Sexploitation In Anti-Drug Ads Isn’t Normal… No Wait, It Is.
We’re as anti-meth as the next thinking person (because, you know, it destroys lives and kills people), but does anyone actually think these ads are going to be effective?
We’re kinda torn on the issue. Meth is pretty bad, and it does make people do stupid things, but — well, maybe if that Anti-Drug Campaign hadn’t ruined the credibility of, well, anti-drug campaigns by spreading lies about marijuana, we’d be more supportive of this ad campaign.
On the plus side: sex and drugs! Together! And hot models! What more could you ask for? Well, maybe an ad that was less anti-sex work (though we think sex workers deserve more than $15 a bang, for sure).
[Via Copyranter]
-
What is Boinkology?
Insightful analysis of sex, relationships, dating - and everything in between.
Popular Posts:
How Not To Get Laid
Does Bristol Palin’s Pregnancy Matter?
NotCot Wants To Give You An Orgasm
In Defense Of Naked Babies
How The Internet Makes High Schoolers Of Us All
Girls Who Like Boys And Like Girls (But Only Sometimes)
School’s In! Who Wants To Be A Sex Teacher?
Susie Bright Hits The Nail On The Head
And While We’re On The Topic Of Internet Sex Ed…
Life As A Transperson: Now Slightly Easier
-
Most Discussed:
Does Bristol Palin's Pregnancy Matter? In Defense Of Naked Babies How The Internet Makes High Schoolers Of Us All How Not To Get Laid School's In! Who Wants To Be A Sex Teacher? Girls Who Like Boys And Like Girls (But Only Sometimes) Life As A Transperson: Now Slightly Easier Susie Bright Hits The Nail On The Head And While We're On The Topic Of Internet Sex Ed...
Commenter Of The Week
RSS
Comments
It all begins with a tramp stamp…
April 10th, 2008 at 11:16 amFirst thought: how about an ad campaign directed at creepy middle-aged white guys who have sex with meth addicts in cheap motel rooms for $15?
Second thought: yeah, Meth is very bad, but the whole “Don’t do Meth or you’ll wind up a cheap whore” sort of reeks of modern “Reefer Madness.”
I think that’s the problem with anti-drug campaigns: everything is worst-cased, which actually gets away from a real discussion about addiction. I’m not saying that meth isn’t bad, but what’s the stats on people who have unwanted and/or non-consensual sex while under the influence of alcohol versus meth? How many people die a year from alcohol related accidents and violence versus drug-related?
I’m guessing on the sex question, alcohol would come out way ahead and on the accidents/violence question it’s probably a toss up. By focusing on substances, it creates a false sense of security for people who are using something addicitvely, but not using to the point of turning tricks in the gutter, which is probably a very small percentage of all the people in the States who have a substance abuse problem.
I suppose the one bright side to recent anti-drug campaigns is that they’re finally focusing soemwhat on prescription drug abuse (i.e., it’s not just those dirtbag kids and their demon weed.) But as long as the anti-drug ads are followed by bright, shiny, light-hearted beer commercials with jokes and bikini models (because dad’s six-pack-a-night habit is A-OK) I don’t think there’s ever going to be any real utility to these ads. And going the “Meth whore” route really doesn’t help matters.
Finally, there’s that whole thing that I automatically want to reject anything an organized government ad campaign tells me. Like those “the truth” anti-smoking ads made me want to go out and start a two-pack-a-day habit just because…
April 10th, 2008 at 7:27 pmFirst thought: how about an ad campaign directed at creepy middle-aged white guys who have sex with meth addicts in cheap motel rooms for $15?
Right. The FUCK. ON!
Look at that tool as he leaves the room. He gives her this glance like he’s so fucking superior. He’s off to sell used cars or insurance for the rest of the afternoon and she’s just some junkie whore. The person who takes advantage of someone mentally unstable or addicted to drugs is way more culpable as I see it.
Drug addiction is sad, lonely and pathetic. But idiotic advertisements and sexed up ad campaigns aren’t going to keep people off meth. People use “gutter drugs” like meth because their lives aren’t rosy to begin with. Spend the money wasted on this nonsense helping the economically devastated towns in the plains, where meth is rampant, to build new industry, get better schools and after-school programs. Stop scaring people and using sex to do it.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:20 pmI had a similar conversation recently about why people don’t use condoms and put themselves at risk for HIV or unwanted pregnancy. Usually, it’s because they’re at a point where they don’t care about themselves or their lives — so putting up billboards that stress how responsible using a condom is… isn’t going to do much.
Putting together programs that work to better people’s lives and actually give them something to care about? Better strategy.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:29 pmDear Anti-Drug Scare Campaign People,
Try making the chicks in your ads less hot. It distracts from your message.
Signed,
Anyone With A Brain
April 11th, 2008 at 9:42 amWhy would you direct an anti drug campaign to someone who doesnt use drugs and isnt at risk of doing so?
Creepy middle age with bad shirts taste aint going to change, no matter what you do, its just creepy facts of life. They probably cant mix the whore and the mother images in old aedipus complex thingie; unless you put them forcibly into guantanamolike-therapy grounds, nothings gonna change on that side of the equation.
What you can try and do is decrease the risk of vulnerable groups that end up being coerced into doing stuff they do not want like whoring (brings me back sex work is just work post arguments memories). In the ad it seems clear she does not like what she is doing.
Basically; some girls end up sex working to pay up their drugs? Yes.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:01 amCan a campaign addressing that might make a difference? Maybe.
Is it worth adressing that particular issue? Probably.
Is it bad mixing drugs and sex work while keeping other mayor important (pooverty, no actual quality of life expetancy, legal alcohol culture, etc) drug abuse causes/issues conveniently in the dark? Totally.
I agree with all of the very enlightened comments on this thread. I wish the Montana Meth project, or the campaign creators, could step outside of their very priviliged positions to realize that when you’re on meth (or addicted to any substances really) you’re not thinking about the going rate for sex. Sadly, this ad shows they do not get it. Instead, they are enforcing a stereotype that meth addicts are cracked out whores who sell their bodies for $15 a pop….and well, that’s not like anyone you or I know, right? It’s that whole “othering” thing again.
The image is very powerful, however. I wonder how much more effective it could be if this was about increasing sexual exploitation of minors by middle aged tricks?
April 13th, 2008 at 7:47 pmSorry, got ahead of myself again! I meant to say “increasing AWARENESS of sexual exploitation of….”.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:49 pm[...] Sexploitation In Anti-Drug Ads Isn’t Normal… No Wait, It Is. [...]
April 15th, 2008 at 12:03 pmLeave a reply :