This is exactly the type of idiotic advertising that companies do just to get a rise out of people so we'll all post it on our blogs and natter about it and give them lots of viral publicity and attention.
Sadly, I am unable to resist the bait and so I'm giving it to them. ("That's what SHE said!" ba-dum-bum.)
Men's Health magazine has launched a new advertising initiative ostensibly targeted at men but really aimed at getting the women folk up in arms. Probably because we're so cute when we make that little scrunchy mad face!
The tagline on each photo reads "It's all about men." The basic gist -- as you can plainly see; it's so unsubtle that I'm probably lowering your IQ by explaining it to you -- is pictures depicting women exercising all alone, covered in sweat and exhausted. Why, you ask, is this poor woman blowing off a fun night with the girls to ride the one stationary bike in the deserted gym that isn't facing the beautiful scenic view? You see, it's because she wants a man. And as we all know (or at least so the magazines keep telling us), a man will only love us (subtext: will want to give us a good tumble on his high heat cycle *wink wink nod nod*) if we are svelte. Nay, not just svelte but skinny.
I mean, Lindsay Lohan's got nothing on this bony chick.Of course if she's like Lindsay in other respects then it is definitely not all about the men. Ahem.
And this poor woman? Begging to have somebody jump out of the woods holding a chainsaw. Do women not watch horror movies? And why has nobody told us about reflective gear? And pepper spray??
The truly crappy thing about these ads are that they're partly true. As much as it pains me to write this, a primary motivating factor in getting women to exercise is their looks. You can enthuse about heart health and longevity and increased intelligence all you want and we'll all nod and agree. And then we'll jump on the elliptical and whine about how we're "working off dinner" last night or "running off the thigh jiggle". It's a sad state of affairs but it's true. And to any woman who denies being at least partially motivated to work out by her looks, I would ask "What if exercise gave you all the health benefits -- but made you fatter. Would you still do it?" Of course not. It's why you see Katherine Heigl running on the treadmill for an hour and then lighting up a cigarette in the parking lot.
But there is one little nuance that the marketers forgot (perhaps intentionally?). Women don't get thin for men. We get thin for other women. We know that men like a few lady lumps. And yet we pursue perfect thinness. Not because it makes us more sexually desirable - often it has the opposite effect -- but because it makes us the Alpha Female. We're competitive like that. Sigh. Stupid Men's Health.
I've created a poll. The optimist in me wants you all to prove me wrong. But the cynic in me just wants you to be honest. We can't change what we don't acknowledge. (Holy 900-pages-of-advertising-in-Vogue crap, did I just quote Dr. Phil on here??)
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This post is just frustrating, instead of focusing on the creepy stalker vibe of these ads or why they are being used to sell a men's fitness magazine, you go for the cheap shot at women. Way to let crappy advertising off the hook.
That's the real gist of the post, in my opinion. Women are their own worst enemies. Who needs male chauvinism when women stand ready to snipe, sneer, criticize, and demoralize each other? For example, "Holy crap, look at the size of her thighs! Who cares if she graduated top of her class at Princeton and just figured out cold fusion? She should never wear pants with pleats!" Every American woman has heard some kind of variation on that at least once a day since she was six weeks old.
Women excuse excess flabby rolls as 'curves', they are no such thing.
They seem to prefer seeing girls not dressed up to the nines, so they know if she looks good in the gym, she will look better later.
I prefer it personally, at least you can see how healthy they are and know beforehand that they don't have drug/alcohol problems and you can tell a lot about somebody's personality by their behaviour in the gym. Vain ones mark themselves out with their preening, wannabe hardmen with their grunting (ugh!), girly boys with their dancing around with little weights they don't know how to use.
The good ones are just there, and will if they fancy you, look for an excuse to help you or just flirt.
I go to work out, I don't talk to anybody when I'm exercising, that would be distracting and I ignore anybody who tries, they are annoying. Out of the corner of your eye you notice people though and you may talk to them on the way out and find each other likeable.
It is just about finding people who have similar interests or who are what you like.
If your into certain music, then surely you would find a concert or music festival the ideal place, if you like books, then a library or university or through friends who associate with people who share your interests.
I just like sporty men. Most men at the gyms are unattractive (same for the women - half have ed's), but so are most people in the world. If you like sporty, then there are going to be a few you find extremely attractive.
As for wearing makeup in the gym, if a girl needs to wear makeup all the time it is probably because she does not look good without it.