Woman Portrayed In Adverts- Sexism?

I compeletly agree. In my women's studies class we were looking at an add in which a woman was laying on the ground compeletly surrounded by men and the add was for a perfume. I mean how does that sell perfume. And think about the message that its sending to young girls and boys.

here's a site about offensive ads to women.

http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/offensiveads.html

pretty interesting, i think

I see more ads that I consider offensive to men than offensive to women lately. You know, the type where the capable wife has to sort things out for the bumbling husband who can't do anything by himself. The ones I can recall offhand were for doing your taxes, and for some kind of laundry-related product.

I've noticed that when there's a man and a woman in an ad, often the man is looking into the camera while the woman looks at him. That irritates me.

Mystery Muffin wrote:

I see more ads that I consider offensive to men than offensive to women lately. You know, the type where the capable wife has to sort things out for the bumbling husband who can't do anything by himself. The ones I can recall offhand were for doing your taxes, and for some kind of laundry-related product.

I find those offensive to women when they're supposed to be funny - i.e., women are not really smart, they're just portrayed like the smart ones because that's hilarious. I've seen several such lately.

Hmm, I didn't see anything offensive in there.  I saw some funny things... I saw some things taken too literally, but nothing offensive.

Guess that's just me.  I mean, I'm a woman... and I wasn't offended... so, um, doesn't that mean it isn't offensive to all women?

Women are sexy. Why not use that to it's advantage. It gets people's attention and that the whole point of advertising. Why bother to get all offended by it, it's just an advert, it got your attention didn't it? And it's not going to change your views, so what does it matter really.

Last edited by Nat07B (06-19-2008 14:05)

I create ads for a living and my points would be:

- Your statement is a generalisation with no back up of specific examples.

- You can read anything into an ad (or a book, poem or movie) if you are looking for it.

- Portraying women as "slaves to men and society" features very low down on our priorities when we are creating advertising concepts, surprising as that may seem to you.

I have also been privvy to conversation with the creatives that came up with the Dove campaigns and their motivations are not nearly as altruistic as you think. But I wouldn't want to burst your 'yay for real women' bubbles.

Feel free to flame me.

yup, i agree with oscar.

*puts out all the flames*

paraphanelia wrote:

issue no. 2: why do some people think that ads, games and movies should educate? or send positive messages? or build up self esteem?

why?

Werd.

See I always thought that ads were to encourage more people to buy more stuff more often...

If you object to it perhaps you should make a protest and stop buying anything at all. Because you know, it's all evil.

I have a major confectionery brand as a client and I often get accused of making kids fat. Hilarious. We can't make someone choose to eat chocolate over an apple - we influence what BRAND people will choose in a product segment.

But if the increase of idiots in the world continues at this rate. This may well change.

Oscar, it is apparent to me that you were chosen by Satan himself to make poor little children fat. How do you even sleep at night?

Today we idealize the Man-Made Woman - complete with hair bleach, botox and synthetic boobs. What we see in ads are impossible standards, photoshopped beyond recognition and reality. People are trying to buy a fantasy. I'm the only one of my friends who hasn't had cosmetic surgery which is sort of surreal.

I think all adverts using women show them as a symbol of power, whether they are fully dressed or not.
Look at the power demonstrated over men.
The power's never only portrayed as sexuality either, there's always intelligence, wit, fun, romance...
I admire the female body and the power it has over everything in all aspects of society throughout history.
Women have held the power, even if not directly, throughout history. Anne Boleyn got rid of Wolsey for her own gain. That she was beheaded was only due to the fickleness of man... Henry VIII.