
The commercial for the new drink (below) shows two burly guys running through a fake jungle playing laser tag, then riding in some kind of four wheeler while one dude looks at the camera and says, “You can keep the romantic comedies and lady drinks, we’re good,” before taking a gulp out of a gunmetal can.
Dr. Pepper also erected a Facebook page for their new product, complete with an application that allows it to exclude women from viewing content. I’m unable to access it due to my pesky extra X chromosome, but I’ve read that it includes a “man quiz” with questions about fishing and hunting, as well a shooting gallery where you shoot things like high heels and lipstick, which is just creepy.
Predictably, a lot of people—men and women alike—find the ad obnoxious. “You shouldn’t need to challenge someone’s masculinity to get them to buy your product. this ad campaign is insulting to women and men alike,” commented one girl on the Facebook page, while others call it “disgusting,” “disturbing” and “shameful.”
Others are standing up for the campaign with zingers like, “To the women complaining about sexism; Man up.”
I know so many men who drink diet soda that I had no idea a brand like Dr. Pepper would need to push this hard to access men. Bill Clinton spent eight years running the free world with a can of Diet Coke glued to his palm. How was this necessary?
October 11, 2011 at 10:41 pm, guest said:
Obviously the author was so upset by the ad campaign that she had to write a whole shitty article about it.
October 12, 2011 at 4:23 am, Guest said:
Apparently you were so upset by an article that you had to write a whole shitty comment on it -_-
October 12, 2011 at 7:36 pm, Guest said:
Theres so many commericals shitting on men. About time one shits on woman…. even though I don’t think this commercial makes much sense.
October 16, 2011 at 2:45 am, Rose said:
Oh poor men at the top of the totem pole. I’m tired of guys talking about the commercials “shitting” on men. At least men are making those commercials and at least men are not getting shitted on from media on a daily basis. Please get over yourself, your stupidity and increase your mental capacity. http://vimeo.com/28122207
October 16, 2011 at 2:45 am, Rose said:
Oh poor men at the top of the totem pole. I’m tired of guys talking about the commercials “shitting” on men. At least men are making those commercials and at least men are not getting shitted on from media on a daily basis. Please get over yourself, your stupidity and increase your mental capacity. http://vimeo.com/28122207
October 12, 2011 at 7:44 pm, Anonymous said:
BA-ZING!
October 12, 2011 at 4:38 am, SUCK IT DOLPHIN said:
Cry me a river, and I’ll build a canoe out of dry leaves & paddle up stream with my hands just to call you a dumb girl who can’t drink my soda…STOP DRINKING IT!1!!!1111
October 16, 2011 at 2:46 am, Anon said:
The statement is so filled with privilege it is sickening. Maybe read a book sometime? Thanks. Have a nice day.
October 16, 2011 at 8:17 pm, Me said:
It was also barely coherent. Dr. Pepper really needs to pull these commercials.
October 16, 2011 at 2:46 am, Anon said:
The statement is so filled with privilege it is sickening. Maybe read a book sometime? Thanks. Have a nice day.
October 12, 2011 at 4:49 am, Anonymous said:
Why doesn’t this author just go write about a random misogynistic beer commercial or something? So a soda decides to market like a beer…big deal.
October 12, 2011 at 11:35 am, Anonymous said:
I use “Get Official Samples” to find free samples of major brands online. Please note they update their samples every day but I just pick what ever available at that time and use them.
October 12, 2011 at 7:43 pm, Kizzy said:
Good for you, dipshit.
October 12, 2011 at 12:50 pm, Njp1984 said:
She is free to write on ANY topic she chooses. Furthermore, it is a rather “hot” topic at the moment. One has no further information on this particular author and exactly what it is she reports on typically. Perhaps this is her genre.
Meanwhile, this whole ad campaign by Dr. Pepper is not only offensive to women, but insulting to men. It’s directed at male stereotypes which I understand exist for a reason, but it certainly does not apply to all or even most men.
Also, this ad isn’t offensive to women simply because it precludes them, but more so because of its message that it is in fact okay to be sexist. Sexism is not okay on any level. It makes NO sense for a soda company to blatantly target less than 50% of the world’s population. Within that percentile, it further targets an even smaller, more specific type of male.
YES, the commercial causes hype and lengthy discussions such as this. However, the point is, it crosses a line. If a woman wrote this campaign, shame on her. If any woman approved this campaign at either the advertising firm or at Dr. Pepper, shame on her. Discrimination against women is still very much alive today. It’s sad but a fact. Women still have to fight for so much. It doesn’t always appear that way, but it really is true. One could rattle off a list here and now, but it derails the point to do so.
Finally, this is not a rant about women’s lib nor a feminist attack on Dr. Pepper. It is simply a reaction to the fact that the world is still so congested with ignorance and inequality. Huge companies such as Dr. Pepper do indeed have a societal obligation to not exacerbate its (society’s) flaws.
It is understandable that entertainers such as comedians may do this very thing for entertainment value. That is a forum much more appropriate for this sort of discrimination. One does not have to partake in the viewing of such acts. Advertisement is very different. Journalists are often held accountable for their slips and mistakes, so why not advertising companies and corporations?
What may appear as innocent and harmless may in fact set into motion a wave of discriminatory behaviors predicated on the idea that if Dr. Pepper can do it and get away with it, why not me?
Something’s got to give. At a certain point it’s prudent to stop and ask, “Who does this really affect?”
October 12, 2011 at 2:02 pm, Rhazz said:
So did you ever complain about this little gem, too? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdrE1VMxzoE) Or are we exercising a double standard in which everybody stays quiet when it’s a “hunky” guy on screen being ogled by an office full of women, but when a guy runs through a jungle and says “keep your lady drinks”, it’s sexist. Seriously, it’s soda and this whole vituperation against a commercial with less skin than your average…well, anything is laughable. Nobody crossed any lines. People are just too quick to complain about the little things these days…
October 12, 2011 at 4:28 pm, Njp1984 said:
I have not seen that commercial before. I don’t think misandry is any more palatable or acceptable than misogyny.
My point was that discrimination towards women has been and is still an ongoing problem. I find it appalling that any company would do anything to undermine the progress of any group that has fought or is fighting for equality. Men as a group have not had to fight the same discriminatory fights as women in regards to gender. Yes, men fight stereotypes. Again, I said it’s not a feminist attack on Dr. Pepper, but the disgusting inequality that still exists in 2011.
You have a point about everyone staying quiet if men are the object of ogling and/or sexism. Personally, I don’t agree with sexism at all as I implied in my first posting. I’m not blaming men or even Dr. Pepper for that matter. I’m simply saying that it truly is a crossed line because it undermines the progress of equality, regardless of whether it is minor or significant. That is not okay.
October 12, 2011 at 5:58 pm, Jenny said:
It probably bears repeating that sexism like this (reinforcing stereotypical gender roles) actually hurts men about as much as it hurts women. Then again, as a raging feminist with sexist thoughts…I actually found the ad hilarious. Because I too am pretty sexist, against men. And unfortunately I do tend to think that they’re boorish, sex-crazed, action-movie-watching oafs who spill drinks on themselves (that was my favorite moment).
But for its self-aware humor, I think the ad is pretty great. And that’s what we want in ads these days, if we want ads at all. So anyway, sorry guys. I know tons of you are neat, intelligent, and emotionally aware if not sensitive (you’re the only kinds I date, and the kind I’m marrying). Don’t let this ad get you down.
October 12, 2011 at 6:19 pm, Guest said:
What I don’t understand is why they would purposely exclude half of their possible consumer base. I am a woman and I would be interested in at the very least trying this product, but if they don’t want my business, then why should I give them my money? I agree that they can choose whatever angle they want, but it seems like a bad idea. Also, there’s the possible connotation that whatever man is drinking this is trying to make himself look more manly, possibly compensating for something…? Just an idea.
October 12, 2011 at 6:19 pm, Guest said:
What I don’t understand is why they would purposely exclude half of their possible consumer base. I am a woman and I would be interested in at the very least trying this product, but if they don’t want my business, then why should I give them my money? I agree that they can choose whatever angle they want, but it seems like a bad idea. Also, there’s the possible connotation that whatever man is drinking this is trying to make himself look more manly, possibly compensating for something…? Just an idea.
October 12, 2011 at 8:48 pm, Singin The Blues said:
It’s called viral marketing. Anyone who is up in arms about this ad campaign is doing exactly what they intended, talking about their new product.
In any case, at least this ad doesn’t portray women as buffoons like thousands of ads have portrayed men in recent years.
If you don’t like the company, their ad or their product then vote with your dollars. If the new ad doesn’t generate increased revenue, it will likely never be repeated.
October 16, 2011 at 2:50 am, Rose said:
Oh yeah and if you think portraying men as buffoons once and a while is bad then think about how women are portrayed all the time. Please do not try tract away from the issue by pulling out your own victim card here instead of looking for understanding. http://vimeo.com/28122207
October 13, 2011 at 4:54 am, Bica_1 said:
basically since woman “can’t handle it”, women are going to drink it! So they are playing it to a woman base. I just hope their stupid plan doesn’t work.
October 12, 2011 at 8:33 pm, Mettler Megan said:
I don’t care if they say this product isn’t for women it doesn’t bug me and I am a woman I just think it’s dumb of them because it is like they are telling women not to buy their product shouldn’t they want to get as many customers as possible and also who is more likely to care how many calories are in a drink men or women? Are most men going to look at a can of pop and its calorie content before they drink it or are women? Just doesn’t seem like good marketing strategy on their part
October 12, 2011 at 9:09 pm, Daniel Clark said:
LOL, I guess you never heard of Sarcasm because that’s just what this add is.
October 13, 2011 at 2:34 am, Anonymous said:
Drink Diet Dr Pepper all the time. Why do we need this?
October 14, 2011 at 8:15 pm, Stephen said:
Seems like a product for rednecks. Seriously, a guy is embarrassed drinking a diet drink because it says it’s “diet” on it? Is this a product for high school or something? It’s ridiculous. Oh, and watch their facebook page. Anytime someone posts a remotely intelligent argument against the marketing campaign, they delete it. Talk about turning a blind eye.
October 15, 2011 at 1:56 am, Anonymous said:
Oh give me a break.
Yeah, the ad campaign is poorly-thought-out. Dr. Pepper is trying to mimic Old Spice’s extremely successful “Smell like a man, man.” campaign with the Old Spice Guy.
But could you sisses really be this anal about a commercial? Are you going to throw a tantrum about sexism if you hear a 6 year-old say, “Girls have cooties,” or a 15 year old say “Boys are jerks?”
In fact, you people inspired me. I think the next time I hear a girl talking negatively about boys, I’ll sue her for sexism.
October 16, 2011 at 2:48 am, Anon said:
Again, another statement dripping with privilege. Please go read a book some time. Thank you. http://vimeo.com/28122207
November 15, 2011 at 6:14 pm, Ekozmono said:
It’s cute that you so arrogantly toss around the word “privilege” as if you don’t have any, while you sit in inside, at a computer, with the spare time to analyze the gender bias conveyed in soda commercials.
Sigh, first world problems. Life’s tough, huh?
October 16, 2011 at 2:53 am, Signthis said:
https://www.change.org/petitions/dr-pepper-stop-the-sexist-its-not-for-women-ad-campaign
October 17, 2011 at 2:40 am, Mom38 said:
I think this is ridiculous! Women would like it too! In fact more women will drink it just because you say they are not allowed. And Im one of them! I like all the Peppers!
October 17, 2011 at 3:21 pm, Jon said:
Way to over analyze a funny marketing campaign. Stop trying to make genders a homogenous asexual mannequin with no personality or differences
October 18, 2011 at 7:58 am, Jennyjones said:
Penis envy? Now Jack Morley really has penis envy, and he’s a coke man.