Do you think women are responsible for runaway spending by our government? I don't see many of them in high political roles these days, so I kind of doubt it.
So why would this ad (attempting to persuade us to vote against the gas tax in CA) prominently feature an open-mouthed, wet-lipped, big-busted blonde in a low-cut top playing with tons of money?
I'll tell you why: because some people stereotype women as having profligate spending patterns.
You and I know better: in the average American home, more women than men are in charge of paying bills and balancing the checkbook. The stereotypical image of profligate consumer spending is more accurately a man blowing his entire paycheck at the poker table or the bar or, better yet, buying a house and car that are beyond his means or investing in overblown stocks.
I wonder if the stereotype about women's profligate spending pictured there is behind the statistic that, although nearly 30% of US businesses are majority-owned by women, we only receive 3% of the venture funding.
Handily enough, they have a survey form right there, so you can check the "other" box and let them know exactly what you think of the picture they're using to promote their cause.
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