Okay this is of course a two-sided coin – First, this is active proof that gender stereotypes are genuinely breaking down, which is amazing and important. Second, why is there no one screaming about ads like this:
Doesn’t this ad make fools out of women – equating their bodies to a hamburger to be devoured – Isn’t this as infuriating as the Huggies dads ads??
Feminist Cupcake 
I think you raise a very good point. I do find it inspiring to know men are resisting stereotypes; but fully agree we continue to have a high tolerance for the objectification of women. In fact, I was really bothered by the tired gender tropes offered up in The Lorax. Pleased with the environmental message and push against consumerism, but once again we have a story about a boy saving the world to get the girl; and the girl is again and again portrayed as the prize for the do-gooding boy
Ya know, I didn’t see Lorax yet – but I was a bit startled and offended by the preview and a couple of students have mentioned to me that they wonder about the exact ideas your mentioning – the clash of positive and negative messages of social justice. I often wonder about the intersection of gender stereotypes and female objectification and other issues like the environmental movement or the animal rights movement – have you see the horribly objectifying PETA ads? Look here: https://feministcupcake.wordpress.com/category/peta/ . I mean, really?? In regards to this Huggies ad I also wonder about the benefits of male privilege in protest of this kind — in other words did these stay at home dads get their voices heard because they are men?? Or have we reached a point where all that matters is maintaining a relationship with the consumer – and if so why don’t more women question objectification? Of course – then were into the whole whore/virgin dichotomy – which arguably is maintained as much by women as it is by men.
So much to consider.
I definitely think that upper-class and upper middle-class men have real pull. I agree about PETA. I strongly believe that when we think openly and honestly, it’s clear animals deserve moral consideration. Their inability to speak our language and so is no more a reason to use them than race,sex,sexuality etc is. I’ve been vegetarian for 8 years, but just finally became vegan. That said, I do strongly object to one movement using concepts that undermine other important movements. PS check out short note on the Lorax; just wrote it: http://ecofeministdad.wordpress.com/2012/03/15/the-lorax-good-on-trees-but-bad-on-gender-stereotypes/
Just so others see he insightful thinking – Phil said the following about the Huggies commercial:
Philip wrote: “Hey! I forgot about this. I see commercials like this and they annoy me (Lysol has one that particularly irks me), but what is interesting is that there were only what, 1400 signatures and they pulled the commercial. That’s a negligible amount. Lindsey, I think you’re right; there is likely a bit of male privilege in that, but also consumer awareness. While most “domestic” commercials are aimed at women — and let me tell you that the “large” cleaning gloves are in no way “large” in any meaning of the term as I understand it; I have sensitive hands dammit — because “women do the shopping,” but huggies will still be aware that they are aiming at a “family unit” and are very sensitive to that. On the other hand burger king consciously aims (aimed?) it’s marketing at males 16-30 or some such for a certain period of time – the whole “King mascot” weirdness was part of an age/gender specific initiative; i remember reading about it when they pulled the king icon. In that sense, they don’t care who they offend, because they still attract their buyer. It’s audience awareness, their making a rhetorical argument. I think where the BK battle is won isn’t as much in pointing out the ridiculousness, sexism, and exploitation, but in a homes, teaching boys that treating women that way is wrong, that “sex sells” because they allow themselves to be manipulated into buying it; and the corollary, that girls be raised to value more than their bodies, that their voices and minds are more powerful rhetorical tools. It’s a slow solution and I don’t know if it’s on the rise or not, but I hope so — At the moment, i’m a little bitter about the world, but that’s because I’m on the internet too much — I hope to be able to help my boys (and hopefully someday girls) see the world in these terms. And maybe the occasional freshman in comp 101 (very occasional?).”