No Love For Our Libidos: Is There A Double Standard When It Comes To Ads About Sexual Dysfunction?

   By drodriguez  May 24, 2011
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Most of us have become so familiar with Viagra and Cialis commercials that we can practically recite them, but when it comes to hearing about female sexual dysfunction treatments on TV we are pretty much left in the dark. WebMD reports that women experience the problem of sexual dysfunction even more than men, with 43 percent of women claiming to have problems in this department compared to just 31 percent of men.

So, why aren’t we hearing about treatments for women? Maybe it’s because products designed to enhance a woman’s sexual pleasure like Zestra, Provestra, and Climestra are not being given a platform to advertise as well as Viagra and Cialis. A NY Times report discusses the possibility that there is a double standard when it comes to advertising about a woman’s sexuality and ways to enhance it.

Rachel Braun Scherl, president of the lab  that manufactures the mix of sexually enhancing botanical oils called Zestra, explains why she believes they have had such a hard time gaining approval to run their ads on TV, radio, and even the web.

Braun Scherl says, “The Cialises of the world are a perfectly acceptable part of conversation in our culture today, but when it comes to talking about the realities of women’s lives, like menstruation you always have some woman running in the field in a dress. In our experience, we haven’t seen women behaving that way. There’s a double standard when it comes to society’s comfort level with female sexual health and enjoyment.

Female sexual enhancing products, like Zestra, face difficulties in advertising, but Viagra –like commercials run just about everywhere and at any time. Is there a double standard?

How comfortable are you with hearing about treatments for sexual dysfunction on TV?

 

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Tamyygeds by Tamyygeds | Melbourne, OU
Oct 08, 2011

Why worry about libido, when there are other things to keep in mind? We need to give other part os our life equal importance and take it from there.

BandLmommy by BandLmommy | arlington, TX
May 25, 2011

I believe also there is a double standard when it comes to anything related to a women in a private sense. It's almost like the advertising world wants women to be in pretty dresses and smiles on their faces no matter how uncomfortable we may be (Vagisil & Tampons commericals are what I am referring to).

irol43 by irol43 | Lombard, IL
May 25, 2011

Actually, I am tired of seeing ED ads on TV. This is an issue that needs to be discussed with a physician. It maybe a double standard but TV advertising is not the forum to learn about sexual dysfunctions. Reading about it in a women's magazine is a much better way of conveying the message.

tdwidner by tdwidner | unsubscribe, AZ
May 24, 2011

Has anyone on here tried any of the womens libedo enhancers? do they really work? Im curious to hear others experience with them. I am looking to maybe try one.

kellid54299 by kellid54299 | Pascoag, RI
May 24, 2011

It is a double standard. There is a huge market base out there....I know....it's all my girlfriends and I talk about. Not sure if ours is true sexual dysfunction or simply motherhood exhaustion but still. I have never even heard of meds for women discussed in this article but I sure have heard all about the men's......"if you have an erection lasting longer the 4 hours please seek medical attention"

msfriendly by msfriendly | MONROE, WI
May 24, 2011

Of course there's a double standard. Some insurances will cover Viagra for men but not birth control pills for women! I find the Viagra/Cialis commercials funny though...it takes just a "look" while doing laundry...haha...not in my house!

Lipservice by Lipservice | Southfield, MI
May 24, 2011

if the makers were truly concerned about male libo, they would cater to women because thats where the men's libo gets satisfied.

sherrybaby by sherrybaby | wilmington, DE
May 24, 2011

This does seem like a weird double standard. I think it would be strange to see a commercial about a women's version of Viagra but, what's good for the goose is good for the gander!

didama by didama | MAPLEWOOD, NJ
May 24, 2011

I do think this is a double standard. Its kind of shocking to think that we've made it this far with women's equality yet certain double standards still exist.