Sexist Dodge Charger Ad From 1967 Shows How Little We've Progressed

Today's car ads may not imply that men need to teach their women how to drive, but they aren't much better than their vintage counterparts.
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According to this 1967 Dodge ad, a woman just want to get married -- preferably to a man who lets her pick out the music that plays in his car from time to time. When I first stumbled across this vintage (and blatantly sexist) car ad on Reddit this morning, my initial reaction was some variation of "seriously?" Unfortunately, what's more striking than this advertisement's copy is how little car ads have progressed over the past 46 years.

Today's car ads may not imply that men need to teach their women how to drive, but they aren't much better than their vintage counterparts. This Dodge Charger ad has resurfaced just weeks after a Ford ad showing bound and gagged women in the back of a car driven by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was leaked. Ford apologized for the advertisement, stating that it was never meant to be made public. The 2010 Chrysler "Man's Last Stand" and 2012 Fiat 500 "Seduction" ads -- which were meant to be public -- are just as shameless.

In August 2011, Ms. magazine looked at how automotive advertising continues to target men by relying on tired gender stereotypes like women not being good drivers and men treating cars better than their spouses.

Here's hoping that car advertisers start taking a different road -- before another 46 years goes by.

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