Ad Tells Women to Douche for Career Advancement

(Aug. 27) -- Career women, take note: If you want to get that big raise, make sure you freshen up down below. That's the message, anyway, in a new print ad from feminine care products brand Summer's Eve.

The ad, which appears in the October issue of Woman's Day, gives eight tips for women who hope to get a salary bump at work.

The first tip, under the subhead "How to Ask for a Raise," includes this kernel of advice: "It should start with your usual routine ... including showering with Summer's Eve Feminine Wash or throwing a packet of Summer's Eve Feminine Cleansing Cloths into your bag for a quick freshness pick-me-up during the day."

Summer's Eve Ad in the October issue of Woman's Day.

Daily Kos

This Summer's Eve ad, which appears in the October issue of Woman's Day, gives some questionable advice to women hoping to advance in their careers.

That's right, ladies. Forget all that you've achieved during your time at Acme, or wherever it is that you work. First and foremost, wash your lady bits.

The ad came to the attention of the general public Thursday when the blog Daily Kos posted a critical review of its message. Since then, several blogs have picked up the story, including AdFreak, a blog published by AdWeek, the leading trade publication for the advertising industry.

AdFreak editor Tim Nudd believes that while the ad wasn't intended to offend, it never should have seen the light of day.

"They were playing with these vagaries of feeling good about yourself," Nudd said in an interview with AOL News, "but also that when you think of interacting with your boss, you should think, first, of feminine care products. When you think about it, it's ludicrous."

Maria Mora, a writer and blogger, noticed the ad and hates that feminine care products play on the insecurities of women.

"How likely would it be to see an ad that suggested men up their confidence by altering the aroma of their [private parts]?" she said in an e-mail to AOL News.

Another blogger, Jessica Gottlieb, creator of the MotrinMoms hashtag on Twitter, believes that douching is an outdated procedure and says the Summer's Eve ad reinforces the notion.

"An ad that sends a message that a 'clean' vagina will somehow give a woman more confidence at work used to be funny," Gottlieb told AOL News. "Now it's seen for what it clearly is, a throwback to the worst part of our work history, when women wore skirts as part of a dress code. ... Certainly no one wants to backtrack to those days."

AOL News was not able to reach Summer's Eve representatives for comment. But the company apparently has been made aware of public reaction to the ad.

A post in AdFreak's comment section attributed to Angela Bryant, a brand manager at Summer's Eve, said, "I would like to first of all apologize if this ad in anyway has offended anyone. We are taking immediate next steps to remove the ad from circulation."