The rest of it is sexist, but the assumption bosses work harder has always struck me as something every worker doubts.
Look like a girl: because the best thing for your professional image is for people to think you’re there for Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Dress like you’re about 13. That will leave a strong impression and get people to take you seriously.
Act like a lady: what century is this? Are we trying to be demure, or ordering the peasants to get the harvest in. Are we doing embroidery at our desk or skinning the hart brought home by the hunters. In any case, the skill set of the aristocratic woman has rarely been of much use in a modern office.
Think like a man: where to start? I’m sure this is meant in a sexist way in terms of logical, practical, straightforward, etc, which men aren’t better at than women. I can’t help but picture a group of women trying to follow this advice by trying to think about their wangs during a business meeting, going with the other tired stereotype of men not being able to go 5 minutes without thinking about sex. More realistically, I guess what they are saying is, think like you have male privilege, which could be useful, except then you’ll get in trouble for not acting like a lady.
Thrice-married Steve Harvey wrote a bestseller titled Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, in which he dispensed relationship advice to women.
I suppose this fatuity is aimed at that market.
Reminds me of “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby,” and “I Bring Home the Bacon, Fry it Up in the Pan.” Madison Avenue trying to sell feel-good empowermentiness.
It’s a well know fact that we men are better at thinky stuff, so why wouldn’t it market the message about women trying, but obviously not reaching, men’s level of thinky stuff. It’s aspirational and uplifting for the lesser sex.
(Warning: may contain traces of irony, snark and pathetic attempted humour, not to be taken by the inverterately literal minded)
Interesting. I first read “Think like a man” as “Think like you would if you’d had a lifetime of male privilege. Think that you fucking own whatever space you’re in, that your opinions are more important than most other people’s in the room, and that anyone who tries to interrupt you deserves to be calmly but firmly talked over, unless you deign otherwise.” Reading the other reactions here was an interesting exercise in realising all the more likely ways it would be interpreted, and how much of a fail it was.
Also, “like a boss“. Except not really, and actually “like a boss“, which is a double-fail.
Well, if the ad mavens at Bic knew how the Bic for Her product campaign had inspired Boy Scout mockery skits, they’d stop this crap.
What year is this from? Presumably this year?
That’s some weapons-grade WTF…
It’s amazing they managed to pack so much wrong into so little text.
Work like a boss? So, 2 hour lunch, afternoon at the golf course, phone in to tell the admin assistant to get things done?
The rest of it is sexist, but the assumption bosses work harder has always struck me as something every worker doubts.
Look like a girl: because the best thing for your professional image is for people to think you’re there for Take Your Daughter to Work Day. Dress like you’re about 13. That will leave a strong impression and get people to take you seriously.
Act like a lady: what century is this? Are we trying to be demure, or ordering the peasants to get the harvest in. Are we doing embroidery at our desk or skinning the hart brought home by the hunters. In any case, the skill set of the aristocratic woman has rarely been of much use in a modern office.
Think like a man: where to start? I’m sure this is meant in a sexist way in terms of logical, practical, straightforward, etc, which men aren’t better at than women. I can’t help but picture a group of women trying to follow this advice by trying to think about their wangs during a business meeting, going with the other tired stereotype of men not being able to go 5 minutes without thinking about sex. More realistically, I guess what they are saying is, think like you have male privilege, which could be useful, except then you’ll get in trouble for not acting like a lady.
Thrice-married Steve Harvey wrote a bestseller titled Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, in which he dispensed relationship advice to women.
I suppose this fatuity is aimed at that market.
Reminds me of “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby,” and “I Bring Home the Bacon, Fry it Up in the Pan.” Madison Avenue trying to sell feel-good empowermentiness.
I am unfriending Bic products. Fuck ’em.
Look like a puppy. Think like a T Rex. Digest like a coyote.
LOL
It’s a well know fact that we men are better at thinky stuff, so why wouldn’t it market the message about women trying, but obviously not reaching, men’s level of thinky stuff. It’s aspirational and uplifting for the lesser sex.
(Warning: may contain traces of irony, snark and pathetic attempted humour, not to be taken by the inverterately literal minded)
Write like a Papermate.
Interesting. I first read “Think like a man” as “Think like you would if you’d had a lifetime of male privilege. Think that you fucking own whatever space you’re in, that your opinions are more important than most other people’s in the room, and that anyone who tries to interrupt you deserves to be calmly but firmly talked over, unless you deign otherwise.” Reading the other reactions here was an interesting exercise in realising all the more likely ways it would be interpreted, and how much of a fail it was.
Also, “like a boss“. Except not really, and actually “like a boss“, which is a double-fail.