Racism again rears its ugly head in anti-abortion ads

It's not the first time charges of racism have been levelled at a "pro-life" ad, but this time there was nothing subtle about the message:

Via Tumblr

This was a homemade job, that showed up on the campus of the University of New Mexico recently. And Native American students were not happy about it:



Feministing reports that a representative for 40 Days for Life, who were thought to be behind the posters, denied that they were associated with the group.

Student placards read, “Racism is not pro-life” and “We will not be used to further your political purpose.”

Feminsting adds:

Native women–who face rates of sexual violence that are twice as high as the rest of the country–often severely lack access to reproductive health care. A recent report found that only 10 percent of the pharmacies in the Indian Health Service system offered Plan B over the counter. And thanks to the Hyde smendment, abortion isn’t covered under the IHS or Medicaid.

Christmas toys weigh in on the abortion debate

via AdFreak

Thanks, Niagara Region Right to Life. Because what a complex scientific and ethical debate about the nature of humanity and reproductive rights really needs... is more crying nutcrackers.

This isn't really about skincare, is it?

There are very few social issues I'm uncomfortable discussing in a work setting, but reproductive politics is one of them. Not that I don't have strong opinions on the issue. It's just that we, as polite and reserved Canadians, don't really want to get into it again. At least, not in the office.

And so it is with great awkwardness that I present Clarins' new POS campaign, as spotted at The Bay:



There's no way those words are coincidental. It's just too far a stretch from the headline to the real message of a selection of ecologically-friendly gifts with purchase. Also, the two-level font size is a dead giveaway.

Now, whether you're the straw man barking "How dare they shove this pro-choice rhetoric doen our throats in a retail setting!" — or the one growling "How dare they make light of the most important women's rights issue in a generation!" — I'm sure you'll agree that it's not a fight we want to have at the makeup counter.

Do we?