This is a guest post by TallahasseeScene’s Emily Clemons
My new favorite commercial is not one that I would typically like. In fact, if you know me, the commercial goes against many of my core values and the causes I support, but I still find it hilarious!
That commercial is for Summer’s Eve Cleansing Wash.
For those of you that don’t know, Summer’s Eve is a brand that makes feminine hygiene products that are “perfectly formulated for a woman’s V.” Their products include cleansing wash, cleansing cloths, bath and shower gel, deodorant spray, body powder and douches.
The commercial shows a couple getting ready in the morning. The man is in the shower and the woman is at the mirror applying her makeup. The woman begins to tell him about the benefits of Summer’s Eve Cleansing Wash and then says, “Did you know you’re using it?” The man looks down in horror at the bottle he is holding and realized that he has bathed his entire body in soap meant for vaginas. The rest of the ad shows him furiously proving his masculinity by chopping wood, boxing, welding a Trojan helmet, and crushing beer cans, among other manly activities. You can view the commercial here.
As a feminist, I should find this ad extremely offensive. There is nothing wrong with any part of a woman’s body. The vagina is a beautiful thing. And besides, it’s just soap. It may be “perfectly formulated for a woman’s V,” but the man will not die because he used the soap. He’s probably just as clean using Summer’s Eve as he is using his normal Axe or Old Spice body wash.
Via: businessinsider.com
In spite of that, I find the commercial absolutely hysterical! The first time I saw it I was practically rolling on the floor with laughter. I was crying. I sent the link to several friends, male and female, and said “You HAVE to watch this! You will die!”
What makes it funny is the element of truth in it. A man doesn’t have to be a misogynist to be grossed out by bathing in Summer’s Eve. Even the most understanding, supportive, feminist men would not want to use that wash. There are many men in my life who would absolutely FREAK OUT if they had to bathe in that.
And I don’t blame them one bit.
A major part of my course of study at Florida State University is change agent development. I take classes in social issues, leadership and how to create lasting, sustainable change in this messed up world we live in. I had a professor who once said, “If you can’t laugh at yourself and at the world, you will be miserable in this line of work.” And at first, I didn’t believe him. In my infinite wisdom as a college freshman, I thought he was wrong. Sexist jokes aren’t funny. Homophobia and racism will never be funny, I thought. If I laugh at this kind of stuff, I’m not part of the solution, I’m part of the problem.
Via: Huffington Post
Slowly but surely, I became miserable and exhausted. Activism takes a lot of work and energy. After a while, I got tired of being offended by everything. I got tired of arguing every issue and trying to be politically correct all the time. I want to work towards social change and I want to make the world a better place, but I can’t be an activist 24/7.
I had to learn to laugh a little.
As much as I want to change the way the world thinks about women and our wonderful V’s, it doesn’t mean I can’t laugh at that commercial. The vagina is arguably the most incredible part of a woman’s body, besides her brain of course. I mean, do you know of a male body part that can handle the rigors of childbirth? Is there a male body part that can bleed for an entire week out of every month for most of a lifetime? I don’t think so!
Via: ladmedia.fr
Listen up people — we’ve got to relax a little! There’s a lot out there to be serious about, and there are a lot of issues that need our attention. But if we don’t learn to laugh at some stuff, we’re going to burn out. And then we won’t be able to help anyone or change anything. Just like the workplace gives us weekends and vacations to help us breathe, the world gives us laughter to help us take a break every once in a while. Laughing doesn’t mean compromising your values and abandoning the issue you fight for, it just helps us breathe.
So please, watch my favorite Summer’s Eve commercial and share a laugh with me.
Featured photo courtesy of: adweek.com
