Cougar Town: Letter writing to Macys needed!

By: American Decency Staff

Cougar Town from October 28 — “You’ve come a long way, baby.â€ÂÂ  The catch phrase developed by Virginia Slims cigarettes to advertise their brand to young women – an ad campaign considered by many to contribute to the rapid rise of smoking among girls and women.  It’s also an example that what we view does impact attitudes and behavior. In regards to the portrayal of women by the entertainment industry, sadly, it too has come a long way – a long way in promoting the coarsening of the “fairer sexâ€Â.  The image of womanhood sold by Hollywood reflects no trace of femininity; rather they push the view to women and girls that true “liberationâ€Â – empowerment – comes from throwing off the shackles of love, commitment, modesty,  faithfulness, selflessness. As television has spent the last couple of decades teaching young men that they are nothing more than hormonally-charged animals and that sex has no meaning or significance, we now see a generation of women depicted in the same light.  Often, the female characters seen on the small screen today are caricatures of lust-driven Lotharios seeking nothing more than another conquest. Women are no longer shown as ones seeking lasting love, desiring commitment from a man.  No, now television gives us women like Courtney Cox’s character on “Cougar Townâ€Â who tells the college-age guy half her age with whom she’s having an affair, “Don’t fall in love with me, that would be a huge hassle.â€Â This twisted view that strips a relationship from sexual relations; that portrays emotional intimacy as a “hassleâ€Â is reinforced time and again during the episode.  Cox’s character is afraid her “boyfriendâ€Â is falling in love, when he reassures her he’s not, she’s relieved and tell her friends, “We’re having fun, he’s not in love.â€ÂÂ  The women celebrate because she can continue to  ‘get the milk for free’ without having to worry about a relationship and congratulate her for “finally [being] someone’s booty call.â€Â Later in the episode Cox’s character feels badly about breaking it off with the college boy when he does confess his love for her, yet continues to sleep with him.  She tells her friend, “It’s just like Sister Catherine used to say, ‘Never have sex with someone you don’t love.  It’s dirty and you will burn in hell.’â€Â Her friend dismisses Sister Catherine’s advice and reassuringly tells her, “Relax, you know how many people I’ve slept with that I didn’t love?  Like 20.  Twenty-one if you count the first six years with Andy [her husband].â€Â This is the lesson taught by “Cougar Townâ€Â – ‘relax, sleep around, and don’t worry about love or commitment.’ This week we have told the accounts of numerous ones damaged by pornography.  Often it is men caught in the web.  However, pornography takes many forms and women can be ensnared, as well.   One form is that which is portrayed on shows such as “Cougar Townâ€Â.  Women can easily buy the lies equating illicit sex with “empowermentâ€Â, masking their emotional vulnerability with meaningless affairs. ======== Those advertising on this weeks "Cougar Town" include: L’Oreal (advertised 4 times), JC Penney, T-Mobile, Macy's, General Motors [Last week we asked you to target "Target."  Target was not an advertiser this past week.)  Keep it up! This week we urge you to target all the advertisers but at least start with Federated Department Stores – Macys. They have been appearing on a lot of concerning shows. Federated Department Stores, Inc. – Macy’s Terry Lundgren – Chairman, President and CEO 7 W. 7th St. Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513-579-7000 Toll-free: 800-261-5385 Fax: 513-579-7555 http://www.federated-fds.com/contact/general.aspx Complete address for ABC/Disney's "Cougar Town" for October 28 https://americandecency.org/archives/advertising-list-for-abcdisney80%99s-80%9Ccougar-town80%9D-4/#more-2572 —————— To support this ministry: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 ========================== For helpful resources: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=store/display ======================= American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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