Sexist Target Ad Puts Bullseye Between Woman's Legs

Posted by Lucinda Marshall, Feminist Peace Network at 11:19 AM on January 25, 2008.

Yes, you guessed it, that is a Target ad and no actually we don't think targeting women with their legs spread wide on a bullseye, even if it happens to be your corporate symbol is a good marketing strategy. But to add insult to injury, when another blogger wrote to protest the ad, she got this insulting, not to mention just plain stupid, reply:

Good Morning Amy,

Thank you for contacting Target; unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with non-traditional media outlets. This practice is in place to allow us to focus on publications that reach our core guest.

Seriously. As Beauty and the Breast points out, Target's supposed demographic is:

"the with it and hip, a demographic that comfortably fits in the 18 to 49 age range. Well, about 85 percent of such people are online, and NOT exclusively hanging out at, say, newyorktimes.com. They are spread across gaming sites, social networking sites and... blogs.

They did not have an email contact on their website for customer service, but you might try writing to this address:

investorrelations@target.com

Tagged as: target, sexism

Lucinda Marshall is a feminist artist, writer and activist. She is the Founder of the Feminist Peace Network. Her work has been published in numerous publications in the U.S. and abroad including, Counterpunch, AlterNet, Dissident Voice, Off Our Backs, the Progressive, Countercurrents, Z Magazine, Common Dreams, In These Times and Information Clearinghouse. She also blogs at WIMN Online and writes a monthly column for the Louisville Eccentric Observer.