Sargon Of Akkad - What Were Gillette Thinking? | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Gillette advert is seen as feminist propaganda, promoting a one-sided narrative that men are responsible for the oppression of women and need to change their behavior.

Key Insights

• ⚧️ The Gillette advert promotes a one-sided feminist narrative, failing to recognize the complexity of gender dynamics and individual responsibility.
• 🤠 Play fighting among young boys is considered normal and important for male socialization, yet the advert pathologizes this behavior and presents it as harmful.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Society should aim for a bottom-up approach in shaping male behavior, where desired behavior is modeled and encouraged within male groups.

Transcript

so for the viewers who haven't seen this Gillette advert can you give me the sargon of akkad cliff notes on what you think it is or how you how would you describe it someone hasn't seen it it's just feminist propaganda it's it's just 101 and it's so it's so basic I mean it starts off with the mean to movement and toxic masculinity so you know you'r... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Why is the Gillette advert seen as feminist propaganda?

The advert is seen as feminist propaganda because it promotes a one-sided narrative that places the blame for women's oppression on all men, without acknowledging individual responsibility or the complexity of gender dynamics.

Q: Is play fighting among boys harmful behavior?

No, play fighting among young boys is considered completely normal and is an important part of male socialization. It helps them establish hierarchies and develop an understanding of their own strength and the limits of their actions.

Q: What is the impact of the Gillette advert?

The advert has faced significant backlash, with a high number of dislikes on YouTube and accusations of unfair play in manipulating viewer engagement. Some websites have even reported that the director of the advert has been accused of sexual abuse.

Q: How can behavior change in men be achieved more effectively?

Instead of enforcing rules from a top-down approach, a more scalable and holistic strategy would be to model and encourage desirable behavior within male groups. This could involve creating positive social norms that encourage men to call out negative behavior and promoting healthy outlets for competitive instincts.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Gillette advert presents a narrative that conflates boys play fighting with Harvey Weinstein's predatory behavior, perpetuating the idea that all men are responsible for such actions.

• Young boys play fighting is considered completely normal by leading psychologists and is an important part of male socialization and establishing hierarchies.

• The advert pathologizes male behavior and fails to recognize the natural aspects of masculinity, causing a backlash from viewers who feel misrepresented.