Vintage Sexist Ads

I was perusing BuzzFeed this morning and come across a link to some pretty outrageous vintage sexist advertisements: http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/17-ridiculously-sexist-vintage-ads . Based on our discussion in class today, I was really interested in seeing how gender-based advertisements have evolved over the decades. Some of these ads are extremely sexist and clearly depict women as inferior to men. The Van Heusen ads (#14 and #15) show a woman bowing down to as well as being spanked by a man, underlying the theme that Van Heusen clothes are the best to show authority in a "man's world." Putting on a Van Heusen shirt will somehow endow a man with a sense of newfound power and boldness. Given that Van Heusen is a still a well-known mens brand, I'd be interested in learning more about how they brand has evolved its messaging over the years. Another advertisement that I found particularly amusing was #11. Post Grape Nuts. The ad focuses on how Post Grape Nuts can help a woman maintain her figure. If the teenage girl strays from this diet saving trick, she will be outshines by her mother. This advertisement really stuck out to me because instead of debasing women at the expense of men, it pits women against each other. In this manner, a woman is forced to think about how she stacks up against other women as well as how men will perceive her if she foregoes her Post Grape Nuts.