Women=More Than a Cook, Housecleaner, Model

            Women currently are CEOs, managers, doctors, lawyers, dentists, registered nurses, and construction workers, so why are there still advertisements out there publicizing gender stereotypes of women being weak, ditzy, and serving men? Despite the major accomplishments of women in athletics, business, government, and various other areas, there still exist some advertisements in the media that portray women in a poor light. There has been definite improvement in advertisement for women since the 1950s and earlier, but the ads that do surface from companies and organizations are still bothersome.

Here is an ad below from the Hollister clothing store:

            This advertisement isn’t too demeaning to women, but it does display relative size because from this ad it looks like either of the three models could be of high social status, but the posture of the women idolizes the male model. The male is clearly the focal point with the two women yearning for his attention by the look in their eyes and their hand placement. This ad even has one woman projecting piercing jealousy to the other woman due to wanting the man. The man appears to not have any high qualities or values that either of the women couldn’t posses, so why is he being portrayed in such an idolized light?

This commercial is from Hamburger Helper:

            This commercial starts off showing a the actress in a positive light by having her busy working and stating she was a track star, but quickly turns to making the point that she is the homemaker and cook as soon as she returns home. By saying, “The dinner table is where I learn how to be responsible,” while she dishes out the food shows how seriously she takes cooking and serving for her family in this way since she feels it is her primary responsibility. When she says, “How to hold a fork right, teaching them right from wrong, that’s my job,” completes the commercial with the gender stereotype that a women’s supposedly rightful place is in the kitchen and being the homemaker.

Below is a Mr. Clean advertisement:

            Seeing this modern-day advertisement I was honestly shocked at how gender stereotyped it was towards women with its caption. By showing a mother and her young daughter cleaning a surface happily together in celebration of mother’s day show women are still put in the perspective that they are the housecleaners and they enjoy doing it. Why not show a man cleaning with a women relaxing in the background to show the celebration of Mother’s Day for all of the hard work women endure?

            After viewing the advertisements from lecture and the ones I found online, I would have to say that advertising is guilty of creating gender imbalances in society because women have extremely progressed in their careers and ambitions yet there still remain ads that put them in the second-place position to men. Yes, there are advertisements that showcase women’s superior status and strength (such as the Williams sister ad in class), but these powerful ads cannot cover up the demeaning ads above. Women made the journey to gain equality and respect, but advertisements are struggling to reflect this accomplishment and current standing of women in our society.