Comments on: Dairy Queen helps little girls stay flirty and dependent. http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/ Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:05:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Sarah http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-362 Sarah Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:38:21 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-362 I do understand and respect your views on this. I saw the ad as cute, myself. But I do see your point. But instead of simply sending in letters to a company, why not try to push parents to reinforce the ideas that girls shouldn't have to be dependent? For that matter, why not push them to reinforce that they don't need to live up to society's expectations? Yes, what the media promotes is not right, but lessons at home can go a long way. I do understand and respect your views on this. I saw the ad as cute, myself. But I do see your point.

But instead of simply sending in letters to a company, why not try to push parents to reinforce the ideas that girls shouldn’t have to be dependent? For that matter, why not push them to reinforce that they don’t need to live up to society’s expectations? Yes, what the media promotes is not right, but lessons at home can go a long way.

]]> By: Sibyl http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-361 Sibyl Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:58:09 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-361 I think you are reading too far into things about the "is she watching her weight" speculation... but I do agree that it's wrong how they have a girl using boys to get stuff. We don't need that stereotype to be used anymore. I think you are reading too far into things about the “is she watching her weight” speculation…

but I do agree that it’s wrong how they have a girl using boys to get stuff. We don’t need that stereotype to be used anymore.

]]> By: Anon http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-360 Anon Sat, 17 May 2008 11:38:01 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-360 Yeah, that is just disturbing. Yeah, that is just disturbing.

]]> By: megan http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-359 megan Fri, 16 May 2008 03:54:17 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-359 everyone who is offended by this commercial needs a life, a sense of humor, and an enema. you are all pathetic!!! lol. everyone who is offended by this commercial needs a life, a sense of humor, and an enema. you are all pathetic!!! lol.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-358 Jennifer Wed, 14 May 2008 16:50:59 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-358 I got the same e-mail back from Dairy Queen that Porscha got, but signed by someone named Mark. I got the same e-mail back from Dairy Queen that Porscha got, but signed by someone named Mark.

]]> By: A B O U T - F A C E — blog » How to Write a Complaint Letter About an Ad http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-357 A B O U T - F A C E — blog » How to Write a Complaint Letter About an Ad Tue, 13 May 2008 16:16:50 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-357 [...] On the About-Face web site (that is, on this blog and elsewhere on our site), we talk about a lot of ads and other media that require action from consumers. But when we say “write a letter or e-mail,” what does that really mean? I used to think about what I would say for so long that I’d never write the letters. Those days are over for me, but a lot of people don’t know what to say to these companies. Here are some tips. For an example, check out the comments in the Dairy Queen post. [...] [...] On the About-Face web site (that is, on this blog and elsewhere on our site), we talk about a lot of ads and other media that require action from consumers. But when we say “write a letter or e-mail,” what does that really mean? I used to think about what I would say for so long that I’d never write the letters. Those days are over for me, but a lot of people don’t know what to say to these companies. Here are some tips. For an example, check out the comments in the Dairy Queen post. [...]

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-356 Jennifer Tue, 13 May 2008 15:19:01 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-356 Here's the letter I wrote to Dairy Queen using their <a href+"http://dairyqueen.com/us-en/talk-to-dq/contact-us/" rel="nofollow">web site</a>. Feel free to copy/paste it and edit it as you see fit. In fact, please do edit the letter a bit, so they get different letters. (Note that you should always specify the ad you're complaining about, and what your action will be if they don't pull the ad and/or apologize. Not buying the product they're selling is good enough.) ---------------------------------------- To Whom It May Concern at Dairy Queen: I am very troubled by your latest ad for Fudge Temptations sundaes, in which a little girl catches the eye of a boy and assumes he will buy her a sundae. As a Dairy Queen customer, I will not be purchasing any Dairy Queen products until this ad has been pulled. I will also be spreading the word to my friends and acquaintances about this ad. Some people may find this ad funny or "cute," but it plays on harmful stereotypes that keep little girls dependent on men's affections and gifts. It also does not reflect well on men: It continues the stereotype of a man or boy as being manipulated by women. Our culture needs to mature beyond these assumptions about men and women. However, the assumptions about girls and women are particularly harmful. The harmful part has to do with early sexualization of young girls. In the ad, an 8-year-old girl is already into courting and flirting. (Not unlike how many of them already know about being “sexy” and “hot” -- this isn't the 1960s, guys.) Also, she first seals the deal with the boy at the same moment the mother says the word “temptations.” I know that the advertising agency wrote the script and synchronized it with the commercial’s action. The girl is meant to be seen as a "temptation." That's unacceptable, Dairy Queen. If Dairy Queen has any problem with making girls into sexual objects early in life -- and I know many of your customers do -- then you will remove the ad from the air and issue an apology press release to Associated Press and other outlets. Until then, I will not be buying your products. Sincerely, Jennifer Berger Here’s the letter I wrote to Dairy Queen using their web site. Feel free to copy/paste it and edit it as you see fit. In fact, please do edit the letter a bit, so they get different letters. (Note that you should always specify the ad you’re complaining about, and what your action will be if they don’t pull the ad and/or apologize. Not buying the product they’re selling is good enough.)

—————————————-

To Whom It May Concern at Dairy Queen:

I am very troubled by your latest ad for Fudge Temptations sundaes, in which a little girl catches the eye of a boy and assumes he will buy her a sundae. As a Dairy Queen customer, I will not be purchasing any Dairy Queen products until this ad has been pulled. I will also be spreading the word to my friends and acquaintances about this ad.

Some people may find this ad funny or “cute,” but it plays on harmful stereotypes that keep little girls dependent on men’s affections and gifts. It also does not reflect well on men: It continues the stereotype of a man or boy as being manipulated by women.

Our culture needs to mature beyond these assumptions about men and women. However, the assumptions about girls and women are particularly harmful.

The harmful part has to do with early sexualization of young girls. In the ad, an 8-year-old girl is already into courting and flirting. (Not unlike how many of them already know about being “sexy” and “hot” — this isn’t the 1960s, guys.) Also, she first seals the deal with the boy at the same moment the mother says the word “temptations.” I know that the advertising agency wrote the script and synchronized it with the commercial’s action. The girl is meant to be seen as a “temptation.” That’s unacceptable, Dairy Queen.

If Dairy Queen has any problem with making girls into sexual objects early in life — and I know many of your customers do — then you will remove the ad from the air and issue an apology press release to Associated Press and other outlets. Until then, I will not be buying your products.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Berger

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-355 Jennifer Tue, 13 May 2008 15:01:33 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-355 Porscha, thanks for letting us know! Everyone who reads this should keep putting the pressure on. Companies know that we are powerful as consumers, so if enough people send them a note about this ad, we can be a voice together that may influence them to stop running the ad or rethink their future ad strategies. Jennifer About-Face Porscha, thanks for letting us know! Everyone who reads this should keep putting the pressure on. Companies know that we are powerful as consumers, so if enough people send them a note about this ad, we can be a voice together that may influence them to stop running the ad or rethink their future ad strategies.

Jennifer
About-Face

]]> By: Porscha http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-354 Porscha Tue, 13 May 2008 00:32:52 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-354 I sent an email via DQ's website, and received the following response: Dear Ms. ********, Thank you for contacting International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) with your comments regarding our commercials featuring Waffle Bowl Sundaes. I am truly sorry that our commercial has upset you and that we have disappointed you. Your concerns have been documented and forwarded to all appropriate IDQ personnel for their review. We are taking your comments seriously and will take them into consideration as we review our advertising plans for the remainder of this year. Best regards, Carolyn Carolyn Kidder Senior Consumer Relations Manager INTERNATIONAL DAIRY QUEEN, INC. I sent an email via DQ’s website, and received the following response:

Dear Ms. ********,

Thank you for contacting International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) with your
comments regarding our commercials featuring Waffle Bowl Sundaes.

I am truly sorry that our commercial has upset you and that we have
disappointed you.

Your concerns have been documented and forwarded to all appropriate IDQ
personnel for their review. We are taking your comments seriously and will
take them into consideration as we review our advertising plans for the
remainder of this year.

Best regards,

Carolyn

Carolyn Kidder
Senior Consumer Relations Manager
INTERNATIONAL DAIRY QUEEN, INC.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.about-face.org/dairy-queen-helps-little-girls-stay-flirty-and-dependent/#comment-353 Jennifer Mon, 12 May 2008 01:23:34 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/archives/190#comment-353 I really like that you offered your perspective, Jim, and were also open to our point of view. And it's interesting that you have such a positive opinion of women that you understand that we want something more than "a guy with a paycheck." Lots of people I know have more cynical views of women... including most of our media, I'm sorry to say. The ad definitely shows the boy as an easy mark, but it also shows the little girl as a manipulative coquette. And that's the issues I have. Girls don't need to learn this behavior from an ad, and boys also don't need to learn about their expected reaction this way. We need to evolve. Jennifer About-Face I really like that you offered your perspective, Jim, and were also open to our point of view. And it’s interesting that you have such a positive opinion of women that you understand that we want something more than “a guy with a paycheck.” Lots of people I know have more cynical views of women… including most of our media, I’m sorry to say.

The ad definitely shows the boy as an easy mark, but it also shows the little girl as a manipulative coquette. And that’s the issues I have. Girls don’t need to learn this behavior from an ad, and boys also don’t need to learn about their expected reaction this way. We need to evolve.

Jennifer
About-Face

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