We’ve seen a lot of it, mostly in fashion and music.
We tend to think it’s a relatively recent phenomenon in marketing (though Unspeakable Axe has been posting ‘Found Femdom‘ in mainstream media for years).
This ad campaign is from 2004. Umbro Vigo is a sports brand, and this ‘Sado’ series to advertise footwear is by a Brazilian agency. Stereotypical: yes. Exploitative: sure.
But say what you want, these are stunning. Not least in their unapologetic presentation of submissives as the beautiful men they are, and you know I always appreciate that.
18 comments
I rather like that they’re practical, active shoes, not stilettos!
Yes! Sports shoes are totally useful for these kinds of activities :).
Ferns
Exactly! These are THE appropriate shoes to kick and stomp things (or men).
Hmmm.
I haven’t worn cleats – or even thought about them – in 25 years.
But odds are I’ll be thinking about them now. (Minus the half-naked patent pleather posing, please.)
Thanks for sharing. :)
Cleats would leave cute marks, so there’s that…
Ferns
It’s nice to see male subs shown as actual objects of desire!
Now we need adverts like this also showing such subs doing things *for* the domme.
It IS nice, yes!
I’m not sure ‘doing things for a domme’ is going to get marketers or consumers salivating over the imagery tbh.
Ferns
Cleats would leave cute marks, so there’s that…
Studs dear, cleats is sooo colonial
Coug
Spikes! Duh!
Ferns
Femdom ads are great.
There’s a fantastic domme themed ad for Christian Louboutin shoes, I don’t know if I can post a link but the URL is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocdk2uPI5V8
( If that doesn’t work just search on youtube for ” Wrist Job Louboutin”)
There’s also an entire channel dedicated to femdom (or femdom lite) ads called
“The Portly Polar Pinniped”.
You should definitely check it out because it’s a lot of fun.
Charlie
OMG! *laugh* Then HE pays HER <3. So good.
There you go Giles!
I will definitely check out that channel, thanks Charlie.
Ferns
Hm! Interesting, thank you Ferns! They burn with drama & intensity, I’d call them erotica.
I’m still contemplating the stereotypical/exploitative charge… I suppose exploitative in that overtly sexual images are a quick & easy attention grabber, also a crafty way of courting controversy: ie- publicity for the brand. Maybe erotica and advertising shouldn’t generally be mixed to this extent? I dunno!
As for stereotypical, you mean in terms of BDSM/kink culture and so on? Cause I think FemDom generally defies the traditional gender stereotype of Man=tough/dominant & Female=soft/submissive.
I’m not too familiar with this brand so I don’t know if the gear is marketed in female and male sizes but I can imagine many men from traditional ‘macho’ cultures being put off the brand by these images!
Anyway, thanks again Ferns.
Lifeline, I say! ;)
Yes: stereotypical images of femdom and exploitative of women per every marketing campaign since forever (sexy woman sells product etc). Same same in terms of imagery in both domains.
I can appreciate them as great images with their depiction of the submissive men, and enjoy their context in mainstream advertising (especially for sports shoes) while still recognising the above.
Also, I don’t think femdom images like this are the threat to ‘macho’ men that you think they are. I would imagine they see it exactly how it’s presented in porn: a hot woman who is playing a hot game of spanky spanky with you [before giving you a blow job].
Ferns
Yeah, you’re probably right actually, I think I tend to assume that other men take such images as seriously as I like to!
DAMN!!!! ;-)
Yes! :)
Ferns
I keep thinking I’ll post a comment about these, but instead what happens is I just sort of scroll up and stare at the one where she’s riding him around with a gag in his mouth for a bit. Then five minutes later I’m like, “Hm, these are quite nice, I should say something…but maybe only after I’ve really, fully contemplated them…”
*laugh* They DO need to be fully contemplated, that’s true.
Ferns