I have been debating whether or not I should write this post for a couple of weeks because (a) I largely want my blog to be positive, and (b) working in the public relations industry, it can be risky to publicly call out any company in a negative light.

However, the more I saw the commercial below, the more I found myself getting upset; and a good rant never hurt anybody, right?

Okay, enough justification, onto the commercial.

It is a Reebok advertisement for its new “easy tone” sneaker. The first thing that stuck out to me was the tag line “better legs and a better butt with every step.” Isn’t that what happens when you, oh, I don’t know, walk, run and take steps in general? Apparently the shoe is made with balance ball technology. I’ve been to the gym, I’ve used a balance ball, so okay, I’ll assume this claim to be true.

After watching the ad a few times I realized what it really was that made me so upset. It’s the fact that this commercial pits a female’s body parts against each other. It is no longer enough for me to be jealous of the Photoshopped women in magazines, or the beautiful woman walking down the street. I now have to be self conscious that my ass looks better than my tits?

Whereas the shoe itself actually piques my curiosity, the advertisements completely miss the mark.

I was talking to my friend, Stephanie Lentz, about the ad and she said “it reminds me of the movie What Women Want where the Mel Gibson character’s male brain cannot comprehend what a woman would look for in a work-out shoe.”

Sport companies have a unique opportunity to portray women as strong, determined and athletic. I’m sorry Reebok, I just do not appreciate your decision to portray us as self-conscious and body obsessed.