I don’t watch TV, but when I’m at the gym, I do get exposed to what my other sweating compadres are watching.  Today I saw a commercial that made me cringe; The Jewelry Exchange – in time for the holidays, where all good men are supposed to be doing “the right thing” – had a commercial on where a man gave his woman “the box” (holding the expected engagement ring), and, because it wasnt’ BIG enough, she starts spraying him with a forceful amount of water from the hose she’s been washing the car with.  Message: if you’re not going to shop at the right place, for the right ring, weighing the right carats, costing the right amount, I’m going to hose you.  Out of my life.  Because you’re a loser who deserves to be humiliated for what you’ve done to me. 

This is almost as bad as the large print ad in a Chicago newspaper, for Valentine’s Day, where a man had made the mistake of giving his girlfriend the wrong (too small? Too inexpensive? Wrong store?) ring.  She had on a boxing glove, and he was sporting a big black eye. 

Women want men who are more well-rounded these days…more able to emotionally connect, to express feelings, to create a deep bond – oh, but make sure you’re out there spending several months’ worth of your salary on a ring, or I’ll shame you in front of the whole world.

What are we saying to men?  Is it any wonder that they’re more and more reluctant to commit to relationships/marriage?  They have no idea what the rules are any longer! 

By the way, if you’re a woman who wants to change the way men are being portrayed in the media, please call The Jewelry Exchange: (978) 443-0550 and tell them you object to their commercial, and to the way men – and women – are being represented in it!

Never underestimate what can be done by just a few people who care.  The “Boys are Stupid - Throw Rocks at Them” t-shirts that were selling in upscale departments stores were taken off the shelves because a few mothers went to battle.

It’s good for all of us to make sure that men and women are shown to be respectful of each other.   Don’t you agree?