Yaz chic advertising; not so chic side effects
When I first learned that Yaz was the top selling birth control pill in the country I thought about what made it so popular. Of course many of us remember the multimillion dollar commercials, but what also stuck out in my mind was an old Yaz promotion by Bayer Pharmaceuticals called “The YAZ: Step Up and Go Beyond Contest” with Project Runway Judge and Marie Claire fashion director Nina Garcia.
As Garcia described it, “We're taking an iconic accessory—the birth control case—and asking aspiring designers to take a shot at redesigning it into a chic, more sophisticated carrying case that they could slip into their purses." Contest winners were announced during Fashion Week in fall 2008 and the contest winner received a $10,000 prize to enroll in design classes or purchase of special design materials and software, courtesy of Bayer HealthCare, Garcia, and Step Up Women's Network.
It’s a great idea and innovative advertising – but the problem is that Yaz isn’t just something stylish to carry around – it’s a drug – a medication that could have potentially dangerous side effects, including strokes, pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, and gall bladder disease. I’ve spoken to many women who have suffered these side effects needlessly. Bayer’s advertising is very clever, but it doesn’t do enough to let women know about the risks of Yaz. Women have a right to know not just what they are putting in their purses, but what they are putting in their bodies.
