At approximately 4:55 of this clip Bob Lutz makes a reference to women I found extremely insulting.
I applaud Steven Colbert for throwing out all of the negative and demeaning stereotypes to which Bob Lutz was referring. Through Steven Colbert's satire my eyes opened to a few things that I found shocking.
Mr. Lutz's remarks insinuate that women who are environmentally conscious are less attractive. That these women are not the type of woman that a man would typically want to attract. That by purchasing his electric car you will be attaracting a less beautiful subgroup of women. I find that women are becoming more and more attracted to men who are economically, financially, and environmentally responsible. But instead of focusing on that, an approach that paints women in a resposible and concientious light, Mr. Lutz decides to propagate a negative image of women who do not subscribe to typical standards of beauty.
It's remarks like this that are so pervasive in media. Remarks like this that tell the public that it's okay to look down on women who don't look like someone you'd find in Cosmo. Mr. Lutz's are evidence that his sexist attitudes; attitudes that play into unrealistic, unattanable and often dangerous standards of beauty; are widely accepted. I find that appaling.
I wish more people would see remarks such as these for the misogyny that it is.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Lipstick and Electric Cars.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.feministing.com/cgi-bin/movabletype/mt-tb.fcgi/9413
Weekly Feministing Newsletter
Feministing RSS Feed
I was watching this with my partner, and after this comment he immediately looked over at me, waiting for the diatribe. I just sighed and rolled my eyes. You'd think that they would realize that making offensive comments about your potential customers is bad for business, but many members of the old boys club are so dense you just can't get through to them. Here's to early retirements!
i can see why the comment is offensive to some women, but i didn't take it that way at all. his comment was about women who don't wear makeup, not women who are not beautiful. i don't think we have to equate makeup with beauty. i apply makeup occasionally but on most days i could care less, and i'm kinda proud of that.
so i guess i'm reclaiming the pride in being environmentalist, feminist, not wearing makeup instead of being offended by it. and guys should be interested in attracting our "type" of women with an electric car!
what i found more disturbing about the video is that bob lutz does not acknowledge global warming by human causes, and is building the electric car for really the wrong reasons.
oh as a side note, i have to add, i'm also not offended when i hear that feminists are lesbians, dykes, ugly women with hairy legs, etc, etc. so what if i, or anyone else, am an ugly woman with hairy legs? do i still not deserve respect? so while we have to build a good self image and appear however we think we look best, we also have to remove the stigma of being ugly, or manly or dull or a dyke.
What gets me is that being "green" is so freaking in vogue right now. This guy is pretty out of touch with his target customer.
I like the comments about how he's alienating potential customers-- it seems that all ads now, unless they're selling something pink, are assuming that only men are watching them or only men will buy them.
Hey Lutz! I'm a straight woman-- will buying your car get ME laid?