When Our Pleasure is Deemed Offensive (UnboundBabes.com)
Read the full article at UnboundBabes.com
As Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Long story short: last week Unbound submitted our first ad campaign to the MTA. And we were promptly rejected. Our ads were deemed "sexually offensive material" and therefore will not see the light of day (or the glaring fluorescent light of the B train). If you're already fired up, feel free to skip to the bottom because we need your help.
For the members of our team and all New Yorkers, the subway is a common experience that we all share. It’s a public utility, an art gallery, a waiting room, an inside joke that only those who faithfully ride truly get. While the rest of the country chats politely about the weather; New Yorkers bond over the packed trains, ever-present Dr. Zizmor ads, and the terrifying delight of the “Show Time!” guys. It's the bane of our existence and a necessary institution. It matters and so does the advertising we see on it.
We wanted to create a campaign that would not only highlight our company and the products we make but also convey the idea that the pursuit of sexual wellbeing is an act of self-love–that buying a vibrator is an act of self-love. We also wanted to make the point that we believe all sexuality and pleasure is something worthy of more visibility. At the very least, it is worthy of being as visible as cis men’s sexuality.
The MTA has decided that New York City is still not prepared to see womxn take control of our own narratives. Its decided that the pursuit of a healthy sexual wellbeing is reserved for those with a penis. It's nothing new–this is the message we've received our entire lives–whether it's adherence to dress codes, paying a luxury tax for tampons or pads, or even just riding the subway alongside (approved) ads for erectile dysfunction or breast implants. Don't get us wrong, these ads deserve to be there too, we're boner enthusiasts and affirm plastic surgery as a choice that people should be free to make without judgment. In fact, we were highly encouraged by seeing the rise of erectile dysfunction ads–maybe this would open a path for a company like us too. Alas, what is deemed acceptable, passable, or appropriate is different for some. The validation of progress and representation is not felt positively among all groups.