Oh boy oh boy! There’s a new marketing strategy in town: Only in a Woman’s World. This “series” of drawn videos is here to inspire us to maintain our friendships and fall for these ideas of how women should act. So far this site/series has helped me maintain the following myths about women’s lives:
1. That good friends only come in sets of fours
2. You’re still expected to be hung up about your hair from high school
3. We’re never gay, and always searching for Mr. Right if we haven’t bagged him yet
4. Gaining back the five pounds we’ve lost is shameful
5. That if your body is imperfect it is “embarrassing”
6. Snack companies still want to sell us ideas about who we are (and who they think we should be) to buy their crackers
7. That we hate our bodies so much we’d wear control top stockings under our bikinis
8. Making excuses for the food we eat is okay, accepted, and encouraged
9. We’re still eating celery to fit into said bikinis!
I can’t wait for all the other things I’m going to learn about who I should be and what I should do as this series evolves!!


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13 comments
This is not every woman's world. Definitely not mine. Its good that I don't watch TV.
This show is very weird for the fact that it is promoted and run by Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
Posted by Cecelia
February 23, 2009, 8:13 PM
I'm surprised that there was no mention of chocolate in that trailer. 'Cause ladies LOVE chocolate!
Posted by Tiina
February 24, 2009, 6:37 PM
haha!!
Posted by Diandra
February 24, 2009, 7:28 PM
I think it's silly to read so much into it. It seems light hearted and fun more than anything. I think it looks cute.
Posted by sammie
February 25, 2009, 1:30 PM
I am food writer and I was invited to the red carpet premier of "Only in a Woman's World" last night in Hollywood. What a joke.
Let's see, we have a black mom, a goofy redhead, a blond fashionista and an Asian yoga queen. Everyone fits into one of those categories , right? I heard women blowing smoke to the Frito Lay reps that this was "such a good idea" and these were characters they could "really relate to."
When the 5 minute episode aired, I didn't hear much laughter. I certainly didn't experince any "that's so me" moments.
Later, women that I spoke to said that they couldn't see themselves "getting behind" cartoon characters not to mention the whole concept is a total rip-off of Sex and the City.
On the plus side, there were tasty appetizers.
Posted by Not in my world
February 25, 2009, 4:33 PM
it's like all of sarah haskins parodies wrapped up in one real marketing attempt. without the self-awareness to realize that it's a parody.
Posted by fireeyedgirl
February 25, 2009, 4:41 PM
um *the sarah haskins parodies. or sarah haskins' parodies, i guess.
Posted by fireeyedgirl
February 26, 2009, 12:41 PM
it's a parody people. don't take it so seriously...perhaps those that are offended feel this way because the messages strike a deep chord somewhere inside. it's telling us to laugh at our insecurities and not make such a big deal out of them. we all need to laugh more...
Posted by brookey
March 5, 2009, 9:32 PM
It isn't even remotely intended as parody. It's an attempt at making a product more appealing to women by advertising it through characters they can identify with. Woman are supposed to see these tiny illustrated women and think, "Well if she eats Lays, then those are probably for me."
Posted by Cate
March 6, 2009, 10:29 AM
I called Frito Lay today and told them how ridiculous these ads are. I encourage you all to as well! 1-800-352-4477, Monday - Friday 9AM to 4:30 PM Central Standard Time.
Posted by Ashley
March 6, 2009, 11:28 AM
I made it to about second 15. The voices were making me want to rip my own ears from my head. Also the boyfriend's name is Jon Carlo? If they were that good friends then by now they would have either;
a/ Given him a name like Jonny-boy, Jonvision, Jon the Bon, etc..
b/ Or hate him so much he is only referred to as "What? Your dickweed boyfriend?"
At least the people who write Sex in the City know that much.
Also, who eats chips when the chips are down? You go out for a nice dinner, or make comfort food at home (like thick soup or jambalaya). OR if the chips are WAAAY DOWN, you stay home and make brownies together.
Like really, if my friend came over with chips while I was having a crisis I'd be all - "Do you hate me? Is my mental and emotional well-being not important to you anymore, take your salt and vinegar cheap-ass and go find another BFF bi--atch!"
Just saying. Chips are not a comfort food, they are junk, just like this campaign friends.
Posted by miriam
March 7, 2009, 10:57 AM
I've been browsing this blog for some time now but I'm still really pleased with this post, especially because this show was 'recommended for me' on youtube. At first I thought they could be going somewhere, but 3 seconds into the trailer I realized it was yet another series that dismisses womens' concerns to little more than keeping that 4 pounds off and their friendships than little more than a mutual agreement of 'those are some cute shoes.' The characters are the typical stereotypes (well pointed out by NOT IN MY WORLD)and the show's tagline "It's hard to win when you're your own enemy"
Thanks for that deep insight on what an idealistic 'women's world' would be like, 40-year-old male FritoLays marketing execs.
Posted by The token Trinidadian
May 16, 2009, 10:56 AM
Wow What A Hater This Is A Really Cute Show.
Your Reading Way To Much Into This.
I Love There Little Senarios.
And I Will Definatly Be Watching More Of In A Womans World.
In Fact Its Like A little PG Sex & The City :)
Posted by Gabona
May 17, 2009, 8:29 PM
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