Hmmm, let's see
Posted on 11/16/2001 1:18:49 PM PST by disclaimer
Introducing “The Gripper”, says Hefty, with memorable advertising like all companies strive to achieve. The commercial promoting this new product compares the garbage bag to the “Strong, Dependable Type” of man - only to toss “him” in the garbage in the end. I saw this commercial several times and, as a strong dependable man that I am, I was insulted. I’ll remember this Hefty ad since it offended me, but I can take it like a man and so I will.
I’ll avoid Hefty (PACTIV Corporation) products just like I won’t step foot into a Hallmark store since they feature male-bashing cards to make a buck on jaded women. Welcome to the club Hefty. As a matter of routine, I’ll make sure none of my investments include Pactiv stock (NYSE symbol PTV) since they are the owners of the Hefty brand and obviously don’t know how to address an the entire product market.
I do have to wonder why such a company would introduce a new product using a commercial that denigrates any of their potential customers. Makes me think Hefty doesn’t value investor money enough to maximize returns on their investment. So, I make sure I’m not giving them any of my investment money. I’m sure I’m not the only one with some business sense thinking this. Why would any company choose to introduce and promote a product by associating it with a negative message?
Here’s a transcript of the Hefty "The Gripper" ad that ran during the NBC evening news on November 13th, 2001:
Actress 1) If I had a man like Hefty…
Actress 2) If I had a man like Hefty…
Actress 3) He’d always be coming up with new ways to impress me
Female Voice) Introducing Hefty The Gripper. The first kitchen bag with the stretch and grip top so it hugs the can and won’t slip
Actress 3) oh, and he’d know how to hold on tight
Actress 1) …then he won’t cave under pressure
Female Voice) Nothing is made like the gripper. It stretches, grips, and stays put so it can take it like a man.
Actress 3) and when I’m done with him…
Actress 1) (shown dropping a bag of trash into a garbage can)
Actress 3) Chow baby
Actress 2) Bye bye
Actress 1) So long
Female Voice) The Gripper – new from Hefty. The strong dependable type.
Hefty must have female chauvinists running amuck in the marketing department or they must have determined that targeting dysfunction women is worth alienating balanced women and men. Funny, I though we all need garbage bags but I suppose Hefty knows the market best. Maybe they figure men will just take their insults like a man and buy Hefty bags just the same.
Pactiv is an international company and I have to wonder if they have a Hefty product ad targeted toward the Taliban men since they dominate their culture. The Hefty brand doesn’t seem to mind associating themselves with chauvinistic women so denigrating a gender to advance their product shouldn’t be a problem. With a name like “The Gripper,” I’m sure they can come up with plenty of ways to denigrate women and get that male Taliban market share. Go to it you creative Hefty marketing geniuses.
Did you see that DiGiorno commercial awhile back, the one where the blonde says, "It's not delivery, it's Di...Di...it's French?"
Count me in as another woman tired of dumb, male-bashing ads, tho.
Is that a TV program? Have never seen it. I take it by the line of your comments that it is a gal-bashing show. Maybe you could enlighten.
If you're going to participate in a free-for-all online discussion forum, I suggest you keep a dictionary handy. Look up the word "sarcasm." You quoted me accurately. I said "men as a class." I responded in agreement to a post claiming that men "as a class" have less influence than hispanics. The truth of this is borne out in the myriad hispanic branches and organizations within both major political parties. Not one single "Men's Caucus" anywhere to be found. And before you go of on me about all the politicians being men, you nit picked the figures, but you failed to explain away their basis in fact. As I said, there's no point in going tit-for-tat on problems, but you can't claim that men benefit politically or are all somehow living the life of Reily because president have always had a set (OK, except for Jimmy Carter).
Women overwhelmingly elected Bill Clinton. Women almost ushered algore into the presidency... "Missed it by that much. Ironically, it's a good bet that the hispanics in Florida, still hot under the collar from the Elian fiasco, sent George Bush over the top.
I'd say more, but I have a 16 month old boy on my lap who wants to hear "Fish Heads" again.
Nonsensical parody that portrays Boy Scouts as pornography addicted purse snatchers and alcoholics. To be honest, I don't know anybody over sixteen who watches except for the part at the end where girls jump on trampolines - and then only while they flip though the channels to see what else is on.
(L_Candide)Get over it. I grew up in a time when "The He-Man's Woman Hating Club" sign hung on more than one tree house in just about every neighborhood. The way it was - the way it always will be, except now, girls are speaking up.
I’m surprised that you don’t see the difference between child on child behavior and adult sponsored belittlement of boys. What you speak of was little (immature) boys posting the “The He-Man’s Woman Hating” club signs they devised and posted. The same was true of little girls with their “girls only” clicks of childhood. But now adults are funding, printing, and distributing tee-shirts attacking little boys. Can’t you discern and see the difference between immature child to child behavior and adult sanctioned messages 'dis'-ing boys?
Not that EITHER is right, but cripes...is it really that big a deal?
When little boys are subjected to these kind of messages from adults it does take a toll on them. Pick up the book The War Against Boys : How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men and do some reading of researched information on the subject.
I remember the Taco Bell Chihuahua ads featured on the evening news since a Hispanic group was angry about it. I didn’t hear of any follow-up on the story so the ad campaign may of just ran its course like you point out. Thanks for the clarification.
Count me in as another woman tired of dumb, male-bashing ads, tho.
Anyone can come up with an ad that bashes someone - no talent needed there. PACTIV ought to look for a marketing company that has creativity and get some value for their advertising money.
ah, okay. :-)
Wait, how about I watch Martha Stewart Living instead, would that work?
EdEquity Mail List. This is what teachers are doing to boys and saying about boys when they think no one is watching.
Hmmm, let's see
Anybody who grew up in that era must be a septigenarian. I'm pretty sure that those signs had their origin in the "Little Rascals" movie shorts featuring Spanky and Our Gang.
Feuding between boys and girls is used to be a normal right of passage as kids asserted their identities. Today, for boys, it's been criminalized by feminist inspired laws, and made punishable by expulsion and possible arrest from kindergarten forward.
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