12 Classic Ads from the 1980s That Would Cause Outrage Today

2. Sexism in Full Swing

Take the infamous Nissan Hardbody Trucks ad campaign, where women were shown fawning over rugged, masculine trucks with taglines implying that a man without one wasn’t much of a man. Ads like these reinforced strict gender roles, portraying women as accessories to men’s achievements—a concept that wouldn’t fly in today’s more inclusive landscape.