But do they need condom ads in Europe?
I'm staying with friends over Independence Day weekend and they showed me this European condom ad. Very effective, I imagine: cute dad, terrible child, horrifying supermarket scenario.
But it did raise this question: with birthrates in Europe falling, do they really need to advertise condoms? It's hard to imagine that people are having a lot less sex so they must be pretty good at contraception. But then of course there is a need to do STI prevention, and contraception and STI prevention are two different matters. It's interesting to think about how public health policy and population/family policy can be in conflict. Imagine the tension between giving incentives to couples to have children while trying to encourage condom use to prevent disease.
overbroad generalisations
Europe, eh?
Couldn't you be more specific, e.g. Belgium? There's an important distinction that people around the world make about each other, and it has to do with nationality and culture, inclusive of countries and cultures across Europe. While all Belgians might be European (which is debatable), not all Europeans are Belgian. So it's surprising and disappointing to see that sweeping generalisation made by someone (apparently a woman from the USA, but perhaps just a generic Anglophone person, or worse, a typical american) who is usually very good at drawing finer distinctions between sexual personae in relation to power, gender and psychology.
Drawing a blanket over everyone in Europe on the basis of one condom producer's marketing tactic is almost as bad. As is suggesting that there's an ambivalence between promoting sexual health and population management. It is almost as though the author has some untested fantasies about people in other places. In which case an extended visit to several countries is in order. I hope you make it over soon. There are any number of people and institutions who would welcome an intelligent and open-minded visitor.
Macro analysis and generalizations
I apologize for the generalizations. I was posting on the fly an intending to do a bit of macro-level analysis which obviously didn't come through. Of course there is a great deal of variation across European natons, and for that matter within European nations, in terms of sexual behavior, attitudes and media. I don't mean to minimize that at all.
That said, there is little debate that low birth rates are a concern across the EU. Consider this BBC story from 2006 and the accompanying page of policy approaches to addressing the issue.
If you enjoy mucking around in data, try the Eurostat site and click on this page to find the list of fertility variables . You can make tables comparing different variables, different places and different times. It's a great tool! I had fun playing with it a bit tonight but had trouble with the downloads so I'm not posting any tables here. You can get an idea from the BBC story above and also by playing with the data yourself.
While initially I was trying to simply point out the difference between policy oriented toward increasing birth rates and policy oriented toward preventing STIs (something Lorna refers to below, as well), it is also interesting to consider the different feelings people might have about low birthrates (and by low I simply mean below the "replacement rate" of 2.1 children per woman). Discussion that issue raises related issues about gender equality, work and family policy, social welfare policy and immigration policy, all things we're concerned with here.
As for traveling through Europe, yes, I certainly would love to do more. I have only spent time in the Netherlands and in Belgium and so obviously I have much to see and experience. But no, I am not one of those who sees all Europeans or all European nations as the same. I understand that while the EU continues to work at integrating economic and political structures that nations retain separate identities and cultures and that within nations there is much variation as well.
...because public space really matters!
Elizabeth
Nothing to do with needing condom ads in Europe
I like this ad, the scenario appeals to my sense of humor. I remember sharing it with friends recently.
Much as this ad entertains me, I believe there may be an on-going tendency to equate condoms with contraception rather than as a means of protecting one's health. The adolescent population with whom I work frequently consider condoms as their only means of contraception but neglect to use them on a regular basis. They "forget" the possibility of contracting an STI.
Despite school curriculum directed at educating teens on sexuality; STIs; pregnancy; self esteem, etc. many of the young women in my school approach the Youth Health Centre (YHC) for pregnancy tests. These young women have also taken advantage of the YHC's information sessions to inform themselves on STIs; their bodies; issues surrounding their sexuality (whatever curriculum is offered in the classroom obviously isn't catching their attention). I know many have consequently visited our city's sexual health clinic for alternative, perhaps more reliable means of birth control and then utilize our program's free condoms for protection against STIs.
I suspect there continues to be a general discomfort in our society about placing funny or controversial condom ads in magazines or on televsion with the ad's focus being health protection. Again, the participants in our YHC sessions became fairly "icked out" when offered information on oral sex and STI's, they obviously hadn't given much thought to this combination.
As far as a conflict between public health policy and population/family policy being in conflict, who knows? Government and policy development frequently seem to be at odds with what the population percieves as a need(s). Would this be significantly different?
I work within a system where information booklets on sexuality and sexual health must be given to students in a brown paper envelope and only after I recieve written permission from the parent/guardian, additionally, when I hand the envelope to the teen I must remind them not to open it on school property. It's no wonder kids and adults are all too often uncomfortable talking about sex.
i'm sure that pregnancy
i myself am shocked that in a country where every form of pregnancy prevention is freely available and accessible, young girls are still getting pregnant at very young ages
and while we are on the subject....i just have to mention how uncomfortable i am with the british term of a woman "falling pregnant"
i happen to like the advert....(sorry elizabeth, i have made a pig's ear of this comment...HELP!)
"European" Men don't use condoms!
As a Scottish woman living in the US, I was shocked at just how willing American men are to put on a condom. Back home in Scotland and elsewhere in Europe, I've always been the one who's had to suggest a condom (and lest I offend David by the blanket term "Europe", I should clarify that I'm referring to European men of many different countries). I don't know why this should be the case. Maybe Americans are just more paranoid about disease. Who knows?!
But, yes, I would say that we do still need ads like these in "Europe". They're fun and light-hearted, and bring sexual issues out into the open, which is where they always need to be.
Rubber Johnny
Hello,
Am I the only person who thinks that David over-reacted slightly. The post was not about European countries retaining their individual identities.
These adverts are usually shown alongside public health adverts that address the problems of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy. This is how they are shown in the UK.
So all the information is carefully targetted towards the right age groups at the right times. Whether this type of strategy it actually working is another matter!
The British slang for a condom is a "Rubber Johnny"
Marvin Africa
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