Gillette's "The Best Men Can Be" Ad: Is That the Best YOU Can Do, Gillette? Razors Have No Place in the #Metoo Movement! by Dawn Taylor
Gillette and its recent ad that addresses toxic masculinity and doing the right thing has stirred up controversy – and in my opinion, missed the mark. I am all for the message that people should be kind, respectful and decent. However, this applies to all people. By singling out men and basically saying, “get it together guys,” Gillette has insulted the target of their advertising.
Who does Gillette think it is, telling men to be better men? A razor company has no place using its advertising as a platform in this way. Gillette released a statement after all of the backlash, implying the intent was to start a conversation and that they succeeded in doing so. I call BS.
Gillette tried to grab on to a movement (#metoo) and use it to try and sell razors. Instead, the brand has pissed off scores of men who are trashing their Gillette products (literally) and many women who are equally appalled by such a misguided advertising campaign.
Gillette, you screwed up. Instead of using your ads to manipulate and condescend to potential consumers, why not donate a dollar for each razor you sell to victims' groups? That is, if anyone is still buying.
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Maybe the execution wasn’t I would have done, but I think something being said is a step in a better direction. Yea could they just donate. Sure, but maybe they are trying to get a message out too. So they profit, but in that they get someone to change. Progress. Progress is slow.
My belief is that we do need men to step up and be better, to be more involved and to take responsibility for what they are teaching/showing their sons. I believe women need to do the same. About 99% of the women I know have been sexually harassed by men. 1 of the men in my life have been sexually harassed and that was by a man. I am not saying women should not be held accountable for the negative actions, they should. Hopefully the Gillette commercial will inspire women focused companies to rise to the occasion as well.
Any voice speaking out is better than no one speaking out.
Thank you for starting this dialogue, it is through understanding that we all grow and our society evolves.
mom: Gillette "The Best Men Can Be" Commercial: Bravo, Gillette! Men Can, Should & Need to Be Better!
- 1 in 4 men will be the victim of domestic violence.
- Men die an average of six years sooner, or younger, than women.
- A man dies by suicide every single minute.
- 75% of all suicides are men.
- Men are 1 ½ times more likely to die of heart disease and cancer than women.
- Men are 97% of combat fatalities.
- Men pay 97% of Alimony
- Men make 94% of work suicides.
- Men make up 93% of work fatalities.
- Men make up 81% of all war deaths.
- Men lose custody in 84% of divorces.
- 77% of homicide victims are men.
- 89% of men will be the victim of at least one violent crime.
- Men are 165% more likely to be convicted than women.
- Men get 63% longer sentences than women for the same crime.
- 75% of the homeless are men.
- Women's Cancers receive 15 times more funding than men's
- Women have been awarded more college degrees, from associates to doctorates, then men every year since 1987.
Let's stop all violence. Pointing the finger at men and telling them "your masculinity is a problem" is a stalemate solution.