Critics have claws out for 'Cougar' campaign

BY ESTHER HAYWARD
Last updated 05:00 17/01/2010

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An Air New Zealand online marketing campaign that mocks the desperation of older women (or "cougars") who supposedly prowl bars looking for younger men to bed has been criticised as being sexist and "lame".

An email to subscribers of the airline's Grabaseat discount airfare site directs them to a fake documentary clip on YouTube about the mating habits of the "cougar", complete with a Discovery Channel-style voice-over.

Behind images of a desperate-looking 30-something woman hitting on a man in his 20s, the deep-voiced narrator says bars in Auckland's Viaduct are overrun with women in their 30s, 40s and 50s preying on younger men in a quest for sex. The men, mainly in their 20s, may even "pretend to be gay" to avoid the women, but are "dragged off to their inner-city apartments and cruelly made to listen to Enya or the Eurythmics".

It says the behaviour of cougars has had a "devastating effect" on young male "herds" so authorities have introduced P addicts to control cougar numbers. They latch on to the cougar's bank account so she doesn't have money for shoes or gold jewellery, which she relies on to catch her prey.

The spoof documentary is promoting the airline's offer to give 60 tickets away to next month's Wellington Sevens rugby tournament. "Cougar" women, aged 35-plus, are invited to email photos of themselves out on the town with their cougar mates. Meanwhile, a simultaneous promotion run by radio station ZM is selecting 10 young men who will also attend the match, as "meat" for the cougars.

Victoria University associate professor Delores Janiewski – an expert on gender, culture and media – said the ad was "funny and cheeky" but it was hard to tell whether the ad was encouraging or denigrating single women.

However, Auckland comedian and poet Penny Ashton said the ad was sexist, and painting women as predators and men as their feeble prey "incensed" her.

"Men are not helpless. Surely if you say no a couple of times it should work?"

Social commentator and Sunday Star-Times columnist Rosemary McLeod said the ad was lame.

"I think older women should think very carefully before tackling young men in gay bars, as disappointment is bound to follow."

A Grabaseat spokesperson said the promotion was not intended to be offensive. It would not be shown on TV.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

102 comments
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Bevan   #102   12:59 pm Jan 24 2010

Older woman are great fun for younger lads like myself!! I highly recommend the experience. Also guys, your future partners will also thank you for the 'expertise' you picked up following your cougar encounters!

Kelly   #101   10:27 am Jan 23 2010

What would we think if the genders in the ad were reversed? It wouldn't be so funny then, would it? It'd be kind of sad and ceepy.

Angela   #100   08:40 am Jan 21 2010

Wow. Lots of comments. I am female and 42 years of age. I am a feminist. I am not fat. I am not ugly. I have a great sense of humour. I shave in all the appropriate places, lol. I prefer the term "MILF" to "cougar" and I entered the contest because years ago I read a book about the philosophies behind the Laws of the Game of Rugby Football.

To summarise:

Some people are hot, some are sleazy. This doesn't usually change for an individual throughout his or her lifetime, so it's the person, not his or her age that makes him or her hot or not. Refer to the sociology of aging. It's next to the gender studies department. You might find a copy of the Hite Report in there if you look hard enough. While you're at it check out the media studies department; a real eye opener.

People who are anti-PC generally rely on namecalling to cover up the fact that they are totally ignorant of the real facts and issues. We call these people rednecks.

Helen-Anne Mertsching   #99   11:49 pm Jan 19 2010

Wow! I'm 51, and I never imagined that 35 would be considered an "older woman" . . . not even when I was 35. I'm a mother now, but I hadn't even become pregnant when I was 35. Demi and Ashton, maybe, but please, people! I somehow had the idea that this referred to women who were in their sixties and above. This is freaky=weird.

Gravey   #98   05:47 pm Jan 19 2010

@trueblue: You're missing the point. It is not about whether the viewer is offended. It is about the type of mindset the ad depicts, and what it says to society in general.

On the surface, I found the ad funny, but purely at a cosmetic level. Why do we not have "funny" ads about men beating women up? Or assault in general? How about the hilarious joke of someone swindling a person's life-savings?

There are things some people find funny, and at a personal level that is fine. But things like advertisements that are targeted at the masses need to be careful about the types of societal behaviour they say is acceptable.

I can watch the ad without any problems. I strongly disagree with it, but it doesn't offend me per se. I **think** it is an offensive ad. Some may not undersand the difference.

Katherine - good on you!

fraudo   #97   05:01 pm Jan 19 2010

Cougars are hot, I've been sleeping with one for over a year she is 37 I am 26. They are tender and really know how to please a man, unlike inexperienced girls my own age.

Of course you can't really have relationships with them as its all about the sex. But I aint complaining :)

Glenn   #96   04:43 pm Jan 19 2010

#81 Gravey...and there in lies the problem. Far too many people are over analysing this, and other, ad campaign(s) instead of seeing it for what it really is, a bit of harmless fun. Look at it, laugh at it and move on. Don't stop and dwell long enough to pick holes in it or life will pass you by.

Glenn   #95   04:38 pm Jan 19 2010

OMG! What next? Ban blonde jokes? Get real you moaning minnies.

SuziQ   #94   03:03 pm Jan 19 2010

The ad was funny, take it in the vein it was intended instead of being so damn PC all the time. If it offends, then don't look at it simple really. I thought it was well done and so relevant to today's society - lighten up people.

trueblue   #93   02:38 pm Jan 19 2010

Gravey #81 Wouldn't the best thing be that if you don't like it, don't watch it? I haven't see this add on TV so those complaining had to actually go and look it up.

Katherine #86 Good grief you need to lighten up lady.

DON'T LOOK IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT PEOPLE


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