Don't Want to Put on My Booty Shoes

All the other idiocies of this ad campaign aside, why on earth would any woman in her right mind want to buy a pair of shoes that makes her feet and legs work <i>harder</i>?

Should we expect Reebok to do anything else except try and sell shoes? Should they be a moral beacon too? Can't any ugliness in the ad be considered a reflection of an ugliness in the consumers, gleaned from, no doubt, massive demographic research into what consumers want most in a shoe?

Dear Reebok,

Thank you for bringing women back to where you think they should be. It's obvious women are nothing more than a hot ass and tits, and it's absolutely commendable for you to point that out for the public. It has been my life goal since I was a little girl to have a hot ass that men would holler at me for, and I'm finally realizing that my dreams are coming true. I mean, who wants to see women for what their thoughts and opinions are? Or what they've accomplished in life? If they've got a hot ass, they don't need to think. Thank you for your innovative ways to help us women do what we do best, which is objectify ourselves.

Sincerely,

A stupid girl who's nothing more than an ass.

Kisses!!!!

I am very insecure about my breasts and butt. I wish I had a bigger cup size, curvier hips and the hourglass figure. But, alas, I do not. This commercial make me feel like shit about myself; it does not encourage me to buy their product. Rather it has the opposite effect.

This commercial reduces women to tits and ass. Period. Only one commercial do we see a woman's face. The rest is just her body. Those who support this commercial, think it's funny, and believe that feminists need to "stop taking things so seriously" can get fucked. I doubt any of them know what it feels like to be sexually harassed, objectified, and put down. Anyone with a shred of empathy should be able to understand this.

Please email your comments to Reebok at corporate@reebok.com. Our voices must be heard! And, of course, make sure everyone you know stays away from these stupid shoes!

i see this as a joke i don't feel insulted i think its funny and as a woman with small boobs i don't feel bad that they are showing large boobs how many people want to look at small boobs most men like big boobs i know that and as long as i like what i'm working with why does this matter so much that you get angry about it so many other things to get mad about just chill out

And Lied!

Ok, I wrote a very short, to the point message to Reebok saying that I wouldn't be buying any of their products thanks to their terrible ads. They wrote back, saying:

"The Reebok EasyTone ads were created to clearly illustrate the unique
benefits of the footwear in a fun and bold way. The feedback we have
received tells us that many consumers look at the ads in exactly that
light, however we acknowledge that some consumers do take exception with
the content of the ads."

Hear that? We're the exception! And yet, somehow I find that hard to believe. First of all, in my experience more people are likely to email a company about an ad they <i>don't</i> like. Why would you email them to say "Cool ad"? You would just buy the product, right? Second of all (contrary to the narrative in the ads), actual women don't gush and smile at the idea of being treated like a pair of tits.

Anyway, in the spirit of sharing, I will post what I wrote back:

"Fun and Bold," as in Reducing Women to T&A, and reinforcing the dangerous cultural narrative that women love to be sexually harassed. Thank you so much!

Thank you also for writing back and lying to me about the feedback you've received. I know many people who think your ads are ridiculous and pathetic. The fact that you've gone out of your way to state otherwise, and refuse to admit to making a deeply offensive marketing mistake, shows your lack of competence as a company. It's no wonder so many other shoe companies are more successful than you.

Apparently, the best thing to do in hard economic times is to make terrible marketing decisions, and produce ads that marginalize and demean your customer base, while giving men the go-ahead to leer at every woman's breasts and behinds. We love that! Right, Reebok? And if we work out hard enough, maybe strangers will start grabbing our asses too. Woohoo!

You know us so well.

Good work.

I'm so so so tired of women's bodies being used to sell consumer goods. So tired! Ladies, aren't you tired and sick of it already? Seriously.

Money is the only thing that talks, and so just boycott Reebok and any and all other companies using the same boring offensive and frankly harmful female (or male) objectification. Just don't ever by their products again, and let them know you've banned them and why.

It's the only way to stop this nonesense.