These ads intend to 'celebrate' womenhood but most of them miss the point completely

Yes, women can be good drivers too. Photo Courtesy: YouTube

So, it's International Women's Day. Some think it's necessary to celebrate a day like this in order to hail women, their struggles, and their achievements. Some see it as a lollypop. A consolation prize for women, who have endured years and years of patriarchy. Doesn't matter what side you are on because companies selling their products will shove the idea of celebrating women down your throats today. And this includes releasing ads that cheer women and their sacrifices. We came across a few ads today that made us wonder what the hell were these advertisers thinking. No, no. Not all of them are bad-but yes-some do need a special mention. *eye roll*

Housework Is a Woman's Job By Reliance Fresh

For years we have believed that all the household work is a woman's job. Be it cleaning, cooking, or serving bed tea. So, you see Renuka Shahane playing a wife who is teaching her husband how to make tea and wash clothes in a washing machine. The disgruntled husband looked on bored hoping when the tutorials would end.

The problem is the ad send across the message that women need a break from all the work on Women's Day. Why? Why is sharing household responsibilities such an alien concept. The ad unfortunately only goes onto prove that men suck when it comes to doing menial jobs such as cleaning and cooking. The ad doesn't do women any favours but only makes matters worse.

Interestingly, the husband even asks his wife, "Women's Day saal mein ek hi baa rata hai na?" Clearly indicating that it's beyond his skills to give his wife a break and do some jobs himself. When it comes to women, household work is their duty. For men, it's a charity.

This Women's Day, take a break from your responsibilities for just a day and #JeeLeZara. pic.twitter.com/a8iXZFsHG3

— Freshwaale (@RelianceFreshIN) March 6, 2018

Women Can Drive Too By Hyundai India

Women don't know how to drive. Women shouldn't drive. Women are bad drivers….so on and so forth. Haven't we heard these statements by men every once in a while.

In fact, many a times we have seen men chucking when a woman driver drives past them commenting, "Aurat chala rahi hai na." Basically the idea is that women are just fit to sit on the backseat. Now, Hyundai tries to change the narrative but miserably fails to do so in its ad.

So, you see a man waiting with flowers for a woman. Probably his wife or girlfriend. He opens the door for her and lets her sit inside. He gets the shock of his life when he sees her sitting on the driver's seat. The message is it shouldn't surprise us if women take the driver's seat. Hell! Yes. It shouldn't.

But, do we really need to salute women who drive? At least this is what the message says. Well, driving has nothing to do with gender and applauding women for driving is like applauding a money for riding a bike. Dude, it's not for your entertainment.

Hyundai celebrates #InternationalWomensDay by saluting Women in the 'Driver’s Seat'. Together let's say No to Gender Bias. Women#Men pic.twitter.com/gOjr0hkCjR

— Hyundai India (@HyundaiIndia) March 7, 2018

Arre Mumma By Good Knight

Remember when you were a kid and used to call your mom for every God damn thing that you couldn't find. So when you needed food you called Mumma. When you couldn't find your shoes you called Mumma. When you misplaced your bag you called mumma.

Well, some of us even do it now. Majorly because Mumma knows the best and is expected to know everything.

That is the role the society and her own family expects her to assume. To be there for the kids all the time. Now, there is nothing wrong in that except for the fact that the child is not her's alone. The child also belongs to her husband and so her/his needs are his responsibility too.

Good Knight salutes mothers with the tag line 'Because she's always there for you on active mode.' An exhausting job really. The ad would have done women a favour when it would have advised fathers to tend to their children too. That would have made a better point.

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Women Should Invest Too By Franklin Templeton

Now, this is one ad that does deserve recognition. Majorly because it drives home a point without making women look like a dud. It has a grandfather advising her daughter to settle since she has started working now.

And usually once a women starts doing well in her career, the only concern her parents and relative are left with to make her settle down for good. So, the girls is really apprehensive when she is asked to come back home early. As audience we are left speculating that the family has indeed invited a guy and his family since they want to see their daughter settled.

Gladly that's not the case. There's a twist. A pleasant one at that. So, it's best you watch it yourself.

She wants to settle in her career and travel the world. Her Dadaji has different plans. Watch the film and tell us how will you #InvestForProgress in 2018. Stand a chance to win exciting prizes*. #InternationalWomensDay #PressForProgress *T&C Apply: https://t.co/WM4WGkp04A pic.twitter.com/nwA0KMRc2y

— Franklin Templeton (@FTIIndia) March 5, 2018