I touch, u score?

Another one picked up at Sociological Images:

This one's about PepsiCo's iPhone/iTouch freebie app that advises users -- men-- on how to ''score'' with one of 24 types stereotypes of ''girls.''

You meet one of them, you classify her (cougar girl? political girl? women's studies girl? oooh and even twins girls!) and then you tap for tips on how to pick her up.

Oh but it gets better.

After you ''get lucky,'' you can add her to your ''Brag List'' and include her name, phone number and ''whatever details you remember.''

And then?

You got it? Flaunt it. keep your buddies in the loop on email, Facebook and Twitter.

Sure, broadcast the score.

And, while you're at it, add her name and number to the bathroom wall, why don't you?

As Gwen at Sociological Images notes,

Women as sex objects? Check. Depiction of sex/relationships as a game where it’s acceptable for men to manipulate women so they can “score” with them? Check. Stupidity? Check.

Oh and let's not forget the part where, as my mother used to put it, he ''adds a notch to his gun.''

According to NPR, Pepsi, which launched the app to promote a new energy drink aimed at young men, was mildly apologetic.

It seems like an odd mistake for a company like PepsiCo. It has a female CEO and major products like Quaker Oats and Tropicana orange juice that appeal to families and moms.

<SNIP>

On Tuesday, Pepsi sent out a tweet that said, "We apologize if it's in bad taste & appreciate [your] feedback." Many men on Twitter defended the humor of the app, and many women said they wouldn't be buying Pepsi products anytime soon.

PepsiCo did not respond to NPR's request for a comment.

The app is still available over at iTunes.

UPPITY WOMAN DATE: How's this for meta?

I was just about to tweet this post when I found this, a Powerpoint slide show on this marketing campaign.

#PepsiFail fer shure.

And seriously, did Pepsi create that #PepsiFail tag?

Comments

[Ashley]

Wow, that's really irresponsible. You would think that a major company like PepsiCo would be more careful than that, wouldn't you? Sheesh.

[Keith]

This reminds me of the story of a researcher at a college that spent 35 years researching to try to figure out the the mind of a woman. He recieved grants from various mens clubs and organisations all hoping to gain insight via his research. Alas, his finds were never published. He was found dead in his research lab. Authorities reviewed the security tape, apparently he had finally figured women out, and the researcher died laughing his butt off.

[ingrid]

*most* advertising is not ethical. period. it is only about sales. i don't think that pepsi is exceptional. i think that we have become deadened to just how much advertising is based on exploitation and is fundamentally condescending mindless drivel.

this was just such blatant stupidity its easier to pick up on.

[William Hayes]

"It seems like an odd mistake for a company like PepsiCo. It has a female CEO."
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Doesn't seem at all odd to me.
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I recall this long ago, less than sanguine comment by Saul Alinsky, community organizer and social animator, about the groups on whose behalf he worked tirelessly: When they (the poor, blacks, women, poor black women, ...) get power, they'll be sh*ts like the rest of them.

[Jim M]

I suspect that poor black women would not behave as a group the same way Oprah Winfrey behaves as a former poor individual black women. Same for at least some of those poor, blacks and women who have succeeded despite patriarchy, or perhaps as window dressing for patriarchy? Just guessing, but it looks real good on paper so far.