Mud Flap in Wyoming
From the discussion lists
Steve
To: PUBLIB <>
Tue Sep 18 17:23:32 EDT 2007
Have you seen the newest Wyoming Libraries Marketing Campaign?
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html
They are using a picture of a reading “mudflap girl” to advertise their new statewide ChiltonLibrary.com auto repair manual database. They are planning to put her into autopart stores all around the state to let male non-library users know about the new database.
They are also using bumper stickers to reach the traditional crowd: http://www.wyominglibraries.org/
What a great way to reach out to new library users!
Steve
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:06 PM
From: Diedre Conkling <>
To: FTF <>
Subject: Fwd: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
What do you think of this? While I applaud the creativity I am not at all happy
to see these sexist mudflaps move into the library world. Ok, really I am
appalled. I think we should contact them.
=============
Have you seen the newest Wyoming Libraries Marketing Campaign?
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html
They are using a picture of a reading “mudflap girl” to advertise their new
statewide ChiltonLibrary.com auto repair manual database. They are planning to
put her into autopart stores all around the state to let male non-library users
know about the new database.
They are also using bumper stickers to reach the traditional crowd:
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/
What a great way to reach out to new library users!
-----------------
--
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
Work:
Home:
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:10 PM
From: Diedre Conkling <>
To: PUBLIB <>
Subject: Re: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
While I applaud the creativity I am not at all happy
to see these sexist mudflaps move into the library world. Ok, really I am
appalled.
--
Diedre Conkling
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:28 PM
From: Diedre Conkling <>
To: ALA Council List <>
Subject: Re: [alacoun] FW: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
While I applaud the creativity displayed in this marketing I am appalled,
offended, and totally dismayed that such a sexist item as the "mud flap girl" is
appearing in the library world. The design and the use of the term "girl," in
this instance, are both sexist. I have not had time to put together a detailed
and coherent response to this so you are just getting my gut feeling at the
moment.
--
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
Work:
Home:
---- Sue Kamm <> wrote:
=============
Posted to PUBLIB discussion list.
Your friendly neighborhood CyberGoddess and ALA Councilor at Large,
Sue
From: [ On
Behalf Of Steve Johnston
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 4:24 PM
To:
Subject: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
Have you seen the newest Wyoming Libraries Marketing Campaign?
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html
They are using a picture of a reading “mudflap girl” to advertise their new
statewide ChiltonLibrary.com auto repair manual database. They are planning to
put her into autopart stores all around the state to let male non-library users
know about the new database.
They are also using bumper stickers to reach the traditional crowd:
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/
What a great way to reach out to new library users!
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:36 PM
From:
To:
Subject: Re: [alacoun-ro] Re: [alacoun] FW: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Camp...
This is for what you call balance. First, a trim mudflap guy: http://www.mudflapboy.com/
And a more realistic model: http://www.stickergiant.com/page/sg/PROD/funcon/b5059
By the way, I have actually seen on trucks a pair of mudflap girls and a girl/guy combination, and they weren't driving trucks. As we in the library world say, something here to offend everyone.
M.
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 3:37 PM
From: K.R.
To: 'Diedre, 'FTF' <>
Subject: RE: [Feminist Task Force] Fwd: [Publib] Brilliant Database MarketingCampaign
I agree. I like all of them quite a bit except the obviously sexist one.
K.R., who doesn't live all that far from Wyoming these days
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 4:19 PM
From: Lise
To: Diedre, PUBLIB <>
Subject: RE: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
What specifically makes the mudflaps sexist? Sexist would be putting an apron on
the mudflap girl or worse, glasses and a bun!
I think they're cool because they: 1. make reading look sexy 2. lure truckers to
reading instead of stalking innocent teenagers on deserted highways.
Is it Friday yet?
Lisë
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 5:07 PM
From: Diedre Conkling <>
To: FTF <>
Subject: Re: [Feminist Task Force] Fwd: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I know that you are tired of hearing from me today but I thought I would let you
know that I posted some contact information on COSWL Cause,
http://blogs.ala.org/coswlcause.php .
--
Diedre Conkling
Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 6:11 PM
From: Phyllis
To: Diedre Conkling <>
Cc: FTF <>
Subject: Re: [Feminist Task Force] Fwd: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
Feministing.com, a terrific "third wave" feminist blog, uses the mudflap
girl gesturing... See http://feministing.com /.
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 6:22 AM
From: Theresa
To: Diedre Conkling <>
Cc: FTF <>
Subject: Re: [Feminist Task Force] Fwd: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I agree with Diedre that this is blatantly sexist. The use of a sexualized female image to attract readers to libraries is an insult. We should write to Wyoming Libraries and to the ad campaign's designers Peggy Barber and Linda Wallace, both former ALA staff members.
Theresa
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:30 AM
From: Steve
To: NEXGENLIB <>
Subject: [NexGenLib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
Have you seen the newest Wyoming Libraries Marketing Campaign?
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html
They are using a picture of a reading "mudflap girl" to advertise
their new statewide ChiltonLibrary.com auto repair manual database.
They are planning to put her into autopart stores all around the state
to let male non-library users know about the new database.
They are also using bumper stickers to reach the traditional crowd:
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/
What a great way to reach out to new library users!
Steve
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:51 AM
From: tracey
To:
Subject: [NexGenLib] Re: Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I've seen this on other lists, but haven't had a chance to go look until now.
I have to say I applaud Wyoming Libraries for thinking outside the box on this one and attempting to make something not traditionally associated with libraries or librarians stick with us.
However - and this may be a cultural thing or a feminist thing and is only my opinion - I'm not pleased with their choice. I have strong feelings that the "mudflap" girl objectifies women and plays one stereotype off another. I'm pretty sure that they were expecting controversy and discussion, or they wouldn't have chosen such a polarizing icon. So as they say, any press is good press, so if that was their objective, they're rockin' it, my feelings on the icon aside. They are hitting a demographic that might be under-represented in library user stats and that's very cool.
-t
--
I'm done making someone a priority in my life who makes me an option in theirs.
-Tracy Ann
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 7:09 AM
From: loganrb
To:
Subject: [Publib] Re: Publib Digest, Vol 30, Issue 22 (Mudflaps)
"...2. lure truckers to reading instead of stalking innocent teenagers on deserted highways..."
Talk about stereotyping! Unfair to truckers!
Robert
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:06 AM
From: Lise
To: ,
Subject: RE: [Publib] Re: Publib Digest, Vol 30, Issue 22 (Mudflaps)
Which part? The reading or the luring? I'm off Thursday and Friday, so today has
to be my "humor" day. ;-0
Lise
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:53 AM
From: Susan
To: PUBLIB <>
Subject: RE: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I hate that they moved in as well. However, I did notice her arm has changed a significant part of the profile.
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:08 AM
From: Lise
To: PUBLIB <>
Subject: RE: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
Ahhh, a mudflap connoisseur!
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 11:10 AM
From: Kathleen
To: PUBLIB <>
Subject: RE: [Publib] Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I don't see why somebody in ALA doesn't round up the necessary scratch to put a library guy decal on a NASCAR car's panel somewhere. They have huge live and on-tv audiences, and it would be cool publicity.
And why NOT have the mudflaps chick as part of a library PR campaign? Anything that makes people pause and look a second time registers on the neurons, and we can use all the registered neurons we can get.
Kathleen
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:11 AM
From: marijane
To:
Subject: [NexGenLib] Re: Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I have mixed feelings about it. I am reminded of the banner graphic at
feministing.com, which is a mudflap girl flipping the bird. I am trying
to decide if this campaign qualifies a similar attempt to reclaim and
redefine the image. Wyoming is not exactly a feminist hotbed, though, so
I'm skeptical.
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 12:52 PM
From: Diedre Conkling <>
To:
Subject: [NexGenLib] Re: Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
This is the message I sent to the ALA/SRRT/Feminist Task Force (FTF) discussion
list yesterday when this notice was placed on PUBLIB. I posted something similar
on PUBLIB:
---
"What do you think of this? While I applaud the creativity I am not at all
happy
to see these sexist mudflaps move into the library world. Ok, really I am
appalled. I think we should contact them."
---
I also posted to the COSWL Cause blog, http://blogs.ala.org/coswlcause.php . By
the way COSWL is the ALA Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship.
Contacted addresses for Wyoming and the ad campaign are listed there.
I have written to the places I listed on the blog and to the "No Comment" page
of Ms. Magazine.
All of these lists and the blog have had a bit of discussion about this issue.
(P.S. I am the coordinator for the coordinator for FTF.)
--
Diedre Conkling
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 12:58 PM
From: loganrb
To:
Subject: Re: [Publib] Re: Publib Digest, Vol 30, Issue 22 (Mudflaps)
:
At the risk of seeming entirely humorless (after all, it is only Wednesday), many truckers do read - they are enthusiastic consumers of audiobooks, as many members of this list will know. Very few, on the other hand, have the time to lure innocent teenagers on deserted highways, because they have to drive long hours (sometimes illegally long hours) to meet the tight delivery deadlines required by their customers and employers.
Robert
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:06 PM
From: Joe Schallan <>
To:
Subject: [Publib] The Wyoming Mudflap-girl Flap
I couldn't help but notice that the Wyoming Libraries Mudflap Girl -- shall we
call her Sally Bowdler? -- is missing some significant bits. At least the bits
that American men think way too much about.
Here we have the Wyoming LIbraries Mudflap Girl:
http://www.wyominglibraries.org/campaign.html
Now compare her to the standard truck mudflap girl (you'll need to scroll down a
bit):
http://www.innerauto.com/GMC__Mud_Flaps_Part/
And here the girl *is* reading, but has retained the bits of interest:
http://www.debrifield.com/bags.html
And, finally, in the interest of gender equality, we have this:
http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/8079.html
Sigmund Freud famously said that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but I tend
to agree more with Robert Langdon, the symbologist-hero of The Da Vinci Code
(sorry to go pop-cultural here), who saw significance in almost every object and
image of human manufacture.
Like Langdon, I think just about everything has meaning.
The standard truck mudflap girl has exaggerated secondary sexual
characteristics, assumes a compliant pose, and is placed on a product that is in
the same class of utilitarian objects as doormats.
Robert Langdon would have no problem identifying the underlying message; neither
should you.
This being America, truckers are free to express their preferences: The mudflap
girl is protected by the First Amendment. Whether a state library association
should adopt this symbol and its associated meanings is an interesting point of
debate, but I think it understandable that some of our female colleagues may
wince at its use.
Or laugh.
The Wyoming library campaigners flattening the girl's chest is perhaps an even
more interesting proposition. What does that say about us?
I've found an interesting Latin phrase on the back of a painting we have here in
the library, so I must now go work on deciphering that. This artwork was
donated to us by our Masonic Lodge, and the text contains the word "illuminati"
. . .
Gotta run.
Joe Schallan
Phoenix
PS. And that's Sally Bowdler, *MLS*, by the way.
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:36 PM
From: Laura
To:
Subject: [NexGenLib] Re: Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
As a die-hard feminist and a scholar well-versed in feminist theory, I
can say that I have no problem with this image. I think it's an
interesting way to re-contextualize a familiar cultural icon. I don't
think, either, that the original mudflap girl icon is truly offensive.
Am I alone in feeling that it's innocuous? Further, I think the
Wyoming Libraries campaign is well-done---strong visual imagery,
aesthetically pleasing, creative, and relevant to their area and
audience. I say good job to the ad agency and whatever Wyoming
Libraries director/committee approved it. Let's save appalled for
things that really matter.
laura k
Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:39 PM
From: Christopher
To:
Subject: [NexGenLib] Re: Brilliant Database Marketing Campaign
I would have to agree with Tracey. This would have had to have been
totally clueless to not realize this would turn heads. They want us
to write Very Important Letters to a variety of outlets, so we can all
Express Our Concerns at this Very Important Issue. They want us to