1. “Wives Don’t Leave Home for Coffee” – Chase & Sanborn Coffee
This commercial from the early ’60s features a man threatening to leave his wife because she serves him bad coffee. Rather than questioning the husband’s temper or lack of gratitude, the ad turns it into a joke and suggests the woman simply switch brands to avoid losing her marriage. It’s a cringeworthy mix of sexism and outdated gender roles that now feels more like a parody than a real ad. The woman is portrayed as clueless, while the husband’s coffee critique is treated as perfectly justified shares Snopes.
Watching it now, it’s hard not to wince. There’s no accountability for the husband’s behavior, and the whole message is built around the idea that a woman’s worth depends on her ability to brew a decent cup of coffee. In today’s world, this ad would have people calling it out for toxic dynamics and antiquated expectations. It’s a wild reminder of how far we’ve come says Daily Mail.
2. “Blow in Her Face and She’ll Follow You Anywhere” – Tipalet Cigarettes
This ad proudly shows a man blowing cigarette smoke into a woman’s face, claiming it will instantly attract her. Yes, you read that right—he literally invades her personal space with secondhand smoke, and she’s apparently thrilled about it. The commercial implies that women are helplessly drawn to the scent of flavored tobacco. It’s creepy, arrogant, and more than a little gross shares Business Insider.
Aside from the obvious health concerns, the ad feels like a textbook case of ignoring consent. It’s framed like some magic trick to make women swoon. Today, this approach would spark immediate backlash on social media for glamorizing smoking and promoting manipulative behavior. It’s hard to believe this ever aired with a straight face.
3. “It’s Nice to Have a Girl Around the House” – Hoover Vacuum
This one feels like something out of a satire sketch, but sadly, it was all too real. In this ad, Hoover pitches its vacuums with a cheerful jingle about how helpful it is to “have a girl around the house”—meaning someone to clean. The message is that women exist to tidy up, make things pretty, and serve quietly in the background. And the cherry on top? It was often targeted as a great gift… for Mother’s Day says MethodShop.
Nowadays, giving someone a vacuum as a romantic gesture would be seen as tone-deaf at best. The ad reduces women to household accessories, and even the language feels infantilizing. It’s hard to imagine any brand thinking this would be charming in the 2020s. This one would be canceled instantly—and probably meme’d into oblivion.
4. “How Do You Handle a Hungry Man?” – Swanson TV Dinners
This commercial revolves around a woman’s job to “handle” her “hungry man” by serving up a big frozen dinner. The man is portrayed like a growling bear, and the wife’s solution isn’t communication or support—it’s Salisbury steak. The implication is that men are primal and women are the caretakers who better have dinner ready. It’s not even subtle.
While the jingle is admittedly catchy, the message is hard to stomach now. Reducing men to appetites and women to feeders wouldn’t fly today. Plus, the idea that it’s solely a woman’s role to serve food is just outdated. In today’s world of shared responsibilities, this commercial would get grilled pretty fast.
5. “She’s Built Like a Coke Bottle” – Coca-Cola
This one’s more about innuendo than refreshment. In a popular Coke ad, a woman is compared to the shape of the classic glass bottle—curvy, small-waisted, and there to be ogled. It’s not even pretending to be about the soda. The narrator uses the metaphor to highlight her physical appeal, and the woman barely speaks.
By today’s standards, it’s a glaring example of objectification. Reducing a woman to a shape and tying it to a brand would never fly now. Not only is it sexist, but it’s also wildly off-topic for a soft drink commercial. This one would be pulled off the air the moment it hit the screen.
6. “Show Her It’s a Man’s World” – Van Heusen
This ad tells men to gift their wives a Van Heusen tie for Father’s Day—yes, Father’s Day—because it reminds her that she’s in a man’s world. In the ad, a woman kneels at a man’s feet while he lounges in bed, looking smug in his new tie. The messaging is loud and clear: men rule, and women exist to serve. It’s hard to believe this passed through an entire marketing department.
Today, this would be torn apart for promoting male dominance and sexism. The ad doesn’t just suggest gender roles; it practically demands them. The idea that a woman should be grateful to be reminded of her place is the stuff of internet call-outs. This one wouldn’t just be canceled—it might become the poster child for what not to do.
7. “Keep Her in Her Place” – Dacron Polyester
This ad ran with a campaign encouraging women to wear wrinkle-free dresses because looking perfect was their “place.” It suggests that women who don’t dress neatly are somehow failing their husbands or society. One version even shows a man looking disappointed at his wife’s unkempt look, as if she’s broken some sacred law of appearance. And all of this, mind you, is to sell fabric.
The sexism here isn’t even subtle—it’s baked right into the slogan. These days, any ad suggesting that women exist to be “kept in place” would face immediate backlash. Fashion campaigns now celebrate individuality and confidence, not obedience. This one would be shredded online before it could finish airing.
8. “Men Are Better Than Women!” – Olympic Typewriters
Yes, that’s the actual opening line of this commercial. It goes on to argue that typewriters are better than women because they’re reliable, don’t talk back, and always do what you want. It’s said with a smirk, like the ultimate boys’ club joke. And the product they’re selling? A piece of office equipment.
The whole commercial is essentially a roast of women for the sake of selling machinery. It’s mean-spirited, smug, and impossible to imagine on air today. If a company ran this now, it would be trending on every platform—and not in a good way. It’s one of those ads that makes you wonder how anyone thought it was clever.
9. “If Your Husband Ever Finds Out…” – Folgers Coffee
This one features a woman in a panic because her coffee didn’t impress her husband. The narrator ominously warns, “If your husband ever finds out you’re not using Folgers…” as if the woman’s safety depends on it. The husband appears genuinely furious about the coffee, and the solution? Just switch brands before he notices. The entire premise is built on fear.
Looking back, it plays out more like a thriller than a coffee ad. The idea that a husband’s wrath over coffee is a valid concern is deeply disturbing. Today, this ad would be slammed for making light of emotional or even domestic abuse. It’s not just offensive—it’s unsettling.
10. “He’ll Love You More If You Wear It” – Enjoli Perfume
This perfume ad shows a glamorous woman trying to “do it all”—cook, work, clean, and still look flawless—for her man. The famous line “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan, and never let you forget you’re a man” is meant to be empowering, but it leans heavily into impossible standards. She’s expected to be everything at once, and it’s all about keeping him happy.
While it was framed as a feminist anthem at the time, it hasn’t aged well. The pressure it puts on women to juggle every role flawlessly is exhausting just to watch. These days, women are more likely to call out that kind of narrative than embrace it. An ad like this would face instant critique for promoting burnout culture disguised as empowerment.
11. “Does She or Doesn’t She?” – Clairol Hair Color
This hair dye ad is all about keeping up appearances. It suggests that the only acceptable kind of beauty is the kind people don’t realize you’ve worked for. The line “Does she or doesn’t she?” implies that women should look naturally beautiful but still rely on products to get there. It’s the original “effortless beauty” trap.
Today, this kind of messaging would be called out for promoting unrealistic standards. The idea that women should hide their self-care and pretend it’s natural feels dated and disingenuous. Now, there’s a push for transparency and authenticity in beauty. This old-school ad would not survive in today’s beauty world.
12. “Take Home a Tall, Dark Stranger” – Ajax Cleanser
This bizarre commercial features a cartoon cowboy representing the cleaning power of Ajax. The twist? The narrator encourages women to “take home a tall, dark stranger,” referring to the product itself. It’s flirty, borderline suggestive, and weirdly intimate for something meant to clean your sink. The ad leans on the idea that women fantasize about mysterious men—even while scrubbing tile.
Aside from being strange, the tone is patronizing. It suggests women need to be tricked into cleaning by romanticizing the product. These days, ads targeting women this way would be seen as insulting and outdated. Selling bleach with innuendo wouldn’t fly now—thankfully.