Bye Bye Gillette - I didn't know you considered me toxic.

“Razor burn: Gillette ad stirs online uproar...........

The two-minute ad from Procter & Gamble’s razor brand shows men and boys engaging in bullying and sexual harassment and encourages men to “say the right thing” and “act the right way.” Taking on bullying, sexual harassment and toxic masculinity is a big task for a razor brand. Many critics took to social media saying it was insulting to men and laden with stereotypes.

The uproar comes as Gillette battles upstarts like Harry’s, Dollar Shave Club and others for millennial dollars. Gillette controlled about 70 percent of the U.S. market a decade ago. Last year, its market share dropped to below 50 percent, according to Euromonitor.”

https://www.apnews.com/752f3d102a8142d98106ceb22139200b


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I'll throw my two bits in - I didn't like the ad, I found it offensive because its playing the identity politics game and stereotyping.  Because some men are guilty of toxic, anti social behaviour, all men are guilty.  I don't buy that.  Bad men are bad people just like bad women are bad people - they're people who made/make bad choices and those choices are theirs and theirs alone.  

This kind of thing is caustic and destructive.  Humanity wouldn't have survived without men and their masculine ways just as humanity wouldn't have survived without women and their feminine ways.  Humanity has flourished because men and women have cooperated and complemented one another throughout human history out of necessity as much as choice.  If we continue to fracture our societies along gender lines with distortion, and outright lies I'm not sure the species will survive much longer.  One thing is for sure, the enemies of freedom and democracy (yes they're still out there) aren't telling their men to be less masculine and play nice.

Much agree! Well said! So true!



Happy Shaving!
49erShaver

I find this thread entertaining, provocative and political (but in a way that the mods will tolerate, apparently). I love the ad at many levels. I'm a 62 year-old guy who jumps for joy when I see non-political ads that poke at our American faults, with an eye toward making things better. (Go, Nike!) Until I saw this thread, and given my hatred of the New England Patriots, and my frustration with getting a good shave with a vintage Gillette razor, I paid little attention to Gillette. I now have a newfound respect.

I firmly believe this ad was not intended to sell more seven-blade razor cartridges (or whatever number Gillette is up to now--I don't follow the evolution). Rather, it was to make the brand, Gillette, a name that folks would recognize. Much like the Nike's Kaepernick campaign, which was a smashing success.

I love the NYU comments, largely because that's where I went to law school. My lovely and smarter wife, who went to Harvard's law school, is the person who's educated me on the sexism problem in America. Someone at Gillette is married to a very smart woman or, more likely, is a smart woman herself.

I'm thinking I must have watched a different video. I really see the video more the way Freddy and Scott CCity have. I took the video as condemning sexism, bullying, and intolerance. I really don't feel that it threatens my masculinity to be a decent human being while being a man. The mention of "old ways" I think refers to another time where women were thought to be inferior. I can understand that some may interpret that as an attack on our "old way" of shaving, but I don't believe that was the intent of the video. IMHO

Shave on, gentlemen(& ladies)!

I liked the commercial. Points out flaws and unfairness in today’s society that cause more serious issues without mentioning them. Clearly a lot of people are more sensitive nowadays, must be the water or something as feeling/being offended by a commercial never crossed my mind.

I find this thread entertaining, provocative and political (but in a way that the mods will tolerate, apparently). I love the ad at many levels. I'm a 62 year-old guy who jumps for joy when I see non-political ads that poke at our American faults, with an eye toward making things better. (Go, Nike!) Until I saw this thread, and given my hatred of the New England Patriots, and my frustration with getting a good shave with a vintage Gillette razor, I paid little attention to Gillette. I now have a newfound respect.

I firmly believe this ad was not intended to sell more seven-blade razor cartridges (or whatever number Gillette is up to now--I don't follow the evolution). Rather, it was to make the brand, Gillette, a name that folks would recognize. Much like the Nike's Kaepernick campaign, which was a smashing success.

I love the NYU comments, largely because that's where I went to law school. My lovely and smarter wife, who went to Harvard's law school, is the person who's educated me on the sexism problem in America. Someone at Gillette is married to a very smart woman or, more likely, is a smart woman herself.

The ad was meant to show that Gillette mgmt. is now controlled by people whose views are those of the Far Left and that they are signaling, catering if you will, to those in said group that they are on their side, pure & simple. We get it. They crossed the Rubicon. It has nothing to do with a corp. losing profit in a changing market & far more to do with the political views of those who made that decision. They will regret it. The time is drawing nigh.

Ya know what I find shocking? The sheer number of women I know who were forcibly raped as a child or teenager by someone they knew, and threatened with repercussions if they told anyone. If the topic is broadened to all sexual assault at any age, the numbers are overwhelming. If a young man commits rape, the main societal concern is what effect it will have on HIS life. Sure, there are elements of the ad that might make me uncomfortable, but the status quo is not working. That doesn’t mean that all men are guilty of rape, far from it. However, something has to change. I have a daughter, step-daughters, and a step-son. I want better for and from them. My ego can take a little bruising if that’s what it takes.

I'm wondering if we have reached a point where everything is 50-50 half will be offended and half will love it? It seems this pertains not just to this ad but rather, in all things. Seems today there is an outcry over everything, where some segments will take offense to anything. I could post a picture of a basket full of puppies and it would tick some people off to no avail and to no end. The message I took away from this was one of anti-bullying and better respect and treatment of women in general. The news headlines the last year in particular suggest we have a problem in both these areas. Did I feel the ad was saying all men are guilty, not at all, but that's where good ole perception kicks in. My perception is likely vastly different than that another who watched the exact same commercial.

When I left the education sector many moons ago and entered the private sector one thing stood out then and still exist to a less degree today, but is still clearly present is the attitude by some men in the private sector towards their women colleagues. I was taken aback by the misogynist attitudes that were alive and well in many companies as I traveled and worked with them. To say there wasn't/isn't an issue with this would be naive in my experience. Whether it's a razors companies job to enter this societal issue is clearly up for debate and ultimately the marketing strategy here will succeed or fail. Many thought Nike's use of Kappernick would fail drastically and his name is clearly divisive for a lot of folks however, it would appear based on sales that it was a smart business move for Nike as sales increased drastically after that campaign.

As several members (and a Mod) have pointed out, this thread has focused on a subject while related to shaving, not really on point. I haven't discussed it with the other Mods but I think the reason the thread has been left to run its course is that first, the subject matter is timely and important and second (perhaps most important) is that the discussion has been respectful with no members engaging in personal attacks, insults or generally offensive behaviour. Things just seem to go more smoothly when we all respect one another's right to express ourselves.

No profit-driven company, especially one trying to make itself relevant in the face of adversary, can or should ever define what it means to be you.

Rise above and don't settle for being targeted demographic fodder.

Follow your own moral compass and tread your own path.

My $.02...