preview

Gender Aspects Of Gender And Gender Roles In Advertisements

Good Essays

Advertisements could be considered a fundamental part of American society’s backbone. What advertisers choose to present to the masses in hopes of attracting customers shows a lot about what a society values. Over the years, ads have changed with people and culture. When looking further into timepieces, one can see a large difference in how subjects were displayed and how they are now presented. One of these subjects is gender. The textbook definition of gender has stayed the same but the social contexts of it have changed over the years. Gender roles in society have changed drastically over the years through advertisements. A 1950’s ad for Ivory Snow laundry detergent is a great example of how American society perceived women. The advertisement is in the form of a black and white tv commercial. This commercial highlights the ideal image of how a young woman should be in this time. All of the ladies are prim and proper, dressed in nice attire, and have well done hair. The video is being narrated by a man with a charming voice, who emphasizes the very dominant position in society men prominently had. The speaker guides us through the commercial with flowery language. He opens up the commercial with a story of how every young girl should feel like a storybook princess, a life filled with delicate lingerie and soft blankets, that only Ivory Snow can provide. The advertisers put metaphors and similes throughout the script to illuminate the feminine appeal of the product. Using

Get Access