Dr Pepper alienates women

I'm sure by now everyone has seen the new version of fizzy pop that Dr. Pepper (or as I like to call it, DP) has introduced to our American stock shelves. Dr. Pepper Ten boasts of retaining all 23 mysterious flavors that go into the regular brew, but it touts only containing ten calories per serving. This new, bold, diet soda is being marketed to men because, let's face it, men need to lose weight more than women.

Even Dr. Pepper is telling us, "It's not for women." The only sense I can make of it is that women have obviously achieved a certain level of physical superiority over men to warrant this type of sexist discrimination. I just hope Dr. Pepper doesn't end up hurting any manly feelings. I mean, come on. We all know men have those mushy insides hidden by rugged exteriors. I doubt any corporation would openly display hostility toward men through their advertising. What type of man would drink Dr. Pepper after that?

The 30-second spot for Dr. Pepper Ten features a man reminiscent of Han Solo/Rambo/Indiana Jones. He's dodging lasers, punching snakes, and trapping enemies with a clever toss of his soda can.

‘Hey ladies, enjoying the film?' he asks while punching a snake.

‘Course not. Because this is our movie and Dr. Pepper Ten is our soda.'

According to dailymail.co.uk, "a mobile ‘man cave' will also travel around to so-called ‘testosterone zones' such as ball fields or car shows giving men a place to watch TV and play video games while supping the new beverage."

The article adds, "Dr. Pepper Ten comes hot on the heels of the news that men are also squeezing into Levi's skinny ‘ex-girlfriend' jeans thanks to the likes of Russell Brand and Kate Moss's fiancée Jamie Hince."

If disdain for action movies coupled with a love of diet soda and romantic comedies is all I need to be a woman, how do I still have a vagina?

I am a woman. If I drink a soda, it's not diet—aspartame is still pretty unhealthy. I also hereby call-out Dr. Pepper for being inconsiderably sexist. What makes it okay to be offensive and snarky toward half the world's population? Oh, wait. Nothing.

This was an article of opinion by Sarah Hoffman, a writer for The Student Printz. Email questions and/or comments to elizabeth.hoffman@eagles.usm.edu.