Will American Armed Forces Women Appreciate Harley-Davidson’s Marisa Miller Advert?

It’s seems to always be "about the boy”- American super model Marisa Miller has posed, yet again, on a Harley-Davidson. Recent campaign by the American Motor Company is aimed at paying homage to active and retired US military personnel; declaring November as "Military Appreciation Month."

The “blonde bombshell” Miller said she was delighted to support “those who keep us riding free.” Admittedly the ads are cute.

But… what of the thousands of women serving? Shouldn’t there be the offering up of a sex-symbol, handsome super model man?

Women steadily increase in the US Armed Forces. This even outside of the arguments that focus on the physical differences between men and women; on differing mentalities, and the effects upon one sex by the presence of the other on the battlefield. Women make up nearly 20% of the numbers, varying among services- Army, 13.4% (68,046); Navy, 12.8% (55,830); Marines, 4.6% (8,093); Air Force, 16.0% (64,147) *sourced 1996/2005 David F. Burrelli/ Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division.

Recently, even Oprah had a feature on her show about “Women Serving in the Armed Forces"!

Other countries have used women as frequently as men to fight in their wars.Take the 800,000 women who served in the Soviet military during World War II, of which nearly 70% saw front line action.

Over four years ago, shown here is the historic group photo of the first all-female crew to fly a combat mission on the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Pictured left to right, Staff Sgt. Josie E. Harshe, flight engineer; Capt. Anita T. Mack, navigator; 1st Lt. Siobhan Couturier, pilot; Capt. Carol J. Mitchell, aircraft commander; and loadmasters Tech. Sgt. Sigrid M. Carrero-Perez and Senior Airman Ci Ci Alonzo.

So here in honour of women currently serving and those who have, these are for you!

(Keanu Reeves and the cute Taylor Lautner).

HARLEY’S NEW VROD MUSCLE MODEL MARISA MILLER MISTAKE?

The news of Harley-Davidson Inc. hiring famed Supermodel Marisa Miller as their campaign “spokes model” for the new 2009 V-Rod Muscle, a motorcycle aimed at a younger, hipper demographic than Harley's traditional customer base—I thought, initially, terrific. But when I viewed the photo shoot and campaign "feel" on YouTube, though some pics were trendy and well done, others were not --I’m confused.

Marisa certainly looks stunning, but that's all, that’s it--she doesn’t ride a motorcycle. On top of that the poses are in the suggestive manner we’re tired of seeing in [most] motorcycle magazines-- trophy women atop exciting motorcycles nearly naked. I’m disappointed. Harley-Davidson's astounding efforts for the female rider market and now this? Is the message about women being an American supermodel first, rider second (I know, I know they're really trying to put forth VROD--"SuperModel").

The campaign may not do much to affect today’s female rider--unless Harley,were targeting men only? If so they're missing the boat on the largest growing market segment of motorcycle buyers—women, especially the younger demographic who’ve been educated by the likes of genius brand "Dove" campaigns of loving your body, being real. And the VROD has so much potential for women riders; Harley's’ own grand daughter Kathy Davidson says the VROD is her favourite pick. The VROD MUSCLE is a sporty, sleek bike introduced this year—it looks totally awesome. It has a long, low profile inspired by drag racing and an engine that was co-developed with Porsche, the German sports car maker.

This campaign may have the affect of “buy this bike and you’ll look like Marisa”, yet for the modern informed gal, the educated young lady, this concept might back fire insulting female intellect. As much as I admire and support Harley-Davidson for their strong manufacturing lead of female rider -ship plus the pleasure it is to work with them, I really wasn't expecting this.

Indeed Harley-Davidson, need to encourage a younger female demographic, yet showing a supermodel who has no idea of motorcycling is not fooling anyone (even though she claims she grew up “around” motorcycles—her father rode). We’re all for femininity, sexiness and being “woman”--its not jealousy that’s spawned this entry but the mere fact that the pattern needs to break. There are many sexy, attractive women riders out there that would have completed the story avoiding the portrayal of yet another trophy female posing on a motorcycle--passé.

Plus there were other options—Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff stars of “Battlestar Galactica” both ride motorcycles— American Super-star?