TfL faces backlash over 'misogynistic' testosterone ad on London Underground
Transport for London (TfL) has come under fire for an advertisement displayed on the London Underground network that has been described as incredibly misogynistic by critics. The controversial promotional material, which appeared at Oxford Circus station, has sparked a heated debate about gender stereotypes and advertising standards in the capital.
Controversial content sparks social media storm
The advertisement in question promotes testosterone treatment for men with the prominent headline It's not him, it's his hormones. In smaller text below, it continues: Low sex drive? Lost his spark? He might have low testosterone. Get an at-home test. The placement of this messaging within one of London's busiest transport hubs has drawn significant criticism from those who view it as perpetuating harmful gender norms.
Poet Chloe Laws brought the advertisement to wider public attention by sharing it on her Instagram account, where her post has now accumulated over 18,000 likes and generated extensive discussion about the implications of such marketing approaches. Laws expressed particular concern about how the advertisement appears to offer men what she describes as a free pass for behaviour by attributing it to hormonal factors.
Gender double standards under scrutiny
In her critique, Laws highlighted what she perceives as a significant disparity in how society treats hormonal issues across genders. Instead of people taking a sympathetic view of women's hormones, she explained, women get branded as hysterical, dramatic, and unhinged. She further argued that women's hormonal experiences are frequently weaponised against them and used to subjugate them, citing historical claims that women cannot lead countries due to being too emotional as evidence of this longstanding pattern.
The Instagram comments revealed divided opinions among the public. Many respondents echoed Laws' concerns, with one commenter suggesting the advertisement implies that it is for the partner to organise for said man, thereby reinforcing traditional gender roles where women are expected to manage men's wellbeing. Another contributor agreed, noting that the wording seems directed at someone other than the men experiencing these problems, thus perpetuating the idea that women bear responsibility for managing men's emotions.
Alternative perspectives emerge
However, not all responses condemned the advertisement. Some commenters offered more nuanced perspectives, with one pointing out that at least women are given the option of hormone replacement therapy on the NHS, while men facing similar hormonal declines often must seek private medical solutions. Another contributor acknowledged that while women's issues deserve attention, this is an ad about a different issue that also exists.
Interestingly, some respondents even praised the advertisement from a marketing standpoint, with one noting that from a marketing perspective (which is rarely morally correct), I thought it was a great campaign, highlighting the tension between commercial effectiveness and social responsibility in advertising.
TfL's advertising standards under examination
In response to the controversy, a TfL spokesperson stated: All advertising that runs on Transport for London's (TfL) estate must comply with the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) code and the TfL Advertising Policy. This statement underscores the formal frameworks governing advertising content across London's transport network, though it does not directly address the specific criticisms raised about this particular advertisement.
The incident raises important questions about how advertising content is evaluated for potential gender bias and whether current regulatory frameworks adequately address concerns about perpetuating harmful stereotypes. As one of the world's most visible public transport networks, TfL's advertising decisions carry significant cultural weight and influence public discourse in the capital.
This controversy emerges at a time when public sensitivity to gender representation in media and advertising continues to grow, with increasing scrutiny being applied to how commercial messaging might reinforce or challenge existing social norms. The debate surrounding this testosterone treatment advertisement reflects broader conversations happening across British society about gender equality, representation, and responsibility in public spaces.
