TresSugar

Say What? Sarah Haskins Rages Against the Machine

TresSugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:00:00 PST

“As the Internet and TV and movies all become one scary machine in your living room, it’s important that we all have some level of media literacy."

- Sarah Haskins, who sends up ads directed at women in her amazing Target Women clips on Current TV. She thinks advertisers show how clueless they are about women by doing two incompatible things at once: "trying to still use some of the traditional gender roles, while also trying to match the changes . . . in the past 40 to 50 years."

Learn How to Get Hot Chicks: Don't Watch TV Ads

TresSugar — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:00:00 PDT

If men listened to television ads, they'd think that smaller was better (BK Burger Bites), that women love the smell of rancid cologne (Axe), and that you can cover up the fact that you haven't bathed or washed your sheets in ages (Febreze). Not only that, but they'd think that really hot chicks don't just put up with that stuff - they looove it! (And we wonder why men and women have trouble knowing what the other half wants.)

It Takes Scheming, Training, and Tricks to Catch a Man

TresSugar — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:00:00 PDT

The other day someone suggested that the book He's Just Not That Into You be required reading for adolescent girls destined to chase after uninterested men. It may be true that a lot of women have found help from relationship books, but when you pile up all the how-to-fall-in-love books out there, it's easy to feel like publishers are trying to make you panic your way into marriage. At least that's what Sarah Haskins makes of it all. Check out her most recent video all about the dating advice industry.

Sarah Haskins on the Angelina Reaction Shot to Jen at the Oscars

GiggleSugar — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 03:00:00 PST

OMG, OMG Jennifer Aniston was five feet - no, no less than ten feet - wait! - less than three feet away from Angelina and Brad at the Oscars! This is deserving of some straight up Grassy Knoll chartage, dude. Enter Sarah Haskins, mocker of dumb celebrity news.

Bad Vampire Men: Why Are They So Hot?

GiggleSugar — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:00:00 PST

I love Sarah Haskins. She's reminding all of us crazy ladies who are in love with Edward Cullen/Rob Pattinson from Twilight that the dude is basically the classic bad boy, only, he's got fangs. "What if I'm not the hero," Edward asks Bella, "What if I'm the bad guy?" "Then I will totally sleep with you!" Sarah responds. So true, so true. (Make sure you watch until the end when one of Sarah's writers does a dramatic reading. Freaking hilarious, and he kinda looks like Pattinson, too!)

Sarah Haskins on Birth Control Pill Ads

GiggleSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:00:23 PDT

I never noticed until Sarah Haskins (my new comedic hero) points it out here, but, ads for birth control pills never talk about their main selling point: you can have sex without getting pregnant! It's always about controlling or eliminating your period. She snarks, "Well, now we don't have to leave the tribe and go sit in that hut for a week. That was a bummer!" And as for the "small comfortable once monthly vaginal ring"? Umm, I'll pass.

Why I Love. . . Sarah Haskins

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:30:11 PDT

I love Sarah Haskins. I mean, I really love Sarah Haskins. She is my hero of the hour. Why? Because she skewers the ridiculous advertisements, movies, and TV shows that are aimed at women but too often seem like they’re aimed at imbeciles. And she does it all in the most hilarious, sarcastic way imaginable.

Current TV is home to Haskins's video series, Target: Women, in which Haskins takes a few minutes to dissect some of the media’s most baffling, off-base, or downright insulting female-focused content. Her points are totally on-, well, target, and they’re presented with plenty of irony and cynicism. Having seen one too many Yaz commercials that make my skin crawl, for example, it’s refreshing to finally hear a voice pipe up to call out the absurdity of stuff that's pandering to women. The format is not unlike that of The Soup, but a little more upbeat and with a more specific focus.

After the jump you can see some of my favorite videos, like the one about yogurt ("It’s the official food of women!") and the one about wedding shows (in which a thin woman is called a “chubster” in her wedding dress, among other things). Seriously, why doesn’t this woman have her own segment on The Daily Show already? Maybe we should start a petition . . .

Anyway, to check out Target: Women,

Botox: It's All About Expressing Yourself!

GiggleSugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:00:00 PDT

Sarah Haskins has a lot to say about ads targeted to women. Take Botox. What is it really? Well, it's needles in your face releasing botulism and paralyzing all human expression so that asking, "Does this make my ass look big?" doesn't look any different on your face than exclaiming, "The house is on fire." That's all! Express yourself, ladies - by asking your doctor about Botox cosmetic.

4 Moves to Say Goodbye to Saddlebags

Self — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:54:13 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

If you're saddled with saddlebags, you probably think you got the short end of the family gene pool stick. But, lucky for you, those pesky fat deposits surrounding your hips, thighs, and butt are far easier to banish than, say, Great Aunt Hilda or your bossy big sister. "Saddlebags are largely determined by genetics, hormones, and age, but women can still affect the shape of their bodies through nutrition and exercise," says Rebekah Rotstein, a New York-based Pilates instructor who recently released the Pilates For Buff Bones DVD.

Not sure where to begin? Rotstein recommends utilizing large muscle groups rather than relying on spot training for fast results. "Pilates get results because it's a whole-body exercise program and works your muscles synergistically," she says. "Muscles aren't meant to function independently but as a team!"

Just remember to keep your expectations realistic. No workout in the world can turn you into Cameron Diaz overnight. "All women have padding at their hips, no matter how thin we are (even Diaz!)," says Rotstein. "It's what differentiates us from men and accentuates the curves you've got!"

To tone up those saddlebags fast, add these four moves to your regular workout routine. Check out the moves after the break.

Sexism, Stereotypes, and the Super Bowl: Recent Ads That Sexualize Women

Anna Monette Roberts — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:05:00 PST

Sex sells - especially for Super Bowl ads - and year after year, major companies try to get away with the raciest, steamiest ads possible, often at the expense of women. Cars, food, technology - it doesn't matter what the product is; these ads throw in a hot, skin-baring woman for distraction and buzz. Ahead of the big game tomorrow, let's look back at some of the most scandalous ads in the last few years. And maybe one day we'll see more Super Bowl ads that show women some respect.

Skechers: "Kim Kardashian For Shape-Ups"

Kim teases her trainer by telling him he's "the best she's ever had, but it's not working out," and she prefers her Shape-Up Skechers over him. This 2011 ad is confusing and mismarketed, because it's eye candy for men, yet targeting women. Plus, no woman in her right mind would pass up that smokin' trainer for a pair of sneakers.

Click here to check out more sexualized Super Bowl ads.