26 Sexist Ads Of The 'Mad Men' Era That Companies Wish We'd Forget

HARRISON JACOBS AND JIM EDWARDS

"Mad Men" is famous for illuminating a bygone era, replete with three-martini lunches, glamorous clothing, and, of course, casual sexism. 

The rampant sexism in "Mad Men" was typical of the 1960s, when the outlook for women in America was just beginning to change. While the "second wave" of feminism began in the '60s, mainstream America was still very much a "man's world."

That attitude carried over into advertising, which did little to advance gender roles and ran ads that implied women were idiots who cared mostly about pleasing their men.

Here are some of advertising's most egregious sexist ads from that era.

1950: The ad begins, "Most husbands, nowadays, have stopped beating their wives ... "

Heinz

1951: "Show her it's a man's world."

Van Heusen

1952: This ad makes light of domestic violence.

Chase & Sanborn Coffee

1952: "Don't worry darling, you didn't burn the beer!"

Schlitz

1953: Alcoa Aluminum's bottle caps open "without a knife blade, a bottle opener, or even a husband."

Alcoa Aluminum

1953: It's so easy to use that even a woman with "no mechanical aptitude" can operate it.

Palmolive

1955: Guess who does all the dishes?

Lux

1956: "Budweiser has delighted more husbands than any other brew ever known."

Budweiser

1959: Woman are "a drag."

Drummond

1961: "That's what wives are for!"

Kenwood

1963: The most important quality in coffee is how much it will please your man.

Acme Coffee

1964: "Are you woman enough to buy a man's mustard?"

Mr. Mustard

1964: “Women are soft and gentle, but they hit things … She can jab the hood. Graze the door. Or bump the bumper …”

Volkswagen

1966: Wives are desperate for home appliances and will cry to get them.

Dormeyer

1967: "The best ones are thin and rich."

Silva Cigarettes

1968: American Airlines wants you to think of its attractive flight attendants as your mother.

American Airlines

1968: The moon isn't going to clean itself.

Lestoil

1969: "Housewife headache."

Anacin

1969: Tipalet wants you to know that cigarettes are made for men, but instantly attractive to women.

Tipalet

1969-1970: Jell-O doesn't think a woman can understand office hierarchies.

Jello

1970: Datacomp has a computer anyone can use ... even women!

Datacomp

1970: "Keep up with the house ... "

Total

1970: "It's nice to have a girl around the house."

Mr. Leggs

1971: The caption below the ad reads, "It makes driving as effortless as sleeping. Sleeping, Luv ... "

Mini Cooper

1973: "It's a wifesaver!"

Brown

1974: Weyenberg Shoes thinks women belong at men's feet.

Weyenberg Shoe Manufacturerin

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/26-sexist-ads-of-the-mad-men-era-2014-5?op=1#ixzz32BzDuThe