DOES SEX SELL?

The front page of today's Boston Herald is about a routine coffee company that's advertising itself with photos of attractive "Hooter" type women. I never heard of the coffee before, but as of this morning both I and more than a million others who simply glance at the paper have heard of the coffee. Are men more likely to pull over for a car wash if it's surrounded by women in bikinis? Are these manipulations wrong, right or neutral?

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Permalink Reply by Candace "Zee" Zorowitz on May 24, 2012 at 1:15pm

We aren't comfortable with the notion but the reality is sex does sell. It's one of the most basic human needs. Marketing is all about satisfying the customer's needs. So I guess it's up to the viewer to decide if that cup of Joe is enough of a stimulant to satisfy.

Sometimes sex sells in ways we don't expect. Facebook ads generate sales, especially ads using good images. The FB ads with lots of cleavage get great responses. What's odd is that they generate responses from both men and women, sometimes more from women.

I think the bigger issue is the constant media exposure to sex in general. It's hard to screen what we or are kids see daily. Do we then become desensitized or over-stimulated?

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on May 24, 2012 at 1:38pm

Of course, Go Daddy's famous Super Bowl ads were relevant to the product, because if they got your attention then they could help you get attention. Was that the underlying message?

Permalink Reply by Sharon Lindenburger on May 24, 2012 at 9:39pm

Yes, sex always sells, not only to men but also to women. Look at the fact that the "erotic trilogy" Fifty Shades of Grey is occupying the first three spots on bestseller lists. These books are badly written, have poor character development, and are puerile in plot, but the sex in them is HOT.

I wish I were good at writing erotica because good erotica writers can make a fortune. I have a friend who has written erotica under a female pseudonym for more than 30 years, and he is rollling in $$$. Yet none of his readers know who he is because they think he's a she.

In terms of the coffee advertisement, I would find it humorous. Maybe the sex will attract coffee drinkers but hopefully the coffee will deliver on flavor, etc., because many coffee drinkers are serious about their java, and so if the coffee's bad, no amount of revealed bosoms would keep them drinking it.

Permalink Reply by Karma Bennett on May 30, 2012 at 3:23am

That's funny. I know a freelancer who writes for gay adult magazines, and she's a straight woman writing under a pseudonym.

Permalink Reply by Virginia Cornue on May 29, 2012 at 4:55pm

There is no doubt sex [AKA exploiting women's (for the most part) nearly naked bodies] definitely sells. The real question is how does selling women/sex uphold an exploitative cultural structure that underpins sex trafficking of girls and women, makes regular girls and women feel inadequate and fosters the multi-billion dollar international "beauty" industry, just to name a few examples?

I never liked coffee...and now, gag me with a [tea]spoon!

From a bootilicious member!

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on May 29, 2012 at 5:11pm

Virginia, All valid concerns. But maybe it's not so simple. If it causes men to be manipulated, then are they not also victims? Are women who freely collaborate with the process not also accountable?

Permalink Reply by Virginia Cornue on May 30, 2012 at 12:06am

Well, I don't think in victimology rhetoric...that's the narrative of porn or exploitative sex. Lots of people find porn sex a turn on, but I don't. Don't like men or women as victims . Due my compassion not my passion!! How do you like that for a good turn of phrase? LOL Lots more complicated than I can write here...books and books worth that have already been written on the subject.

Permalink Reply by Roger Lawrence on May 29, 2012 at 5:32pm

Sex does indeed sell. I once wrote a sex scene in a previous novel but had to rely on a woman to help me see the female point of view. I wasn't comfortable writing it and I doubt I'll ever do it again.

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on May 29, 2012 at 6:00pm

Sex Surregates for writing sex scenes. Why not?

Permalink Reply by Karma Bennett on May 30, 2012 at 3:20am

Regarding books specifically, nonfiction sex books, like how-to books, sell like mad. Erotica is a little tougher because it's a very crowded market. While I'm sure a book with more sex scenes will help spread buzz, I sometimes wonder if it's worth it to lose the youth market. If it's too steamy your book will never be on a summer reading list and never make it into a school library.

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on May 30, 2012 at 8:13pm

Karma, you can't please everybody all of the time.

Permalink Reply by Sondra Sneed on May 31, 2012 at 8:01am

I used to say no way! when I was a young and hot feminist. Now I'm still a feminist and my youthful wishes that hot guys would sell laundry soap is coming true! It started with the Brawny man and now, gosh, have you seen daytime TV ads lately? I don't know why I happened upon it, but there are stay-at-home Dads being represented in diaper commercials. Not that that's sexy, mind you, but I'm not as offended by so much sexual pigeon-holing. Wow, what a wonderful change since I was in college.

About the car wash, I think if you're a horny guy it will sell, but otherwise, meh, it's just embarrassing to most.