"You've Come a Long Way, Baby!"

From what I understand, the term women’s rights typically refer to freedoms inherently possessed by women and girls of all ages. These rights are often ignored, suppressed or even violated through law, custom and religious tradition. It has just been over the past few generations that women have been afforded rights that their female ancestors were denied. It has only been because of women such as Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906), Kate Sheppard (1847-1934) and Dora Russell (1894-1986) just to name a few, that women have rights which guarantee them equality among themselves and men.

Over the years, organizations such as world governments, corporations and human rights commisions have had to recalibrate their ways of thinking in order to recognize the worth of women throughout the world. Business marketers and advertising agencies have also been forced to apply new ways of reaching the masses without violating female’s rights. Some tried to compensate their thinking by attempting to reach the female population in order to sell their products but failed miserably.

Virginia Slims Cigarettes came out with a slogan that appeared to celebrate “the woman” as an individual with the saying “You have come a long way baby!” When I look back at read these adds, I cannot help but laugh at the irony. “Yes,” they may have been successfully celebrating new women’s rights and successes but they failed by calling them “baby.” How many women want to be called “Baby?”

“Hey Babe, wuzz happenin’ !”… “Hey Baby, you wanna dance?!”

I think it safe to say that if I called my female friends “Baby,” I would probably be the one crying like a baby after I double over in pain with a kick… you get the idea!

As you will find out over the next few months, I have an interest in vintage magazine ads as well as a being proponent of human rights. What better way to enjoy both areas other than by combining the two together. I just think that many of these ads, though may be seen as appropriate in their day are so very chauvinistic, racist and "behind the times" when you look at them through the eyes of the 21st century. We may laugh at them now because they are so “way out there” but there is nothing funny about treating people in an unequal manner.

So… every once in awhile, I look forward to venturing onto this road of discussion.

“Hasta la vista … Baby!” (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator 2)