Vintage Ads That Are Offensively Sexist

Erica Braverman
Updated May 6, 2020 2.1M views 27 items
Ranked By
146.2K votes
14.8K voters
Voting Rules
Upvote the most horribly offensive vintage ads from a time when apparently all women wanted was to cook and clean.

If you watch TV, you know that it's not a stretch to say that women are often sexualized in beer or burger ads, and plenty of other advertisements as well. While “sex sells” is nothing new to advertising or other media, in the 21st century, it's fair to say that women, minorities, and other diverse populations are more often represented fairly today than ever before. That's why these vintage advertisements are so shockingly offensive, especially to women.

While it's easy to feel nostalgic for a bygone era of seemingly simpler times when watching shows like Mad Men, these sexist ads remind us that we really have come a long way, baby. As you'll see, it was a man's world, and the ad men had no qualms about portraying men as superior and powerful while stereotyping women as inferior, submissive, and weak in adverts and vintage poster, photos, and pictures like these.

These sexist vintage ads will make you laugh out loud and make your jaw drop with horror. Ads from everything to kitchen appliances to beauty products to ties your husband will totally love portrayed women as insecure, inept children who needed to be put in their place or controlled by men. Even though we still have a long way to go before ads stop sexualizing women or telling them to look and act a certain way, at least we can turn on the TV and flip through a magazine without being told to get back in the kitchen already. Check out the outrageously sexist ads below and vote up the ones that made you gasp with disbelief.

  • 1. 'Innocence Is Sexier Than You Think'

    'Innocence Is Sexier Than You Think'
    Photo: Love Cosmetics
    4,899 votes

  • 2. 'Men Are Better Than Women!'

    'Men Are Better Than Women!'
    Photo: Drummond Sweaters
    3,451 votes

  • 3. 'Do You Still Beat Your Wife?'

    'Do You Still Beat Your Wife?'
    Photo: Co-le Sales Company
    4,840 votes

  • 4. 'Is It Always Illegal To Kill A Woman?'

    'Is It Always Illegal To Kill A Woman?'
    Photo: Pitney-Bowes, Inc.
    3,480 votes

  • 5. 'A Wife Can Blame Herself'

    'A Wife Can Blame Herself'
    Photo: Palmolive
    3,345 votes

  • 6. 'If Your Husband Ever Finds Out'

    'If Your Husband Ever Finds Out'
    Photo: Chase & Sanborn
    3,394 votes

  • 7. 'Women Don't Leave The Kitchen!'

    'Women Don't Leave The Kitchen!'
    Photo: Hardee's
    3,526 votes

  • 8. 'Blow In Her Face And She'll Follow You Anywhere'

    'Blow In Her Face And She'll Follow You Anywhere'
    Photo: Tipalet
    2,871 votes

  • 9. 'Now She Can Cook Breakfast Again'

    'Now She Can Cook Breakfast Again'
    Photo: Mornidine
    2,417 votes

  • 10. 'That's What Wives Are For!'

    'That's What Wives Are For!'
    Photo: Kenwood
    3,086 votes

  • 11. 'So The Harder A Wife Works, The Cuter She Looks'

    'So The Harder A Wife Works, The Cuter She Looks'
    Photo: Kellogg's
    2,715 votes

  • 12. 'We're Pushing Leotards'

    'We're Pushing Leotards'
    Photo: Chemstrand
    2,394 votes

  • 13. 'Sooner Or Later, Your Wife Will Drive Home One Of The Best Reasons For Owning A Volkswagen'

    'Sooner Or Later, Your Wife Will Drive Home One Of The Best Reasons For Owning A Volkswagen'
    Photo: Volkswagen
    2,459 votes

  • 14. 'This Is No Shape For A Girl'

    'This Is No Shape For A Girl'
    Photo: Warner's
    274 votes

  • 15. 'Keep Up With The House While You Keep Down Your Weight'

    'Keep Up With The House While You Keep Down Your Weight'
    Photo: General Mills
    2,008 votes

  • 16. 'Successful Marriages Start In The Kitchen!'

    'Successful Marriages Start In The Kitchen!'
    Photo: Pyrex
    2,425 votes

  • 17. 'Like A Spirited Woman Who Yearns To Be Tamed'

    'Like A Spirited Woman Who Yearns To Be Tamed'
    Photo: Subaru
    177 votes

  • 18. 'A Gift To Please The Groom!'

    'A Gift To Please The Groom!'
    Photo: Taylor
    229 votes

  • 19. 'The World's Finest Projection Equipment'

    'The World's Finest Projection Equipment'
    Photo: Bell & Howell
    221 votes

  • 20. 'She Doesn't Care!'

    'She Doesn't Care!'
    Photo: Continental Oil Company
    158 votes

  • 21. 'Secretaries, Look!'

    'Secretaries, Look!'
    Photo: Underwood
    214 votes

  • 22. 'Is There A Man In Your Life?'

    'Is There A Man In Your Life?'
    Photo: Wear Ever
    161 votes

  • 23. 'Society Simply Won't Stand For Indelicate Women'

    'Society Simply Won't Stand For Indelicate Women'
    Photo: Amolin
    179 votes

  • 24. 'Get Yourself A Sleek New Girdle With What You Save!'

    'Get Yourself A Sleek New Girdle With What You Save!'
    Photo: Listerine
    139 votes

  • 25. 'Shhh! Mom's On The Warpath!'

    'Shhh! Mom's On The Warpath!'
    Photo: Ivory Soap
    166 votes

  • 26. 'It's A Wifesaver!'

    'It's A Wifesaver!'
    Photo: Brown
    141 votes

  • 27. 'No Halloween Mask Scares Off A Man As Much As Morning Mouth'

    'No Halloween Mask Scares Off A Man As Much As Morning Mouth'
    Photo: Chlorodent
    141 votes