Results tagged “advertising” from iVillage - Beehive

Note to marketing departments: Do not make moms angry. You won't like them when they're angry. Once again proving true the old adage: "If Mama's not happy, nobody's happy," a new Motrin ad that pokes a little fun at frazzled moms and the practice of babywearing created a firestorm of controversy this weekend. Mothers across the Internet, especially those who are advocates of attachment parenting, reacted and spread the word about the ad, which many felt was insulting and sent the wrong message, resulting in Johnson & Johnson (the parent company of the unit that produces Motrin) removing the ad from its website and responding to those who complained. Of course, the mommy bloggers and Twitterers were not the only ones sounding off about this ad campaign. iVillage moms all across our playgroups and message boards had a lot to say about this take on motherhood:

"I get that they're trying to be funny, but it's not. It's insulting and demeaning. And that is what irritates me. Even if I had never practiced attachment parenting (to the degree that I do), it would insult me as a mother. I mean, do they think women in babywearing cultures have stacks of Motrin lying around? " -- peechikeen

"I am a babywearer (sometimes), I understand it, I advocate it, and am all for it.

What is the big deal? Personally I thought it was funny. Babywearing can hurt your back, neck, shoulders or wherever.

Sure, a couple of the comments made in the commercial were a tad over the edge, but it is just a commercial, meant for entertainment, meant to sell Motrin to busy moms as a way to help with the everyday pains that are associated." -- toekin

"I don't see the big deal. I know when I carried my kids in a sling, I would tend to get aches in my shoulder. It's not like the commercial is staying to STOP wearing your baby, it's telling you that they are there to help the aches and pains that some moms may get while wearing the baby." -- mom_alycemae

"I think it's the implication that all moms who wear their babies go through pain to do it or are trying to be a part of some 'official moms club'. Implying something negative about babywearing that may or may not be true is not really cool. It definitely makes it seem as though it is always going to be painful to wear your baby." -- white.wave7

"It just seems to me that people have lost their sense of humor and take every little thing so personally these days. I mean... it's a COMMERCIAL for Pete's sake!" -- my_sweet_perm

"It had a really negative tone about babywearing. To be honest, I am standing here typing with Lucas in a Hotsling and it is bothering my shoulder - but Motrin is the last thing I would take. I think the majority of babywearing mamas will be offended and hopefully won't buy their product." -- jenmom2006

"Love the side blurb about walking all day in high heels. How insulting. Not to mention totally misleading as any good carrier actually helps to make babycarrying MORE comfortable. I'm also glad MOTRIN thinks moms look tired and crazy all the time..." -- twobabies24

"That actually made me physically ill to watch. The reason why we wear our babies is because it's in fashion! Seriously???? We do it for the 'Mom Badge'? Are you kidding me??? We do it because we feel it is the absolute best choice for our babies and we LOVE our babies." -- olicam1205

"Ugh, just another company portraying the wrong message to mothers. It's no wonder so many new mothers feel such pressure to conform to today's 'ideals' of parenting. To actually undermine a mother's choice to carry her baby by saying it is 'in fashion' in such a derogatory way is just beyond a joke." -- jonesmum

 

What do you think? Was this ad all in good fun, or did it demean moms who are making personal choices about their parenting styles each day? Did it deserve all of the hullabaloo, or do we need to lighten up? Let me know what you think about this debate (if you missed it, you can still find the ad below) and what you'd like to tell companies about marketing to moms.

Although questions about its unhealthy effects have been swirling around for a while, the recent promotional blitz for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has proven to be quite a sticky subject. Some feel that the sponsors of these spots, none other than the Corn Refiners Association, are laying it on a bit thick. Others are considering that maybe a little HFCS isn't something to panic about. I have to admit that I was caught a little off guard when I saw the first commercial defending HFCS on television. (I also should admit that I enjoy many treats that count the sweet stuff as a main ingredient.)

The ubiquity of HFCS in everyday food items has also been a hot topic of conversation among the moms on our Expecting Clubs and Playgroups, who are doubly concerned about early childhood nutrition. Some experts are even pointing to HFCS as a culprit in the skyrocketing obesity rates as well as contributing to diseases such as diabetes. (You can also find more information on high fructose corn syrup here.)

They've been talking about the concerns over HFCS on the Frugal Famlies board. I think iVillager emily.n sums up what many are realizing:

"My biggest problem with HFCS is just that it is in so many things that people would never imagine."  

She goes on to elaborate on what I personally find to be pretty amazing, especially after I've tried in vain to find a product in my pantry without the dreaded HFCS in the ingredient list (or maybe that means I just need to change my shopping habits!):

"...it's even in things like bread, crackers, and soup (almost everything processed has a good chance of having it), you are probably eating way more than you realize, so most people probably aren't eating it in moderation and don't even realize that."  -- emily.n

These same sentiments are echoed by members of the South Beach Diet community:

"HFCS is in so many products -- I can't believe how many!  In fact, we have some dog treats with it in them -- dogs won't be getting those anymore. It is so unhealthy for people, can't imagine the affects on them. I think they use it as a cheap filler/binder and don't really care about anything else." -- suel2006

On Hot Topics in Health and in other communities, the focus is just as much on the idea of the commercials and food manufacturers' agendas as it is on the health effects of HFCS:  

"I just hope that people are able to see this type of advertising for exactly what it is: a desperate attempt to bring us back to a time where we didn't read the labels, or at least had no idea what some of this stuff really is." -- amy_belanger

"HFCS propaganda won't change my mind. The *name* just sounds bad to me, lol. I'll stick with my cane sugar, molasses, honey, and sorghum syrup, thank you very much." -- merigray

"I think the overall goal is to have a healthy diet that is generally natural and good for you. The media continues to latch onto single items or single ingredients and label them evil, the problem is that they continually change their coverage. Adding or eliminating a single thing is not going to make us all miraculously healthier. We need to use common sense, eat a balanced diet, exercise, and realize it's ok to have a 'treat' once in a while." -- amomalmost40

So where do you stand on high fructose corn syrup? Are you trying to cut it completely out of your life or do you think the backlash is just overreaction? Or are you, like me, a little on the fence? Are there foods you are just never going to give up no matter what? Tell me what you think about HFCS, the advertising campaign and other processed food concerns.

Following the success of its viral video "Evolution", Dove recently launched a new ad that could be a wake-up call to parents everywhere. "Onslaught" features a young girl being bombarded with images from the beauty industry's "ugly side": gyrating dancers, sales pitches for diet pills, a bulimic woman throwing up, cosmetic surgery procedures. And finally, the message: "Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does."

The ad has received thousands of views on YouTube since its launch, and it also had the iVillage boards buzzing as well.

What do iVillagers have to say? Many members, such as miiraclle, applaud Dove for exposing the media’s role in perpetuating an unattainable standard of beauty: “I am glad that the media is being ‘called out’ [for] pushing these unrealistic [beauty] standards and that someone is helping parents help their children love themselves. It is very frustrating trying to keep up with the thin, young and beautiful images you see all around you.”

iVillage moms, especially those with young daughters of their own, such as cl-mom2emandmaddie, found the ad enlightening: “Watching the ad was eye-opening for me. I usually don’t pay attention to [ads from the beauty industry], but I’ve noticed my [daughter] asking me how much she weighs, etc. It makes me pay a lot more attention to what she watches and reads. It reminds me to constantly praise her and let her know her body is beautiful no matter what.” iVillage member littlebird74 agrees: “[The video] is quite disturbing … But I'm glad there is a large corporation that is helping us fight this issue. It made me want to hug my daughter. I don’t want her to ever think she is not good enough.”

Some can’t help wonder, however, if the ad is just a tad hypocritical. Dove itself is part of the beauty industry it attacks (they sell a skin-firming/cellulite-reducing lotion), and its parent company, Unilever, also manufactures Axe (whose commercials feature guys attracting sexy women) and Slim-Fast.

But many iVillagers still feel that the message—not the company behind it—is what’s more important. Says member mikaismommy: “Of course [Dove] will gain from this in a financial manner, but I think the message is the most important [issue]. Women need to accept themselves for who they truly are, and not for what the media portrays. I think that this type of conversation is essential to women of any age. I'm totally for this new awareness of the issues surrounding body image and self image in the media.”

Others, however, were a bit disturbed by Dove's approach. Member sara_ou says: “It seems a little extreme to me. I guess I wasn't raised in front of the TV… because we lived way out in the middle of nowhere. We were outside a lot, we played games, we read books. And my parents always supported us and said that we could be whatever we wanted to be.”

Some iVillage parents, such as cl-cavegirl75, also feel that the ad should have addressed the fact that body image issues affect both girls and boys. “I'm troubled that people seem to ignore that the issue isn't JUST a girl issue. Boys may have lower rates of eating disorders and self-mutilation, but that doesn't mean they're unaffected.” And, as mommasboyz points out, boys can also be part of the problem.

Moms who have struggled with their own body image issues, such as kmattfield, think that aside from the media, a parent’s own behavior can also have a big impact on their daughter’s self-esteem: “Speaking as someone who has dealt with eating disorders for the last 22 years, I think [an ad like this] is well overdue. We are always striving for perfection in our society and it's not going to happen … When I found out my second child was a girl, I cried. Not tears of joy, but frightened tears … I was/am so afraid of my daughter learning this behavior from me.”

And that’s why many iVillagers agree that the campaign tagline asking moms to talk to their daughters about beauty pressures is one that should be heeded. Member carketch says: “Parents should take an active role in building their children’s self-esteem. There is little question that the pervasive marketing of beauty and diet products, and the glamorization of stick-thin celebrities can have a detrimental effect on a little girl's self-image. The child IS going to be exposed to that imagery, we can't stop that. But we can do our best to counteract it, if we talk to them about it.”

What do you think about Dove’s latest ad? Is it effective, or does it go too far? Do you talk to your kids about body issues?