I don’t watch a lot of commercial television because it’s just so fucking annoying, but since I’m sick on the couch and my eyes are too scritchy to read (hunched and squinty as I type), I thought I’d brave daytime tv. And then I saw this:
Actually, that’s an extended version of the ad I saw, but youtube didn’t have it and I couldn’t be arsed looking any further because I’m sick. Again. I swear I’ve picked up every cold this year. I am a snot slut.
Anyway, back to the ad. On the one hand, it’s saying that being a full-time parent is valuable work and therefore requires insurance – and hey, we just happen to have an insurance product for you, what a coincidence. On the other hand, it’s only directed at women. What about full-time parents who are male? What about Suncorp (the company behind it) recognising that pitching a product about housework at women is a little bit, you know, fucking sexist.
And then there’s this:
You can claim a payment if you get sick or are injured and can’t do any two or more of the following household tasks for more than 14 consecutive days:
Cooking and preparing meals using basic ingredients and kitchen appliances.
Cleaning the house, including using a vacuum cleaner and mop.
Washing and drying clothes using a washing machine and outdoor washing line.
Shopping for groceries including fruit and vegetables, laundry items and household cleaning products.
Looking after children under the age of 12 (if you do this as part of your everyday activities at home), including bathing, dressing, feeding and taking to school.
How many times have you been unable to do those things for two whole weeks? I was incredibly sick with the flu in 1998 and had two weeks off work, but apart from a few days that I lost hallucinating from fever, I was still able to feed myself. And having this policy won’t make dinner for the kids when you can’t get out of bed – you get the money after you’ve been sick or injured for two weeks – so you’d still have to call a friend or relative to help out. Parents with partners (sounds like a support group) have it easier (generalisation alert).
It strikes me as being an incredibly unnecessary product, because if you can afford $45 a month on insurance then you probably have health insurance and really, your house isn’t going to fall apart if you don’t vacuum it for two weeks. Hell, ManFriend and I certainly don’t vacuum that often.
So this product is about middle-class mother guilt:
It means you can now be covered for short term illness and injury that stops you doing everyday household tasks like shopping and caring for your kids.
Bad mother. Bad bad bad.
Update: Since I’m pointing out really shit ads, I just saw this offensive piece of shit:
Ooh, my lady brain can only handle tv and gossip mags. And my hands have wrinkles when they’re wet. OHNOES!
