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PETA Makes Light of Intimate Partner Violence
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has a new 30-second clip featuring a young woman suffering from the made-up condition "BWVAKTBOOM" (Boyfriend Went Vegan and Knocked the Bottom Out of Me). Watch at your own risk (or better yet, DON'T): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0vQOnHW0Kc
I am thoroughly outraged and offended at this clear trivialization of intimate partner violence. Lisa Lange, a senior vice president for PETA, told Yahoo News that the clip is meant to be humorous.
"The piece is tongue-in-cheek," she said. "People who watch the ad all the way through see the woman has a mischievous smile. She's happy to go back with him. It's playful." Given the subtlety of her reaction, some viewers may miss her happiness to go back with him.
In addition to the posted clip, PETA went further on its website by adding a place for victims of "BWVAKTBOOM" to learn how to "play it safe." Videos have also been uploaded to PETA's YouTube channel from people sharing their "victimization." This is in poor taste.
If an alcohol distributor aired an advertisement of a woman with two black eyes washing dishes over a kitchen sink while her boyfriend sat in a recliner drinking a beer, and blamed her injuries on the alcohol, we would all be outraged. What is the difference between that hypothetical spot and PETA's spot?
It is obvious to me that their intention of being "humorous" did not take into account that this video could be particularly disturbing to victims of domestic violence. As a survivor of domestic violence, viewing the clip instantly transported me back to a moment when I was lying on my couch covered in blood, with my ex-husband standing on top of me and my child, just feet away, screaming and crying. PETA clearly does not value the suffering of millions of survivors of intimate partner violence.
Domestic violence is a crime, a serious one. Every day women are killed by their intimate partners. Every day a child loses their mother. Every day friends and family lose loved ones. Domestic violence is not funny and should not be taken lightly. PETA's "playful" clip adds to society's disregard for women's safety and lacks respect for those mourning the loss of a loved one.
I am extremely disappointed in PETA and hope they consider making a public apology to survivors of intimate partner violence and their families.
Don't attempt to reason with a group who recently lost a law suit claiming whales at Sea World were 'slaves'.
What is up with PETA? First there was the picture in the MS Magazine No Comment section and now this?
Are they really so misogynistic as they mistake this perversion for "humor"?
And why exactly did the woman put only a jacket on over her underwear before hitting the streets? Oh, that's right, so PETA can give us a good look at a nearly naked woman -- one of their favorite advertising gimmicks.
Lastly, the woman is bringing back vegetables to her boyfriend not because she is a real person whose actions might have the power to soften any negative responses viewers may have (as implied by @billywms). No, she's doing this because it's in the script -- a script that PETA approved in an attempt to send the message that women secretly enjoy the kind of sex that puts them in a neck brace. Her actions at the end only make the clip more despicable.
This is not a laughing matter, it certainly doesn't deserve a "mischievous smile." Jeanette said it well when she said, "This is poor taste." I'd say it was disgusting.
And we are meant to picture the ad as being real, Ergo, The character is bringing home the veggies because she enjoyed it so much & wants to do it again. And some people DO enjoy rough sex even if it hurts, So i don't see anything offensive about that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y59VUQxX3Dk
http://falserapesociety.blogspot.com/2012/02/super-bowl-cartoon-domestic-violence-is.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpi2IAec9Ho
Eve Ensler pointed that out too, on twitter.
There is clearly a 'war on women' in this country.
...and PETA wants no violence against animals...but it's ok against women???
Do you see what i mean?
It’s pretty obvious that you haven’t taken much psychology (or get out much). Many of the top female fantasies involve some form of dominance and even rough (forced) sex. It’s the duality of the weaker sex.
Society doesn’t like to see women and children in pain. If you see a woman with a black eye what is your first thought? That she’s a boxer or that she is a victim of domestic violence? Is it sexist to think she was abused? I call everyone here that thinks this commercial in any way supports violence against women is themselves a sexist.
There are two very important things people here should think about before spouting off. One, there can be no equality if you really do not want/attain equality. Two, no one can empower you – empowerment comes from one taking power not being granted it by law.
Equality can get dirty.
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