Buy me diamonds. Buy me love.
Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Laura in General
Yesterday I saw a huge billboard for a jewelery chain – the message was “Happy wife. Happy life” with the implication being that if you keep your wife happy (by buying her diamonds/jewelery) then you will be happy.
This isn’t a new message. Turn on the TV and you will see adverts, sitcoms, movies, reality shows where the message is you can buy your wifes love and affection. Make sure she has a cupboard full of clothes, your credit card, diamond earrings and a car so big they don’t actually make parkings big enough and she will be yours forever.
I have joked with my friends and even with my boyfriend about getting diamonds and fancy gifts. It has become so much a part of our daily life that I don’t think we even notice it anymore. We don’t even notice that the message are men are getting is “buy me buy me buy me”. The message our boy children are learning through this adverts/sitcoms/movies is “I can buy her I can buy her I can buy her”. And it is being done is such a way that we feel we can joke about but it is not really funny.
The image on the billboard I saw was of a women dressed seductively, showing some cleavage and to be honest looking a little cheap and slutty. (No offense to the model as I understand she merely was carrying out the objective of the client) and I think it was that image that made me look twice at the message.
We all know money can’t buy love or happiness. We all know that many marriages end up with men fulled with bitterness and resentment towards their wives – they give and give things but its never enough.
It will never be enough.
The message being sent to men is wrong. It is such a subtle message that we don’t even notice it half the time, so we don’t realise the impact it is having on relationships and the way boys are raised.
Maybe today appreciate your man for all the things he doesn’t give you but for the way he looks at you. The way he touches you. The way he wants you. The way he holds you when you are sad.
When all your clothes don’t fit and your bone china is chipped and your diamond ring doesn’t fit anymore – you will still have his touch, his desire. You will still have his heart.
Start sending the right message out today.
Wenchy
Mar 2nd, 2010
I don’t entirely agree with you… or maybe I just think here are many such subtle messages in society that goes both ways between the species.
The subtle message to men is also that fantacy in sex is FHM models…. and that if your wife is all that, you are a touch above the rest of the other ouks… doesn’t mean your wife loves or adore you, but if she looks good, you look good. Strange but true… the envy of all your peers.
No, you cannot buy love or affection… you cannot buy happiness but there is nothing wrong with a beautiful gift to show your appreciation.