Kevin Drum takes a brief break from the ongoing shutdown issue to tackle the hottest controversy on social media – the Gillette ad dealing with male domination. The ad, pre-released in preparation for the Super Bowl, has already prompted lots of press and even a call to boycott Gillette. And since the Women’s March will take place in just three days, It seems worthwhile to send along the ad itself and Drums’s commentary about it. Be sure to watch the ad first to form your own opinion before reading Drum’s take and mine..
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/01/whos-afraid-of-gillette/
Kevin Drum’s complaint here has nothing to do with the ad. His annoyance is with the Vox article that takes an extreme position about feminism. It states that feminists want to see corporations like Gillette fail. And the writer is peeved that a corporation selling men’s grooming products involves itself in the gender wars.
All Drum wants to underscore is that extreme positions like the one in Vox can do a disservice to the ism which is being defended. . However, going over the edge with outlandish statements which this writer does. only makes the situation worse.
On this issue of the ad it is easy for me to agree with Drum. It simply conveys gentle reminders that there are acceptable ways for men to become role models in defusing male aggression. As Drum suggests, the ad will perhaps reach one – hundred million men which is close to two-thirds of all males in the country – remarkable coverage in the scheme of teachable moments..
Despite the fact that some men will find the ad threatening or unnecessary, and berate it, the message will likely get through to a fair number. And no one who wants to see sexual harassment and assaults as well as bullying decrease should have a quibble with that possibility, Once again Engler steps over the lineMaybe in just a few hours from now, John Engler will no longer by interim President at Michigan State University (MSU). The Dems are in the majority now on the MSU Board and he likely will be fired for making more inappropriate statements about the victims in the Larry Nassar scandal.
Let’s hope he is finally fired. His hiring in the first place showed how inept the Republican members of the Board were.. And during his brief tenure he managed to keep the scandal’s waters roiling and thus hindered the healing process for both the victims and the university.
He was the worst pick for the job. Engler had a long inglorious record for his meanness and insensitivity before coming to MSU. And while interim President he simply could not change his basic sexist attitude in talking about the victims. It will be beneficial for the university to have him ousted.
Here is The Detroit News‘ discussion of the board meeting taking place re Engler this morning.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/01/16/msu-board-meet-following-englers-controversial-comments/2590880002/