Switch it up! Roles in Advertising

Many of you might be familiar with the controversy over the advertising for The Avengers Movie.

 See this link to read more:

http://jezebel.com/5908730/good-things-happens-when-you-pose-the-men-of-the-avengers-like-women 

The problem with The Avengers and most advertising is the sexualization of women and extreme masculization of men. In a lot of ways this problem seems almost old hat. Haven't we been talking for years how women are exploited in the media? 

The reaction to the Avengers Film Poster has got me thinking. Critics took the pose of The Black Widow and flipped it, placing the men in the same pose. What happens is a hilarious picture of strong super hero men with giant butts facing the front of the picture. Its hilarious because it shockingly redirects the problem. It uses humor to rip the band aid off the exploitation in the picture. It brings us to the great virtue of empathy. Truly it asks: "What if this happened to you?"

Recently, I was sitting with a friend watching my TV shows for the day when this popular add came on:

 

As I began to complain about just how jokingly "manly" this ad is a thought occurred to me: "What if we switched the roles?" My mind started racing as I thought of all the other super masculine and feminine commercials that could be disrupted by simply switching out the sexes. Imagine this very same commercial (above) but with women. Even imagine the pretty women props switched as good looking men. I love picturing the last scene in this commercial with a woman running down the beach with a giant log over her back as she plops it down triumphantly at the fire pit. It literally gives me chills. 

Now switch it again but only this time place men in a jokingly feminine commercial...let's take a good birth control commercial (yes men don't use birth control but these commercials are often the most gender role promoting ridiculousness in advertising): Here's a perfect example: 

 I'd love to see men wandering in the pretty shop, picking out their perfect woman, ogling at the stork...maybe even trying out college (oh my!).

Do you get my point yet? 

Try it out for yourself. While you're watching your favorite shows, don't skip the commercials. Flip the roles and see what comes to light. 

If you don't watch TV walk down the street and put women in men's pictures and vice versa. With some visualization maybe we can start making a real difference! 

Its not just a matter of gender roles and sexism that advertising promotes. Advertising and other forms of media stereotype men and women into little boxes. Media creates cultures that tells you this is how you should act, this is happiness. It literally controls culture. Even if you do your darn hardest to keep away from such images its pervasive. Companies are finding every last spot on planet earth to slap an ad on. What we see on TV and billboards frankly is not what we see on the streets or in our homes. We attempt to be something else instead of being ourselves. We are all created in God's image not in the commercial's image made for you. We are meant to seek God in the uniqueness of each other, NOT in the cliche of advertising. 

Here's some more food for thought:

The square peg in the round hole: CPE musings

The old saying: "don't try and fit a square peg in a round hole" has taken on an entirely new meaning for me.

I have just finished my first week of CPE. For those of you not familiar with the M.div/ministry/seminarian lexicon; CPE stands for "Clinical Pastoral Education." Many people seeking ordination are required to spend some time (a summer or year or more) working as a chaplain intern at a hospital. For those brave few who want to be an official chaplain at a hospital you have to take many units of CPE before getting certified. Its both a class with a supervisor and an experience of being a hospital chaplain.

What CPE is as well, is a mythological creature that haunts many a seminarian's dreams. The stories you hear about and from CPE programs and past graduates can fill an encyclopedia of worst case scenarios. There are engaging stories of joy and blessings as well. But most often for those entering into their first term of CPE all you hear about is how you are going to dig deep into the far recesses of the meaning of life and maybe just maybe come back a survivor.

I had my own fears and excitement starting this process but as I ruminate on the culmination of my first week what is bubbling over in my brain is completely unexpected. I am a strong believer that (almost) all experience is good experience if you can learn from it. This past year I decided to officially begin the ordination process with the UCC, and although CPE is required for ordination, I was incredibly excited to take on this new EXPERIENCE.

As someone who loves to "bulldoze" through life and compile long lists of experiences and adventures, I thought this program was the perfect mix of jumping into the deep end of the unknown to come out as a more mature and seasoned individual. That may happen (wait for the end of CPE post to see) but what I wasn't expecting was to enter into a space that stands for everything I try to avoid.

It is hard to articulate just how CPE is my personal nightmare. The reasons it makes me want to run for the hills is probably not what you expect. As much I get nervous around meeting new people, the patient interaction seems to be the safest place. Even in a male-dominated hospital where I will confront sexism and I'm not bothered by that aspect. What makes me shiver inside is the class dynamics.

I have a great group of people/students in my group and an incredible supervisor. Its not the people, the institution, or the chaplaincy....its the feelings that frighten me. A main component of CPE is getting together with your group and talking about how you feel about life/the program/patients/etc. Many people dig deep into the recess of pain and memory; exposing the worst parts of themselves to make them a better minister. I believe in that but for me, sitting in a group and talking about MY feelings and MY life is horrific. Its hard enough for me to sit with my therapist who I voluntarily go and see to talk about emotions and life...sit me in a group and I can't stop squirming.

On top of my "no go emotions zone" I also like to present a facade that I have my sh*t together. I'm really good at pretending I know what I'm doing, that I'm confident, or strong. Even when all those things may be lies I can get by. In CPE I can't do that.

Ironically my emotions have swung from excitement and anticipation to fear and trepidation. I feel like I walked into the hospital; swinging a door open with all my might not realizing it was on a hinge. I push forward with excitement and BAM it swings back to hit me in the face.

I also feel like the wicked witch in OZ right at the moment the water is thrown on her. Before that shower she thinks she's so strong, in charge, a leader of her life and world but once the H20 hits her body everything melts away.

I hear Isaiah ringing in my ears:

Isaiah 29:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ You turn things upside down,
    as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
    “You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
    “You know nothing”? 

This summer I am melting. I am moving from a square peg that doesn't fit in the round hole, into something else. I am dust mixed with water, spun around, and formed. I am broken clay made into something new. 

So my prayer for this summer of CPE is to ask God to make me, form me, and melt me into something useable, beautiful, and flexible enough to be used by the Holy One.  I am praying that I can fully embrace the uncomfortable space.

And for those who pray with music: David Crowder "Rescue is Coming"