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I was watching TV the other day and saw an ad for Jack in the Box that stars a menopausal woman and Jack. I have to say, I don't think I've ever seen an ad for a fast food restaurant that stars a woman in menopause.
If you want to view it, go to www.jackinthebox.com and then click on "commercials" on the left and it should be the ad on the far left. You can see the lady in her pink dress.
Frankly, I wasn't sure whether I liked it or not. I thought they were making fun of menopausal women. My take was that menopausal women are not taken seriously because we're just hysterical. But it's no laughing matter as I know first hand that very few people take us seriously and that it's a real problem for lots of women.
This may be because I've lived it and seen and heard too many women who are silently suffering that it's hard for me to find the humor in it. But it goes to show you how many women are menopausal when Jack in the Box dedicates a commercial to it.
Then again, I have a dear friend who saw it and thought it was really funny. But she's a bit younger and hasn't hit menopause yet so maybe that's the difference.
I'd love it if you'd follow the link and watch the ad and then post your thoughts below. Is it funny to you, or offensive, or somewhere in between? Michelle
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Add a Comment68 Comments
I'm the daughter of a 60+year old set of parents, and my dad is a retired OB-GYN (and a very kind-hearted and humorous one at that... He was highly adored by his patients-- I know because I worked in his office for several years...)
Personally, I thought this ad was hilarious, and I'm sure both of my parents would as well. In fact, I was googling the ad to send a link to my parents to view. Certainly menopause comes with a lot of physical and emotional discomfort, stress, and loss of libido, but this ad to me just uses satire to poke fun at the STEREOTYPE views of menopause. It doesn't strike me as making fun of menopausal women. Satire is meant to break down stereotypes, and let us laugh at something that obviously is either not true, or something that is misconstrued by lots of people.
People just need to stop being offended by everything. I'm Scandinavian, but I don't take offense by the Swedish Chef on The Muppet Show. If I was gonna be offended by anything in the Jack in the Box commercial, it would be the slur against rats ('street-rat insane' comment)since Rats are THE sweetest pets in the universe.
May 11, 2009 - 12:50pmThis Comment
I agree w/ most of what u said, I just think you have to relax and have some fun and to me that's what this commercial was; however, the flip side is in America Men do not take menopause serious and that is why some women may be offended
June 9, 2009 - 12:13pmThis Comment
Well while i might be a guy, i accually thought the commercial made for a good laugh since ive been around my mother when she was on menopause XD
i know i cant speak for woman and that everyone has different veiwpoints on the topic, but i think the 2nd reply said it best, we all need to laugh sometime.
funny idea for a commercial tho ^_^
May 11, 2009 - 11:55amThis Comment
I am in my 30's and both my boyfriend and I found this add offensive!
May 10, 2009 - 7:05pmIt makes fun of women who are a little older and not in a cute way. It's true that men are rarely made fun of in this way.
This Comment
Oh, and before anyone comments that erectile dysfunction and menopause are two totally different things, do some research, find out what is affected during menopause. This is very sexist. Men age, and have disgusting downsides, too. Seems women are always the ones exploited for them.
May 10, 2009 - 5:46pmThis Comment
I'm in my late twenties and find it repulsive. Let's make one about men with erectile dysfunction Jack, and they need a smoothie to cool things off down there and make things hard. How would you like them apples? Or bananas?
May 10, 2009 - 5:41pmThis Comment
Well, it appears you got your wish. Jacks newest commercial where he's visiting his mom and his dad comes out and tells the wife " honey call the ambulance, it's been over four hours" implying he's had an erection too long and selling food just don't go together in my eyes.
October 15, 2010 - 10:06pmThis Comment
I'm not sure anything could be offensive to men with erectile dysfunction, actually, after having seen the "Viva Viagra" commercials ...
May 28, 2009 - 7:33amThis Comment
Have you even seen the commercials for Enzyte?
May 19, 2009 - 6:41pmThis Comment
Exactly. JITB has a long history of ads that demean women. Apparently they don't care about attracting women to their establishment. This seems like a peculiar choice to me and is one reason JITB will never make anything near the money McDonald's, with their inclusive marketing, makes. Apparently they've decided that misogyny pays and distinguishes them from competitors with less "edge". They are contemptible.
May 15, 2009 - 1:30amThis Comment