There are two companies that I have observed lately that have jumped into the realm of sexism with both feet. They are not at all subtle about it and I am very offended by their ads.
I will start with Direct TV first though it seems they have finally stopped airing these particular ads. I hope it is because of consumer complaints. I am talking about the ads where the wife and kids are puppets to the dad. What message does this send about families? Does it say that dad runs everything and pulls all the strings while the wife and kids are manipulated by him. Not only is this picture highly offensive and insulting to women and children but it shows a lack of sensitivity on the part of Direct TV. Women and children should never be perceived as puppets for any reason.
I had stopped using Direct TV before because of their high cost but this kind of advertising has made me even more determined not to purchase their product. They and Dish Network also put out some of the stupidest commercials on TV.
The other company I find offensive is Liberty Mutual Insurance. These commercials depict stories of people getting into accidents. In these stories, the men have accidents happen to them. A garbage truck hits them, another car backs into them, they are not at fault. It is a different story for the women. One women cannot park well, another woman totals her car. In the women's stories, they are at fault because they are not very good drivers. Shades of the 1950's! In insurance statistics, women are by far less likely to get into accidents than men. There are reasons that young men's insurance premiums are higher than young women's.
It is time companies drop old stereotypes and start dealing with reality. I do not know if this is a problem because of white men's privileged view of themselves and these companies are catering to them or if it is just stupidity on their part. I for one will not support companies who are so blatantly sexist.