A new Mens’ group has blasted the latest Wal-Mart Christmas television ad. Chris Saunders of Men for Equality Respect Dignity & Empowerment (MERDE) has said that once again, the advertising industry depicts the husband as a subservient doofus.
“There they are, the wife and the husband doing the Christmas shopping for the kids. Who’s pushing the cart?” asks Mr. Saunders. “The husband. Completely oblivious to the task at hand… as usual.”
When pointed out that many times women push the cart, Mr. Saunders countered, “Maybe, but not in this commercial. That’s not the point they’re making. She stops a few times, imagining what the son and daughter would want and puts the items in the cart…pushed by the husband just like he’s a zombie or something.”
“It’s as if the husband doesn’t have a clue. He’s just there to push the cart and haul out the wallet. The wife picks out Spiderman pjs for the son and the next segment is Dad sitting – cluelessly – in the chair while the kid pretends to wrap him up in a web. Mom picks out a microphone for her daughter and then Mom watches & interacts while her daughter sings. See the difference?”
Mr. Saunders became more agitated as he went on, “Mom even thinks of the batteries!! Dad couldn’t even remember that? Is that so hard? What irritates me is that men are always portrayed as clueless idiots. Enough already.”
When Mr. Saunders was asked what his group intends to do about the problem he replied, “I don’t know. We’re going to think about it and maybe write somebody sometime. Sorry, I’d love to talk with you more but my wife and I are going shopping for…something.”