Yes, that’s just what you got. These ads show attitudes that were common. Women were seen as childlike and inferior. When the ads shown above were current, a married woman couldn’t get a loan, or credit, without her husband’s signature. A single woman? She could whistle. A woman was likely to be passed over for the best jobs, and if she did work, she was paid less than men doing the same work–and it was legal. And I won’t even mention abuse and rape.

You? You’re whining because one ad hurt your fragile fee-fees. Get over yourself.

No it hasn’t. There’s still just as much sexism, it’s just male sexism has remained totally acceptable.

I recall a car ad (Chevy, I think) from about 5-7 years ago where a guy and his wife are sitting on a porch as a car drives by. He looks up, watching the car go past longingly. Then another goes past, and he looks even more longingly at the car. Then a third goes past, and he bolts down off the porch after the car, only to be suddenly brought up short by a chain at his neck. She shakes her head, “They never learn…”.

Now invert that, with, oh, a sequence of trucks with handbags, perfumes, and then purses, say, and she breaks off after it and the GUY shakes his head about how “they never learn”. You’d never hear the end of it. The company that made the ad campaign? Out of business. The company who accepted the ad campaign for their products? Out of business. The network that AIRED the ad campaign? VERY VERY apologetic.

Welcome to the modern world, where only MEN can be treated like dirt in advertisements.