Bumble's 'celibacy' ad and how its rebrand went wrong

Caroline Gill of IMA mused that the idea might have stemmed from universal dating fatigue, suggesting, "I think every woman who has endured online dating has, at some point, said, 'Fuck it, I’m joining a convent.'"

But, the ad fell from grace, missing the mark at a critical time when discussions about women's safety are paramount. Audrey Dahmen crit... See more

But in attempting to make light of a social climate in which, as they worded it in their apology, “a community” (read: women) “are frustrated by modern dating,” Bumble ended up, inadvertently or not, mirroring the language many women experience when they tell men they are not interested. The sexless, “crazy cat lady” trope is a tale as old as time,... See more

the dating industry at large is perpetually badgering single people to redownload, buy premium subscriptions, and remain in the romantic marketplace. This begs the question: Has a celibate woman become more threatening than a sexual one?

Some said the ads were misogynistic and were chastising women for not casually sleeping with men.

When it comes to the business of dating apps, the most relevant principle isn’t necessarily patriarchal, but inherently capitalist: celibate, app-less women are not lucrative, an issue that the entire industry is grappling with.

This is a clear example of adopting the aesthetic and lingo of a generation—using a playful tone like "come on, you know damn well that..."—without considering the socio-political context in which the messaging operates.

In an era where women are painfully aware of the patriarchy's omnipresence, and where femicide at the hands of men is still alarmi... See more