A woman ogling a man’s underwear at a fitness class is just as creepy as a man doing this to a woman. So why is this ‘Macho Man’ ad showing this as acceptable?
Advertisements and social media are mirrors in which we can see ourselves as well. Advertisements reflect our perspectives of the moment. Like I was thrilled to see the recent Cadbury Dairy Milk ad. Everyone was sharing it with others, tagging their friends on social media to see it and feel the change.
We indeed need more like that one, but not like the one I watched, flabbergasted, yesterday.
Like why would a woman check out the underwear a man is wearing with such desperation? I mean, it’s okay to check out if one wants, but discreetly.
How is it okay to be so obvious about it and then highlight that inappropriately, just for an ad? I am confident that Vicky Kaushal, the actor playing a ‘Macho Man’ in the ad, would have been super uncomfortable if he was not in an ad! Not just me.
What if the genders were reversed – wouldn’t we call the man creepy?
Let’s reverse the roles and imagine a man staring like this at a female’s innerwear. Wouldn’t a woman in this position feel creeped out? Women would have been up in arms on her behalf.
Now, my question to the same group is, how is it okay for a woman to play a creep if it’s not acceptable for a man?
For god’s sake, let us stop showing such things in ads. They do more damage than anyone can imagine. This is not women’s empowerment.
And a fitness class is no place for placing such behaviour. Health and fitness classes are a shared space today for a man or a woman to workout at, meditate or do anything else fitness related. Not to check out some sexy moves and inner linings of undergarments.
Be it a man or a woman. It is not okay to show this as ‘normal’. While Vicky Kaushal seems happy with this, the reality is different. So let’s not put such ‘role models in front of young people.