Do you want a raise, or maybe just become another middle management douch?

Thanks to the hard work of the women in previous generations we no longer have to look at stupid ads playing on our fears and insecurities in relationships. – Please enjoy the following selection for your viewing amusement and/or sadness.







So as I was saying, Women are out there, in the world, liberated, working, playing and living as equals. Leaps and bounds ahead of the previous drivel right?

However, every now and again advertisers step away from the mundane world of bikini babes and beer and try and step into our world of liberation and try and SCREW IT UP.



This really makes me mad.
By all means, hit the old stereotypes we haven’t won yet, but don’t come onto my professional turf and shit on the lawn, thank you very much.

This charming ad was sent to me by a friend in the states, apparently it ran in the USA’s Women’s Weekly mag.

Among some more helpful tips, number one on the list of "How To Ask For A Raise," is this advice:
"It should start with your usual routine and all the things you do to feel your best, including showering with Summer's Eve Feminine Wash or throwing a packet of Summer's Ever Feminine Cleansing Cloths into your bag for a quick freshness pick-me-up during the day."

A little bit of Wiki history on douching etc…

In the late 1920s Lysol disinfectant began being marketed by maker Lysol, Incorporated and distributor Lehn & Fink, Inc. as a feminine hygiene product. They intimated that vaginal douching with a Lysol solution prevented infections and vaginal odor, and thereby preserved marital bliss. This Lysol solution was also used as a birth control agent, as post-coital douching was a popular method of preventing pregnancy at that time. The use of Lysol was later discouraged by the medical community as it tended to eliminate the bacteria normal to the healthy vagina, thus allowing more robust, health-threatening bacteria to thrive, and may have masked more serious problems that certain odors indicated in the first place...
In the US, from around 1930 to 1960, vaginal douching with a Lysol disinfectant solution was the most popular form of birth control. US marketing ads printed testimonials from European "doctors" touting its safety and effectiveness. The American Medical Association later investigated these claims. They were unable to locate the cited "experts" and found that Lysol was not effective as a contraceptive.
So basically it was a cleaning product marketed to solve all those tricky lady issues like smell and babies. Perfectly convenient except for the latter problem it just blatantly didn’t work, and for the former the argument is still raging as to whether it does more harm than good.

So specific to this ad rather than the products themselves; what the hell were they thinking?
The funniest bit for me is the fact that number 7 is as follows…



Don’t get too personal.
Good advice.
Slightly undermined by the fact that they in the first instance suggested that your boss might be sniffing around your undercarriage at some point.
…Creepy?

For the final part of my rant I’d like to mention that most vaginas are perfectly happy with a daily wash of the OUTSIDE (the vulva) with some kind of mild soap and water.
Washing the inside can be harmful (see below) and if there are any offensive smells they can be signs of ill health and should not be masked and ignored, but taken to the doc to get checked and treated.

For anyone who has come to this site due to an ill-targeted Google search on Douching please find the following info courtesy of the College of Family Physicians of Canada

Is vaginal discharge normal?
Yes. Glands inside your vagina and cervix (the opening to the uterus, or womb) make small amounts of fluid. This fluid flows out of the vagina each day, carrying out old cells that have lined the vagina. This is your body's way of keeping your vagina healthy and clean. The discharge is usually clear or milky and doesn't smell bad.

The colour and thickness of the discharge changes with your monthly cycle. The discharge is thicker when you ovulate (when one of your ovaries releases an egg), when you breastfeed or when you're sexually excited. During your period, menstrual blood mixes with the discharge.

What changes may be a sign of a problem?
Changes that may signal that something is wrong include an increase in the amount of discharge, a change in the colour or smell of the discharge, and irritation, itchiness or burning in or around your vagina. This is called vaginitis. A discharge that's stained with blood when you're not having your period could also be a sign of a problem. These signs may need to be checked by your doctor.

What may cause these changes?
These changes can occur if the normal balance of healthy bacteria in your vagina is upset. Many things can disturb the balance of a healthy vagina, including douching, feminine hygiene sprays, certain soaps or bubble baths, antibiotics, diabetes, pregnancy, infections, aging and intercourse.

Why is douching harmful?
The chemicals in douches may irritate your vagina and change the normal balance of healthy bacteria in your vagina. Douching can also spread an infection into the uterus, increasing your risk of getting pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID is an infection of the fallopian tubes that can cause you to be unable to have children.

Douching isn't needed to be clean. Smells you may notice often come from outside the vagina (vulva). Keeping this area clean with gentle soap and water can prevent smells. See tips on cleanliness.

Tips on cleanliness
Bathe or shower regularly and pat your genital area dry.
After using the toilet, always wipe from front to back. This may help prevent
getting bacteria from your rectal area into your vagina.
Avoid feminine hygiene sprays. These sprays may cause allergic reactions.
If you feel you must use a spray, limit how often you use it and avoidspraying it into your vagina.

Don't douche.

Avoid coloured or perfumed toilet paper, deodorant pads or tampons, and bubble bath.

Be sure to remove any tampons you use. A forgotten tampon or pieces of a tampon can be irritating.

What is a yeast infection?
Small amounts of yeast fungus are often found in a healthy vagina. But if too much grows, it can cause a yeast infection, or vaginal candidiasis. Possible signs of yeast infections are listed in the box to the right.

Yeast infections usually aren't caught from a sex partner. You may be more likely to get a yeast infection if you use antibiotics, are pregnant, have diabetes, or stay hot and sweaty for long periods. Some women get frequent yeast infections for no obvious reason. Yeast infections aren't harmful, but they can be painful and itchy. Yeast infections are usually treated a cream that you put into your vagina with a special plunger or a pill called a suppository that you insert into your vagina. Medicines in a cream form can be used on your vulva to help relieve the itching on the outside.

Signs of yeast infections
White, cottage cheese-like discharge, especially inside, on the walls of your vagina
Swelling and pain outside your vagina, on the vulva
Intense itching
Painful intercourse
Burning when urinating (peeing)
What is bacterial vaginosis?
Bacterial vaginosis is usually caused by Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria. Why some women get this infection isn't clear. It's probably not caught from a sex partner. Sometimes, women with bacterial vaginosis can develop PID or have an abnormal Pap smear. Possible signs are listed below. Bacterial vaginosis is treated with antibiotic medicine, usually a pill, available through a prescription from your doctor.

Signs of bacterial vaginosis
A white, gray or yellowish vaginal discharge
A fishy odor that is strongest after sex or after washing with soap
Itching or burning
Slight redness and swelling of the vagina or vulva

Signs of trichomoniasis
A watery, yellowish or greenish bubbly discharge
An unpleasant odor
Pain and itching when urinating
Most apparent after your period

What is trichomoniasis?
Trichomoniasis, also called "trich," is caused by an organism called Trichomonas vaginalis. You can be infected but have no signs for a long time. Men who have trichomoniasis rarely have any signs. Possible signs of trichomoniasis in women are listed above.

Trichomoniasis is usually caught by having sex without a condom with some who has trichomoniasis. It can get into your urinary tract and cause a urinary infection. It's usually treated with antibiotic pills.

What about other infections?
Two sexually transmitted diseases, chlamydia and gonorrhea, can also cause vaginal discharge. These are infections of the cervix caused by bacteria. Sometimes the only symptom in women may be an increase of vaginal discharge. Chlamydia and gonorrhea often cause no symptoms at all in men. Both of these infections can be treated with antibiotic shots or pills.

Tips on preventing vaginitis
Wear cotton underpants during the day. Cotton allows your genital area to
"breathe." Don't wear underpants at night.
Avoid wearing tight pants, panty hose, swimming suits, biking shorts or leotards for long periods of time.
Change your laundry soap or stop using fabric softener if you think it may be irritating you.
The latex in condoms and diaphragms and the sperm-killing gels that are used for birth control can be irritating for some women. If you think one of these things is a problem for you, talk to your doctor about other types of birth control.
Avoid hot tubs.
When infected, avoid sex so that you and your partner won't pass the infection back and forth. If you do have sex, use a condom to help prevent the infection from spreading.