No test on Production Techniques
Important information
from Ms. Aspenleiter
Important information
from Ms. Aspenleiter
Seniors
SOTA wants to know ALL ABOUT YOU!
Between now and Winter Break Summer Adams, (a fellow Senior), will be asking to take a casual picture of YOU!
This picture will be going up on the TV in the foyer along with the information that you completed in the beginning of the school year.
We want SOTA to get to know YOU,
What you liked about your time at SOTA,
Your favorite teachers
Your advice to the underclassmen.
If you have any questions, see Aspenleiter
Community Service
Seniors.....Before you know it Prom and Graduation will be here,
the question is....WILL YOU BE ABLE TO ATTEND EITHER EVENT?
If you do not complete your mandatory 20 hours of Community Service you will NOT be allowed to go to PROM or CROSS THE STAGE.
This is NON-NEGOTIABLE! You must get your hours DONE.
Suggestion: Volunteermatch.com...where they will be able to hook you up with MANY different options.
If you have questions....See Aspenleiter
Advertising Project:
Individually, you will design your own commercial to present to the class.
DETAILS:
1. You may use anyone you wish in the commercial.
2. Your commercial may be live or filmed.
3. You may advertise a product of your choice, or create your own product.
4. The length of your commercial should be approximately 1 minute. (up to 10 seconds over is fine, at which point you will lose 10 points.)
5. The material should be memorized. No script; however, to ad lib is fine.
6. Be creative. This project has great flexibility. You are demonstrating you understand how to persuade someone to buy a product or a concept (think of the India commercial). Avoid vulgarity.
On Monday, February 2 everyone is to turn in the following written material.
This will be the first writing grade for marking period 3.
You may send this material along early, if so wish. However, after Monday, it will be worth only 50 points.
Please note that you will not have access to a computer on Monday, February 2 during class, as we are beginning presentations. I suggest if you are filming to upload your commercial or put it on a thumb drive. Under no circumstances depend on your mail.
What exactly are you turning in on Monday, February 2?
1. A script. (This should include written descriptions of character, setting, dialogue and all production details. Do not be overly concerned with formatting.
2. An analysis paragraph of a minimum of 200 words that explains what and how you used two persuasive techniques and details of your target demographic. Make specific references to your commercial as textual evidence.
3. Reflection: An analysis paragraph of at least 200 words that addresses the process (production techniques) and obstacles you might have encountered and what worked well. How might you have changed the experience?
How shall the assignment be graded?
Two written grades:
1) Numerals 1 through 3 are worth 33 % each for a total of 100 points. (yes, I know that's not exactly accurate)
2) Commercial: 75/ 85 / 95 grading.
adheres to 60 second rule
incorporates the two persuasive techniques
demonstrates the use of 3 production techniques
is memorized and performed according to speech performance standards.
1.Script: character, setting, dialogue and all production details (check the list from the blog on Thursday, January 15) written out. (correct language conventions apply)
2 Persuasive Technique Paragraph: A well-written and supported paragraph explaining what two persuasive techniques you used and how they manifest themselves specifically in your commercial. (correct language conventions apply)
3.Reflection paragraph: how close did you come to achieving your goal? See above. (correct language conventions apply)
In class; We are spending the rest of the week on a short blogging unit.
We will read / watch a couple of controversial articles, beginning with the one below on gender and advertising.
Before class tomorrow, please post on the blog a 50 word commentary. You may say what you wish, but be thoughtful and respectful. Make sure to begin with your name.
Tomorrow, please read through the posts and respond directly to 3 people, by extending, challenging or concurring with their comment.
On Thursday, there will be another post.
By Friday, you should have a total of 8 posts: 2 from the original articles and 6 responses to other people.
Please read the following article on gender and advertising
by Arwa Mahdawi, whose article appeared in The Guardian.
I have tried to pull up the ads and commercials which she
references. Take the time to look at them. As you read and
watch, identify the gender cues, with the goal of writing a
blog commentary appraisal as to how accurate
Mahdawi's observations are and to what extent they are
a reflection of society or contributor to the continuation
of gender stereotypes.
Guys, I have some dating advice for you. Blow smoke in a girl's face and she'll follow you anywhere! I haven't tested this myself but it comes from a Tipalet ad, so it must be true.
Before you all rush out to buy Tipalets, I should warn you that the ad in question is from the 1960s. The 50s and 60s being a time when it was culturally acceptable to say things like "men are better than women"
and sell coffee with cheerful allusions to domestic violence. But attitudes have changed, and so have advertisements. Or have they?
Dr Pepper has just launched a new diet drink aimed at men, called Dr Pepper Ten.
Because dudes apparently "don't drink diet", the brand is aggressively pushing the line that this is a soda for real men, with "no women allowed" There is a mucho macho TV spot and a Facebook app that blocks women and boasts such manly content as a top 10 list of "Man'Ments". Inevitably, there are people who have taken offence at these testosterone-heavy sales tactics. The Dr Pepper Facebook page has turned into a (hastily moderated) standoff between the offended and the amused. One comment reads: "I AM NOT A MAN AND WILL DRINK THIS. MU HAHAHAHA." Another states: "You need to re-evaluate your marketing campaign. You're right, Dr Pepper is not for women, I certainly will NEVER buy it again." Please. Calm down and turn caps-lock off. It is just an ad.
I work in advertising so I'm definitely biased. Nevertheless, it seems as if Madison Avenue is often accused of instigating all the world's woes. And this is unfair because advertising is, for the most part, a symptom rather than a cause. If a marketing campaign is to be effective it has to reflect the zeitgeist, to chime with social mores. Attitudes to gender in advertising track attitudes to gender in society. If they didn't, we wouldn't sell anything.
Over the last 60 years we've seen women move from fighting for basic gender equality to feeling a pressure to "have it all" to affecting a certain nostalgia for traditional, 1950s-style, gender roles. The same trend can be observed in advertising, where the Tipalet-style ads of the 50s and 60s gave way to manifestos for female empowerment such as Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty, which then gave way to, well, things like this Dr Pepper effort.
Which, by the way, seems like it was copy written by Germaine Greer when you compare it with a recent Brut ad from Australia where men are encouraged to "spot and share" hot women.
(this is similar; you'll get the idea)
Take, even, the recent Gisele campaign, which was banned in Brazil for being sexist. The ads, for lingerie company Hero, showed a woman getting away with things like crashing her husband's car because when she 'fesses up, it's in her underwear. One rather livid Comment is free contributor wrote: "Essentially, women are taught to use their charm and sexy lingerie to control their husbands. Sigh."
(Here's a short commentary on the Gisele ad)
Sigh all you want, but all the ad was doing was reflecting an incontrovertible cultural truth. Indeed, in a recent article in Prospect magazine, LSE academic Catherine Hakim coined the phrase "erotic capital" to capture the very same idea that Gisele was trying to sell Hero underwear with: that being attractive and likeable carry greater equity than a college degree.
All this is not to say that the advertising industry is simply a slave of popular culture and bears no responsibility when it comes to changing attitudes, be they about sex, sexuality or race. Advertising certainly has the power and the responsibility to effect real behavioral and attitudinal change – whether that's as small as turning "simples" into schoolyard slang, or as big as normalising different models of family.
(alternative family)
Nevertheless, at its heart, advertising is less a catalyst of social change and more a mirror. So if we're looking at that mirror and not liking what we see then the blame may not lie with Dr Pepper or even ad execs, but with our society as a whole.
Gosh. All this is now a little too much for my female head. I'm off to blow smoke in someone's face and see what happens
.What if gender roles were reversed? WATCH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaB2b1w52yE&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHaB2b1w52yE&has_verified=1
Nadine: I think it's a nice blog about the role of the women in the 1950s or 1960s. But to me it doesn't really mean that much anymore. Mostly because in my opinion the image of women changed a lot in those past years. So even if part of it might still be true. It stays an ad from this time period and might not be true today.
ReplyDeleteBack then this video would have had a lot more meaning then it does to our generation. Generally, nobody really cares. The way women were displayed and still are being displayed in media does influence our society but this video doesn't have an extreme impact on us.
DeleteAngie: I feel that women are looked down on because of how they display women in media. In our society, one woman's actions can effect other women's actions down the line. Women have been constantly changing since the 1950s. Who knows where the status of women may end up in the next 10-20 years.
ReplyDeleteThe way women are displayed in media does indeed influence how society views the female gender. I really like your last point, that the status of women has been changing throughout history and will continue changing in the future.
DeleteFrom Samiya to Angie
DeleteYes they do portray women in the media as having a size 0 and impossibly beautiful. But I feel its up to the women around us to boost up their self esteem and say that they don't need to look like those women because they are happy just the way they are.
from Shantia to Angie
Deleteyou are correct the views of women will not be known in the future unless women around the world stand up. we are judged because of the way men see women on TV
DyNesha: Honestly, I feel like it is not that big of deal anymore. Women in media are seen as being submissive and overly sexy. Okay, companies do whatever they have to do to sell their product. If women are that weak that they cry because their man looks at an add maybe they shouldn't have one to be honest. Us as women do use our bodies to get what we want from men in most cases so is it wrong that the media just likes to use it as a form of adverting? We do it to ourselves everyday anyway.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. We all use what was given to us by God t our advantage, whether that be our brains, our artistic abilities, or our personalities. Why complain about the media showing us what we do in our daily lives?
DeleteTo say that we as women use our bodies to get what we want and that it shouldn't be an issue for companies to do the same is offensive. I think that is a major misunderstanding in our society today. Women and men in ads are overly sexualized for the benefit of the product.The men and women in the ads should not be judged nor should they be glorified. Its us as viewers that allow these ads to influence our views of men and women and what we value as a society.
DeleteSo true, Women are just making stereotypes more convincing with their bitching smh. Stereo typically we as women are already seen as "fragile creature who are too emotional". So why give men ground to stand on by letting a sill commercial or advertisement hurt our feelings? That is just so elementary
DeleteThe way someone appears will almost always have a difference on the way people talk to them or think about them because we live in a society that is based on materialism and self image. Of course the way a man or woman looks may have an effect on who their talking to, but I do not believe that "women do use our bodies to get what we want from men in most cases." I believe that image is the first thing someone sees or judges, but then after they get past a persons image there are more important things about them such as their personality.
DeleteFrom Samiya to Dynesha
DeleteI agree with you completely! The way you perceive an advertisement is your opinion, and you should not let an advertisement tell you what you do. There are some women who use their curves as a tool, but others that don't, they shouldn't get bent out of shape about it, you do then you do, you don't then you don't.
Sidney: Arwa Mahdawi's analysis on gender roles is relatively accurate because although we could see those ads from the 50s and 60s as outdated, the reasoning behind it still resembles today. Commercials now focus more on the sexiness of women then the woman herself. They display her body as the "right body" causing viewers of these commercials to believe that if they don't look like that, they aren't attractive to the opposite sex. And the same goes for men too. They believe if they aren't ripped and are built like a fighter, that they aren't manly enough or are weak in the eyes of other people when in many instances they're better than those men who are.
ReplyDeleteI agree full heartedly with what Sidney has to say, almost my words exactly. Since the dawn of time woman have been shaped in the minds of men as to what they should be. This is evident in almost every source of media and published entertainment. On the other hand, however, over the past five years the “no shaming” movement has definitely made some noise. Including PSA’s where the average size woman is holding the average size mannequin and so forth. I feel that that image of perfect bodies is still held but we are certainly breaking it down. -Summer
DeleteThis is true to a certain extent in my opinion. The media does show an image to how we should look both male and female. The media shows us also how we should behave as male and female but I believe that we are growing as a society. Call me optimistic, but I feel like nowadays people have come to terms that the media is not reality.
DeleteI completely agree with your comment Sidney. The society we live in is way to focused on the perfect body and materialistic things. Sure being healthy and staying in shape is a great thing that I definitely side with, but having a Victoria's Secret or Calvin Klein body is just over the top.
DeleteWith the emergence of a large movement which most refer to as "feminism", the roles of women in domesticated and public scenery has been quite affected. Most women are feminist, although it has a somewhat negative connotation. Blogs like these support the timeless view of feminism, that instead of subjugating women they should be empowered, or equal in the public eye. It is a pleasant blog to read, it is not too extreme but remains strong in its message.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the blog is not too extreme and suggests reasonable goals for the advancement of gender roles and women in particular. Too many people, like you said, have a bad connotation of the idea of feminism because all they have ever heard about it has been the super-radical man-hating side of it. Its important today's young women understand that feminism and gender equality are the same thing and reasonable movements to affiliate yourself with.
DeleteJamellah Craven
ReplyDeleteThis is true the way the media portrays the gender have an effect on the outcome on how we treat each other, but also advertising is used to draw in a certain audience. I don’t believe the advertisements aim to personally offend any one. I feel them wanting to target a certain audience will always offend the audience not targeted.
From Angie; To Jamellah
DeleteThis is right in many ways but, think of the big picture. Women are always a target to our society today. Women are always being discriminated by our appearances. Not only that but, also our actions. We are always in competition whether we like it or not. Whether to be CEO or anything of that nature. Being overly sexy can cause harm to our well beings as a mother and a wife. We attract many things.
If the ads were to draw in a certain audience, then who would they be drawing in? The woman? The Men? Could it have been both genders? Did you realize the sexism?
DeleteFrom Diamond to Jamellah
DeleteThis argument is very accurate. Although sometimes media can portray women in a degrading way, not all women are offended by it. Strong minded people will not get offended because they know how they view women in their own eyes and won’t let it affect the way they see or treat women or each other. Most of the times, their motive behind it is just to sell, and companies know that sex sells so they embrace the woman body which can be an effective tactic.
Katie Murrer
ReplyDeleteI think it was a good analysis of the different gender roles. It showed the difference of how men and women are viewed. The only thing I think she missed out on is how some women don't care or are okay with the ads of women being portrayed as objects. Maybe that's because society has made that image so common or maybe its because not all ads of women showing their bodies is bad. Some ad's that some might view as showing women as objects could be seen in other peoples eyes is liberating. And in my opinion there are a lot of ads showing men's bodies as well. There are some cases were women have ads that portray men bodies as objects. I think everything Mahawi's was accurate but she missed on the other side of this social issue.
I believe Mahdawi's analysis of gender roles is semi-accurate. While gender roles were much more clearly defined in the 50's and 60's, they still exist and are visible in modern advertisements and commercials. While I believe companies exploiting women to promote their product isn't in the best taste, I also acknowledge that women agree to appear in such commercials. No one is forcing them to be a part of a commercial that may degrade women, they know what they are signing up for and if they felt ostracized by the script or concept of an ad, they could choose not to be a part of it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I also believe companies should take more responsibility for advancing the evolution of gender roles and feminism. While female actresses do make a conscious decision to agree to be part of an ad, they are portraying the entire female gender, not just themselves.
I completely agree especially with your views on companies taking more responsibility. I would only like to comment and add that it is not just the objectification of women but also of men. Although it is not nearly as often, men being objectified also occurs and is almost never discussed.
DeleteFrom Ethan to Veronica
DeleteI like that you don’t put all of the blame on the advertisers because I feel it isn’t fully their fault that such tactics are successful in our society, which is why they are used. Women choose to expose themselves by modeling naked for a medicine or some other product. I respect that you see both sides of the argument of advertisement versus society and sure, advertisements aren’t helping advancing any equality for women, but I feel society must change their ways of being so attracted to ads that use sex appeal because then, advertisements will use different ways to sell their product.
I definitely agree with you and I like that you don't place all the blame on the companies, but on the women who are choosing to do it. Whether its just for fame and fortune or not, they are choosing to do it and put there body out there on a commercial for the world, which is their decision.
DeleteQuinn Weisenreder
ReplyDeleteMahdawi’s analysis of the continuation of gender stereotypes in the media was somewhat accurate. Although the roles of men, and women were more straight forward in the past, gender roles, and stereotypes still exist today due to advertisement. Some commercials obviously contribute to gender stereotypes such as 10 calorie Dr. Pepper, stating that “It’s not for women.” This shows that this company believes diet soda is for women because they are not superior to men. On another hand some advertisements are not as blunt. To me, although lingerie commercials can be too revealing, and raunchy, that’s the tone you need to set to sell that product. No person is going to want to spend money on lingerie they believe will make them look bad. Overall our society, and advertisements, keep gender inequality alive whether it be obvious, or subtle.
This is true, I think the advertisement for the 10 calorie Dr. Pepper was wrong for them to actually put out to the public. It surprises me that they didn’t think of the backlash they might have and did receive. Our society does keep gender stereotypes alive, it’s hard to find a way to stop it.
DeleteI honestly believe that articles like this should not even be around anymore, or the commercials. The fact that gender is still an issue is ridiculous. it is 2015 and women still believe they deserve to be herd and that men are pansies. well now the roles are just switched. men are just as patronized as women were back then. a boy cant play with barbies because they are "too girly". overall the idea of gender is over played, its something that give people an excuse to complain.
ReplyDeleteFrom Nadine to Heidi:
DeleteI really agree with you that our society is turning around. While a lot of women still are not okay with their position or their rights are even some jobs where it’s getting hard for men. The society is just not able to stay in the middle. For one time the women are the ones that are in a worse position and later it’s flipping everything around.
From Nikki to Heidi
DeleteI agree that gender roles are something that society really overthinks sometimes. I feel like if we just dropped it and stopped focusing all our energy into it, the world would be fine. You’re right – if a little boy wants to play with Barbie dolls, let him. If he doesn’t, that’s okay too. Same goes for little girls. We need to stop placing so much emphasis on things like this and focus on the bigger picture.
Think this just shows how far we as society have come and how much further we need to go. Although this is so, I don't believe the whole gender role and stereotyping thing is that serious today as it was back then . The truth is no one really cares, well except those radical feminist. lol
ReplyDeleteBetty i could,'t agree more. No one really cares now a days about this besides radicals. In the 50's women were beaten on a daily basis and it was seen as being the, "norm." Now us women hit back, now, if a man beats his wife, he is punished and looked down upon. Times have most definitely changed.
DeleteFrom Diamond To Betty/Oreo
DeleteYour opinion is very true. In the past, women were viewed as property and not treated equally as men. Nowadays we can easily have the same career as a man, go to the army, vote, etc. which are many things we were not always available to do as females. However I agree that we still have a long way to go as a society because women are still expected to be house wives, put their dreams aside and start a family, and many other things that will hopefully be diminished in our society in the near future.
I strongly agree with your sentiment that we have come a long way in advancing gender roles in society, especially those of women. While there are still many flaws with how we view women which the "radical feminists" do still talk about, we are slowly becoming more and more accepting in our ideas of gender roles and hopefully will continue to.
DeleteI agree that this just shows how far our society has progressed. But not many people tend to focus on the message that the video gave off anymore. Women now have the same opportunities as men. There's still that stereotype about them but we got this far and we're capable of continuing to change the future.
DeleteThe analysis Mahdawi gave was relatively good, and she made some good points. For instance, the ads being a reflection of society because if they weren't they wouldn't be effective in selling the product. Also, if viewers don't like the ads they are seeing maybe instead of blaming the advertisers they should take a look closer look at society as a whole and see what inspired these ads.
ReplyDeleteFrom Jacob to Nathan
DeleteThe gender stereotypes used in advertisements can be easily phased out of regular television. Although this might cause the companies to lose money, it would show what kind of company they are and have lasting effects on our society. Yes, society as a whole has to contribute to the removal of a prominent gender stereotype, but the advertisement companies are given too much slack in my opinion.
I agree Nathan, instead of complaining as a whole people should work to reform society. I believe the reason no one is standing up to do so is because the issue is not that serious. I feel as though at this point people are just looking for things to talk about.
DeleteFrom Duncan to Nate
DeleteI agree with you saying that we should scrutinize society as a whole rather than focusing on the advertisers for they are just a reflection of society. I agree with the points you made about the points she made, those were some good points. You make some good points kid. Keep up the good bicep work. End transmission.
From Ethan to Nathan
DeleteI fully agree with you when you say the ads being a reflection of society, and the proof is how effective they are in selling their product. Instead of blaming the advertisements for being sexist, which may be true when there is a naked women posing for a car or food or what have you, the blame should be put on society for being so accepting of these and wanting more. Advertisers are only doing what is effective so their product will sell. If society becomes less accepting of these ads portraying women in such ways, then chances are advertisers won’t use these tactics to sell their product, and instead use something more culturally accepting.
Mahdawi's analysis has many valid points and I particularly agree with her notion that ads are a mirror of society rather than the definitions of it. Gender stereotypes are so ingrained in society that there is no immediate way to eliminate them from mainstream society. Blatantly sexist may be wrong but they are successful, society is supporting these misogynistic ads which is the issue. A company isn't going to change its ways if they are successful.
ReplyDeletei agree. companies these days will do whatever that can to make a profit. If degrading women is one successful tactic then that is what they will do. I mean society has come to a point where they know what wrong is.
DeleteFrom Jacob to Duncan.
DeleteI disagree with the excuse you make for advertisement companies and the fact that if they are successful, there’s no reason to change. This excuse was used many times in times of slavery in America. If the plantation owners were making money, why should they stop enslaving an entire race? However, I agree that society is supporting the misogynistic ads we see every day, because not enough of us are speaking out about it.
From Ethan to Duncan
DeleteI agree with you, advertisements are only doing what they know is attractive to society so their product will be bought. The problem is society, not the advertisements. A company relies on their product to sell in order to be successful, and teams brainstorm the ways in which they can connect their advertisements to society. Society should begin to change in order for the advertisements to change, not the other way around.
From Nathan to Duncan
DeleteAdvertisements are trying to make money off of the product they are selling, and if it means that they are making money they will do sexist things and continue to for as long as it keeps working. Although they would likely to be able to sell their product and avoid sexist ads, they are unlikely to do so until the market for sexist ads has dwindled. It is unfortunate, but the advertisers will do whatever is working to make the most money off of the advertisements they run.
Nathaniel Torres
ReplyDeleteI believe that Mahdawi hit the nail on the head, her article discusses a very prominent issue which is gender roles in society. The problem is that over the years we as people have come to accept sexiest ads like the Dr. Pepper Ten drink, and how it’s just for men, it’s really not it’s for everyone but we’ve come to a point in life where people are ok with it, we think nothing of it while in actuality were taking a big step back from gender equality.
I agree with Nate, because big companies such as Dr. Pepper use this ad to try to sell more products to their customers because they know people won’t really think anything of it, and how it’s just for men. Gender stereotypes have become a huge issue over the years and this is just another example of it.
DeleteFrom Lily to: Nate
DeleteI agree with you completely. I think that society is the root of the problem because said society is the mill in which these advertisements are made. If society changes its perspective on gender stereotyping then advertisements will follow. We need a public outcry in order to make this change. By simply viewing these ads and commentating among ourselves, change isn't going to occur. Change will occur when individuals start complaining directly to the companies making these sexist ads.
Jack$$on
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it, if you were to ask an ad maker if they intentionally meant to make women look bad in their ad, they would say no. They probably think that they are making a funny/cool advertisement that happens to have a half naked lady in it. However, if a women is comfortable enough with her body to willingly model for these ads, that's her choice, and she shouldn't be judged for having a high self esteem.
As a male point of view, I really appreciate what Jackson has to say on the subject. It is true that no women would do something if she felt uncomfortable.. Or, at least not willingly. It doesn't matter if a girl is a size 0 or a 24. If a girl is confident in her skin we should praise her for over coming pressures and not make her feel terrible about feeling good. -Summer
DeleteJackson, i think that your approach to this topic was very genuine, and realistic. Your exactly right that most of these models are comfortable, a willing to be half naked for these advertisements. If they are comfortable with their body, why shouldn't the viewers be too? Confidence is something that should you be proud of, not something you should be shunned for.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree that many companies do not intentionally objectify or put down women. Although, as large companies, they hold great influence over society and people's views. They need to take more responsibility for their actions, understanding something that may just be funny actually carries a strong message. Hopefully companies can see its not just the individual actress in their ad, but instead the entire female gender who is being portrayed.
DeleteDeja Wormely
ReplyDeleteThe advertisements focused on gender roles should not be taken literal. Some of these commercials, in my opinion, are coming up with random slogans that ultimately does not have a major impact on people. Advertisements such as Dr. Pepper's, is just a technique used to bring in humor for the audience. In terms of Madawhi's observation, she is accurate when stating that brands should not affect how we view men and women. As a society, we tend to view both genders as being able to do certain thing, when in reality we are all able to do things if we put effort into it.
I agree, they aren't intentionally trying to be sexist, they're just trying to appeal to a specific group of people. However, some people take it as inappropriate, and opinions on whether or not they should be allowed depends on the society the ad is placed in.
DeleteI see what you're saying, and I agree that it is a technique, but that also doesn't excuse the fact that it is sexist. It may make the product appealing to people who find such things humorous but it would definitely turn off the people who do not find ads like that entertaining. There has definitely been a huge change within the last 50 years, but there is still a long way to go from here.
DeleteFrom Seyvion to Deja:
DeleteYou’re right, Deja. I don’t think most ads are intentionally trying to be sexist. Instead, they are trying different approaches as to how to attract certain consumers. Most ads target men or women with one purpose - to appeal and sell. Whether or not the content of the commercial is sexist or not, is something that most advertisers do not keep in mind when producing their ad. I guess we as consumers just have to keep in mind, that these people are just doing their job, and making a living just like everyone else.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteFrom Shakeiya to Deja:
DeleteI agree with the fact that the interpretation of these ads aren't intentional. This appears to be what the people want, so in order to sell a product or bring attention to an idea businesses will say or do pretty much anything. People are quick to take things to heart but they don't even realize that they are a part of this society as well and still don't want to act on their emotions.
Jacob Polcyn-Evans
ReplyDeleteI believe that to a certain extent, the advertisement companies know that what they are showing is ridiculous and shameful. They do it to get noticed and I don't think it will ever change. However, accepting that an the advertisement companies just mirror the social cues that are already there can be detrimental to our society. The advertisers are a hangman; no one will do anything until they are the ones being objectified, at which point it will be too late to stop it. If we continue to let women be objectified in ads, then there is a downward spiral that will take over to every other social group. Although feminists are known to take things over the top, the fact that feminism is gaining popularity is a step in the right direction.
i agree, however I think that the whole topic is shameful. when people start complaining about women being objectified then men become objectified. it truly is ridiculous that the whole topic of gender in our day in age is still a "PROBLEM". it really is who ever we want to blame it on.
DeleteFrom Nathan to Jacob
DeleteThis is a sound analysis of the certain state of society. I agree that there needs to be a change in what advertisements use to sell their products, and that the change needs to start with society itself because they are selling us the product. If society were to turn its back on a product in protest of the advertisement method, a message would be sent to all the companies and a change would have to be made. Anyway you look at it it comes back to society making the change and then ads following suit and reflecting the change.
From Duncan to Jacob
DeleteI agree with some of the points you are making but at the end of the day these companies and advertisers are trying to sell a product. These types of advertisements are what sells and stirs up publicity and as long as that continues these advertisements won’t change. It is easy to agree with the notion that people only get mad and will do something when their group is the victim of the advertisements.
I think that Mahdawi’s reflection on the ways in which advertising represents society as a whole is somewhat accurate. I think that sexism is still very much prevalent in today’s society. I see it every day. However, the advertising industry as a whole has evolved to the point where blatant sexism and degradation of women are frowned upon. The Tipalet smoke ad and the Domestic Violence Coffee ad would never be universally accepted in today’s advertising world. There are campaigns being launched such as the Dove campaign for Real Beauty that promote the idea to women that being yourself is the most beautiful thing you can be.
ReplyDeleteFrom Nikki to Lily
DeleteI agree with your statement that we have evolved somewhat from the advertisements of previous decades, however I also feel like we still have a long way to go. While I feel like the sentiment is definitely there behind the Dove commercials, it does make me question sometimes if it’s just another form of exploitation of the women’s body, except with real women instead of Victoria’s Secret models.
From Lauryl to Lily:
DeleteI agree. Sexism is not as bad as it was years ago and so we should be glad that we have at least made progress. Personally, I do not understand why women get upset when other women objectify themselves. If a woman wants to parade herself around in her underwear on national television or in an ad, then that's her thing. It doesn't bother me and why should it? She didn't have to do it. And the same goes for commercials from years ago hitting on domestic violence. The woman in the ad didn't have to do it but she did, so that's not a big deal to me. They are choosing to objectify themselves.
I do agree with what you’re saying that there is still much progress to be made. But I don’t think that the progress that is being made should be frowned upon. Like you said: its important to read behind the image as to what the true intention of the ad may be, but in my experience I have been more inclined to buy products from a company that advertises using women who look real than women who have been photo shopped to the extreme. I hope that in time, the advertising world won’t have to use women’s bodies at all to exhibit products. I think it is important to be aware of the fact that women in their underwear are encouraging us to buy soap, but it is also important to recognize the intent of change. That change should be encouraged.
DeleteEthan Gresko
ReplyDeleteI have heard of or seen most of the advertisements that Arwa Mahdawi brings up in her article and I believe she is accurate with her commentary about the sexism present in them. “Nevertheless, at its heart, advertising is less a catalyst of social change and more a mirror. So if we’re looking at that mirror and not liking what we see then the blame may not lie with Dr. Pepper or even ad execs, but with our society as a whole.” I like that Mahdawi says this, because she points out earlier in her article the criticism various ads receive for being sexist, however they are just doing what society finds acceptable and will win people over to buy their product. There should be less criticism over the ads, and more on society itself.
From Jacob to Ethan
DeleteI agree that society has to change to stop the younger generations into being conditioned to view sexism as ok or normal. However, I think the first part of this change has to come from an outcry from society, to which advertisement companies respond with a change in the way they portray our sexuality.
from Nathan to Ethan
DeleteI agree that the ads are a reflection of society and that people should first criticize society before blaming ads. However, it is peoples natural instinct to use something or someone else as a scapegoat so they don't see themselves as responsible for something they don't like. The use of the quote in your response gives it a kind of validation and makes your point resonate in the readers mind. Well done.
http://gph.is/176Site
DeleteFrom Mystique to Ethan:
DeleteI totally agree, the companies are going to keep advertising what the people like to see, so that the people continue to buy their product. Its definitely not the companies fault it's ours and people don't realize that.
I feel Mahdawi's article was pretty accurate showing how effective commercials can be to society. Gender stereotypes have been an on going issue and has created problems with the way women and men are viewed. The media has created some type of "standard" that people should live up to or become that is unrealistic and sometimes can be offensive. I think many ads are meant to be encouraging but can come off condescending. It just depends on the audience and their own individual opinion.
ReplyDeleteFrom Diamond to Phalyn
DeleteThis is a true statement because commercials can be taken the wrong way depending on the person and their views. Commercials and advertising are an effective way to set a standard in society and I agree that these can sometimes be offensive and oppressive to women. However, it just depends on how the person takes it which most women now don’t mind it. They almost find it empowering sometimes to embrace these stereotypes and things.
To Diamond
DeleteExactly. People see how ridiculous some of there stereotypes are so they start to make humor out of it. But like we both said it just depends on how a person may take it, whether it positively or negatively.
I agree with what you’re saying and like how you didn't just single out men or women you approached this objectively. I get what you were saying on how media now has set a standard that people need to live up and I agree it’s a problem but in the end it’s your choice on whether or not you’ll try to meet this standards.
DeleteFrom Gena to Phalyn: I agree that both men and women can be portrayed as objects, which is detrimental to both genders. I think that one reason ads set the unrealistic standards you’re talking about is that if they make people feel bad about themselves it is easier to sell those viewers products. Ultimately, I think it’s a marketing technique.
DeleteMahdawi's analysis was pretty accurate in showing the effects of how women portray themselves in media and the message that it gives off. Gender stereotypes have been an ongoing issue for many years and these type of ads and commercials don't help to eliminate it. But then again if that company is making money off of people enjoying these provocative ads that's just another reason for them to continue.
ReplyDeleteTo Jasmyn from Deon'e: I agree with you, i feel as if the creators of these ads know exactly what they need to do and say to get their product to sell. Whether their message is uplifting, provocative or controversial. They are aware of what will draw attention to their product and they use that to their advantage.
DeleteMystique: Most of the points Mahdawi made were true about women are being stereotyped and our bodies are begin used to advertise a product that doesn't necessarily need a women's body. But today most people don't care about the ads exposing bodies of male or female because most ads today include showing off male bodies as well; in my eyes its equal and a company will do anything to get the product bought. I think it also depends of the person looking at the ad to take as being offensive.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It's more about promoting a product rather than promoting the models. *inserts finger emoji*
DeleteExactly, The ads arent meant to say " look at these females they are objects" but instead " if you like these females you will like my product" its all about marketing. I think it has little to nothing to do with sexism.
DeleteGender stereotyping continues to be a prominent issue in today’s society. Advertisement companies are aware of this issue and use it to make money, knowing it will get a rise out of people. Personally, I do not think gender stereotyping is acceptable from either gender. Where there are preconceived notions of how a girl should be or how a guy should be, it may not define a certain individual. Society should focus more on individuality as opposed to “male and female.”
ReplyDeleteFrom Nadine to Maritza:
DeleteI agree with you that some parts of gender stereotypes are still true. But in my opinion it is kind of natural. It doesn’t just include stereotypes about gender it also includes stereotypes of origin, language and a lot more. How many times do we see specific nationalities representing one subject? Even this part is kind of wrong but it is the way society works. Everyone has to be better than someone else and nobody wants to be in the weaker position. So our brain makes up stereotypes to tell us it is right to not like some people. I also agree with you on the point that stereotyping isn’t acceptable from either gender but it is still happening. Probably in a different way than it was in those ads, but it is still there and will probably stay forever.
stereotypes are an unfortunate reality. People always being called a girl or you look Asian because of your eyes. i agreed completely with your statement though. the fact the idea of gender is so heavily announce is a shame. Some say oh you look like a girl to a guy and mean it as an insult. Then you find 20 women who freak out. then when you see a girl that dresses like a boy shes a lesbian or dyke. the idea of gender should just be eradicated.
DeleteAlice: Advertising continues to use stereotypical gender roles however it is not solely limited to women. Women are given unrealistic expectations in advertising, but men are shown in similar ways in circumstances such as underwear ads. However, I do think the article shows how unrealistic these advertisements can be and the impact they leave on society.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it this way but that's so true. It's not only women who are perceived as sexists objects but men too. A lot of times in the media women are focused and looked down upon but it's also their choice. I think that some of the advertisements are just taken the wrong way.
DeleteI completely agree with this. Yes women's gender roles are more evident, but men's unrealistic standards are often looked over because it seems as though it is just a given. It is an expectation for them to act manly, and be fit, whereas society just shames women for being big and not living up to what the see in advertising.
DeleteGena: I understand the point that advertisements are a reflection of society, but I don't think that excuses the ads. Marketing acts as a reflection, but it also plays an active role. Advertisements can impact how people think about themselves and those around them, so it is important that corporations be aware of the potential effect their ads can have on viewers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this Gena. I don’t think corporations know the kind of pressure they put on the models who pose for an advertisement. They put pressure on the models to look perfect but they might not know that it puts a weight on self-esteem. I can’t speak for all of them, but I’m sure a lot feel judged or feel the pressure.
DeleteMaya Ragin
ReplyDeleteMahdawi's article made good, valid points and I agree that the stereotypical gender roles are happening in commercials, both male and female, and its not right in my opinion. But, let's be honest, as much as people complain about the commercials, clearly the companies that are making the commercials are making money from them because they still make those kind of commercials. So, somebody must like them.
From Phil to Maya:
DeleteI completely agree with you. I feel like if society actually does care about equal rights, then these companies would not make these sexist ads. Society can't complain about what they like it doesn't make any sense at all. Maya, you're a star.
From Angie; To Maya
DeleteThis is very true. We have an eye for what we like no matter what the advertisement is based on. Men always have an eye on women and it has been like that for a long time. However, the commercial companies have become very sexist in the way that women are dressed and who they act in the commercials.
Alison Denk
ReplyDeleteThe public’s view of women will always be less than a man. People continue to sexualize women in ads, while men have a much stronger and aggressive role. There is more gender stereotypes for women, but that doesn’t mean that it can just effect women. Some men can feel gender stereotypes as well, it’s just not advocated for as much. Being a girl does not mean they have to be sexy and being a guy does not mean they have to act tough, we need to find a way to stop gender stereotyping for both men and women.
Alison, its very important that society knows that gender stereotypes also effect men. I like that you explain that just because you are a certain gender, doesn't mean you have to be exactly like the stereotypes. Its very true that women have a much bigger issue with gender roles in the media, but you also explained that anyone can be affected by this.
DeleteTo: Alison From: Lily
DeleteI agree with this point completely. I think that a lot of emphasis in our present social climate is put on how women are over sexualized in advertisements and treated as less simply because they are women. People often fail to recognize that there are definitely some negative or undesirable male stereotypes that are featured prominently in many ads. I think it is important to make a change so that men and women are portrayed as equal in the world of advertising. It may take a while, but this change is possible.
I agree with Mahdawi's point that the ads are reflective of society and work to a certain point. I didn't see many of the ads in a positive light, for the most part they objectify women or place them on a lower pedestal than men when they should be equal. However, some people do like them as can be seen by the continual purchasing of the products being advertised. In my opinion they need to be toned down and more gender equality needs to be incorporated into them, in 2015 showing women as objects is no longer acceptable.
ReplyDeleteFrom Nikki to Elizabeth
DeleteI agree with this. I feel like because advertising like this had been occurring for so long, people have grown so desensitized that they aren’t even surprised or angry anymore. It’s amazing that for how much we’ve advanced technologically, we are still in 2015 having conversations social equality. I think that ad campaigns really need to take some pointers from Cheerios and Oreos commercials, personally.
To: Lizzy Clark From: Katie Murrer
DeleteI think your statement that we need to tone down showing women as objects. And I agree that people will still purchase products based on that advertisement but what I believe you missed on was that its not just women that are only subjected to theses stereotypes and that in some cases ads portray men as sex symbols to women. Not to say women's ads aren't out of hand because they are in some cases but its not just women that have to deal with the social stereotypes.
From Lauryl To Lizzy:
DeleteI completely agree with your statement about ads needing to be "toned down." But you are correct in saying that they obviously work, because people continue to buy the products regardless of the complaints about the ads. I personally don't care about these ads because if the women in them don't mind being objectified in this way, who am I to stop them?
From Molly to Lizzy:
DeleteI agree that using women as objects in advertising is not socially acceptable, especially now. Unfortunately people continue to purchase products from companies that advertise that promote gender inequality and the objectification of both men and women. In the end it comes down to money, and sex sells.
Zachary: Arwa Mahdawi make some good points but things have changed and a lot of people know that things aren’t the same with genders. There still are some people out there that have those beliefs but most people my age don’t have that opinion anymore towards women. These videos show women that are “sexy” but there are many women out there that have success and do things just as good if not better than those women that are considered “sexy.”
ReplyDeleteI agree with Zach because women today are viewed in commercials and magazines as “sexy” and it makes some women believe that if they don’t look like a model that you can’t go far in life, which is totally inaccurate. Women are looked at differently than in the past and this is the kind of stereotypes people live by now.
DeleteTo Zach Orcutt From Katie Murrer
DeleteI like your statement and Nick Petrone's comment that all women are different and look different and can do things just as well as men if not better. And they can do it better than women that are consider "sexy" in the eyes of society. Your comment is refreshing because a lot of men don't see women has different. They categories them into what you have said the image of "sexy" and if a women doesn't fit in that category they aren't important to society.
From Angie; To Zach and Nick
DeleteI completely agree with everything said. I do feel as though girls my age and women much older than me don’t like the way that they look because they aren’t “sexy enough”. It is a result of the commercials we see on TV. Having one person represent a whole body of people is really annoying sometimes because women “have to live up to that” and yes I do feel like everyone around me feels like a failure because we don’t look like the person next to us.
I agree with Zach's statement. Lets not forget Hillary Clinton ran for president and made decent progress in her campaign, so obviously our perception on women has changed over the past few generations.
DeleteI agree with Zach’s statement because it’s true, many ads on TV or in magazines make it seem like the women in them set the standards on beauty, and the issue we’ve tried to stop and like you said for some it worked but others still have that mind set to judge based on looks alone.
Deleteshantia hunt
ReplyDeleteShantia Hunt
I agree man and women who feel like they want to be a part of the popular crowd watch commercials and look at ads to become more “popular”. Women feel like they have to be sexy or half naked on the internet to get the “right man” attention when they really just end up degrading themselves. Men feel like they overpower women and that they can get away with it because over the years they became more dominant then women. Commercials have a major effect on insecure males and females because they don’t know where else to look but at an ad and wonder why does every guy or gal like him/ her and they figure out why that its either there appearance or masculinity.
Mahdawi's observations are valid but they were based on an outdated society. Ads are meant to be targeted towards what the society thinks or wants to think. That is the essence of marketing and women today understand how things were perceived in the past and it doesn’t matter, anymore it is easy to be independent.
ReplyDeleteFrom Maritza to Darren
DeleteWhere I do concur that the older ads were from an outdated society, they are still relevant because sexism is still a part of our society. Furthermore, today’s society should not think this way about women or vice versa. It’s ignorant to think that these ads are acceptable, whether sexist against men or women, simply because companies desire to make money.
I realized that as well. The ads are outdated but it shouldn't matter that if they were or not. If those ads were in our generation, they could still affect our society or not. But it also depends on how "woman " take it even though most are independent.
DeleteEnuma F. OKafor: Mahdawi's ideology about the objectification of women in present day advertisement is accurate, but very one sided. She forgot to mention much about the objectification of men also. Yes men are not nearly sexualized to the extent that women are but it still occurs. At one point in the article Mahdawi referenced a video in which they spoke briefly about how the over sexualized ads make women has obscured body images. Though that is also true for men, especially when men are encouraged to look like massive body builders. I think her point would been more validated if she spoke about the expectations men also face.
ReplyDeleteFrom Deon'e to Enuma: I feel the same way. I feel as if Mahdawi's argument was extremely valid but only for women... Though it is more common, society isn't just sexist towards women. I feel as if men are overlooked in this because sexism is seen as specifically a problem for girls in society when there are men who are too hurt by the effects of sexism today.
Deletehttp://i.imgur.com/u8awa.gif
DeleteYes Numz.
From Mystique to Enuma :
DeleteYou know I agree with you on this. Men are being sexualized as well as women but people don't see it that way. Many advertisers go for the men who have nice bodies and has that different look about them. What about the average man?
From: Deja To: Enuma
DeleteIt is correct that Mahdawi’s observations are one-sided. People do fail to realize that men can be exploited as well. They can be looked at as being muscular and when you see commercials such as clothing ads, the individuals in the ads live up to society’s outlook. At the end of the day, society gives the impression that men and women have live up to a certain “look” or persona.
From Molly to Enuma:
DeleteI agree that Mahdawi's point would be more effective if the argument wasn't built only on the objectification of women in advertisements. I think her reasoning would be more accurately illustrated if she represented the objectification that both women and men face in society.
Aleja Wright: Although the way women are portrayed in commercials or on TV may be wrong, it has become societies normal. We may not like to think that we would look at something like that and just brush it off but it does happen. Personally I think it is wrong for either gender to be sexualy idealized. In society men are seen as the toughest of the tough and women are seen for their physical appearance more than their intellectual. This can be true for men as well in many situations. This sadly is a fact that has impacted society. This alone will not change the fact that people still buy the product regardless.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you mentioned this. Too many people forget that men also experience the effects of sexism. Sexism is too often seen as a "girl problem", but there is an unfortunately (and to many, unexpectedly) large number of men who experience eating disorders and depression in part because they can't meet the standards of, say, the next Dolce and Gabanna advertisement donning a stunning hunk with perfect facial hair and a ripped body. While advertisements are a reflection of society, they can also impact it in more influential ways than we think. Nice post, Aleja.
DeleteFrom Deja To: Aleja
DeleteI do agree with your statement on the way men and women are portrayed in society. To me everyone is capable of doing any tasks, regardless of the gender. This can correlate with celebrities being popular because of their appearance rather than being known for their profession. It is something that needs to be changed and reevaluated. However, the outlook of both genders will probably remain the same.
From Seyvion to Aleja:
DeleteI agree with you too. It is wrong for either gender to be sexualized. Everyone should be treated equally, and not used as objects or toys. Sadly, this wish just isn't reality. I also think it is sad how we as consumers are still willing to buy these products, even though they are degrading in every way. I think some people are just blind, or maybe most people just don’t care. Either way, our society definitely needs a wake up call.
From Shakeiya to Aleja:
DeleteLike I said before, if someone is so used to seeing something, they wouldn't think anything is wrong with it because they don't look at it in depth anymore. Since these are the types of ads we are used to, we say nothing unless someone brings up a point about it, then all of sudden it becomes "wrong".
Arwa Mahdawi makes an excellent point on sexism present in today’s society, but I feel as if she could have went even more in depth. Sure it’s a short article, but she failed to mention that women in the 60’s were literally trained to accept smoke blowing and all sorts of sexist acts so as not to anger their abusers, and she dropped many important points that I would have liked to have seen. However, what she did write was very intriguing. She brought up all views in sexist advertisements and allowed the reader to know every side in the situation before forming an opinion. I liked that she acknowledged that if there was something wrong with the advertisements we are seeing, then they are only reflecting the wrongs in society. I didn’t think that a clear enough solution was presented, just the facts that every free thinker knows: sexism still exists and body image is a problem for all genders. I would have liked for her to present more of a “What we can do?” than present a “Well what are you gonna do? That’s life.” This article is a great start on what every person should be researching and making an effort with.
ReplyDeleteTessa to Julia:
DeleteI think your comment on how she should have taken a better approach on the article was accurate. I found the article confusing because at parts she seemed like she was disagreeing with the ads messages, and later she sounded much more accepting of it. She should have taken more of a stance.
Brittany Lu:
ReplyDeleteMahdawl's ads about sexism is accurate due to how society can perceive women to be sexual beings. Yet it's the woman's choice to choose what she wants to do with her beauty and like in the video women can use it to get out of many troublesome things. But also women can stray from what society thinks and become independent which is what women are doing now.
Beauty is a tricky thing. I think it's interesting how there are so many people who believe that makeup, hair removal and basic upkeep of a body are oppressive. You never think about it, but the argument can definitely be made either way; women feel the oppressive pressure by society to change their appearance (as do men -- let's not forget!), OR you could say that choosing how to express oneself through appearances is liberating and empowering. It's fascinating, the varying opinions on things we rarely think about in our daily lives!
DeletePhilip Slattery: I think Arwa Mahdawi makes an excellent point about sexism. However, I think it's rather stupid to bring up ads that are older than us youth. I feel like these companies portrayed women as sex objects way back then because it was socially acceptable. I also feel like Dr. Pepper didn't completely mean for their ad to come across as sexist, they only did it because it is very common for people (both men and women) to say such things like "You throw like a girl, Grow a pair." and also make fun of a guy if a girl beats him in a fight or something of the sort. Also, I like that sexism against men is brought up in the commercial, because it is very often overlooked.
ReplyDeleteSo, the reason why she brought up the Dr. Pepper ad is because it -is- still sexist. I understand what you're saying, that it's drawing on social norms that we're all familiar with to be an effective ad, but when those norms put down one gender solely to bring the other up (e.g. "you throw like a girl", "grow a pair"), the ad is sexist. She was upset by the fact that Dr. Pepper, regardless of whether they're aware, is perpetuating daily sexism that goes unrecognized! That's the worst, because it carries subliminal weight even if we aren't consciously aware of it. Saying "you throw like a girl" is rude, if nothing else, but also puts down women for no legitimate reason. Who's to say girls can't throw a ball damn well? The same people who believed that taking your woman to go hiking is "something of a drag" because they're "more pleasant in the kitchen". It's the little things that go unnoticed that really reflect where our society stands.
DeleteAlso, forgot to mention: even though some women express sexist statements against the female gender, that doesn't negate the statement's sexism. Many women aren't aware of what sexism even is (?!), so they go along with the norms we have in place, like our lovely, common phrases. Even though that women in particular may not feel the effects of that statement, others can.
DeletePhillip, i think that you are spot on when you said that these ads, and commercials were from a different time then us. Back then demeaning women was social acceptable, so these ads are now out of context. Its very true that some commercials can be degrading to men and that shouldn't go over looked either.
DeleteFrom Deja Yo Philip:
DeleteI agree with statement that the older articles portray sexism because due to that being acceptable during that time period. I feel that these articles should not be taken so literal. Companies such as Dr. Pepper are trying to bring humor to their advertisements rather than displaying men being better than women.
From Phalyn to Phil:
DeleteI agree, I think using those ads are a bit dated and doesn't really apply to us anymore. But at the same, I feel using them shows how long sexism has been an issue in society. Yes, women aren't expected to play "Betty Crocker: The Homemaker" anymore, but it's the fact that men are always portrayed as the dominant one- whether is to control them or to be pleased by them.
Emma: I feel that Arwa Mahdawi makes a good point about how ads are based on society's perception of gender roles. How do I feel about the ads from early on that can be offensive, and even now are considered to be offensie and sexual? Society still buys the products. So in theory it's not the advertisers problem, they have accomplihed their goal. The real problem is the how and why society thinks sexual and offensive advertising is appropriate, acceptable and effective.
ReplyDeleteHannah
DeleteAlmost every single company at one point or another has used women in an ad but used her as a sexual object to sell an unrelated product. By seeing men in the same ads that women are objectified in made me realize how blind we are to the disrespect of women because its become a societal norm.
Elaine: Great article, great points. She's right in stating that advertisements are a mirror and not a catalyst; they're only effective if they relate to a society's current norms. However, the fact that these advertisements (like so many other sexist ads) are being publicly protested and deemed sexist is a powerful step in the right direction. It's telling of a society that pushes away from the oppressive norms it has, which, I think, is what our society is doing. (Go us!)
ReplyDeleteFrom Nadine to Elaine:
DeleteI totally agree with your statement that advertisement is a mirror of society. But don’t you think that the ads that are shown in this article wouldn’t really work today? There are some effective ads that don’t include anything that is matching society. I agree with you that she included great points in the article even though I just don’t really believe that society didn’t change in the last years. I think it’s a lot different now than it was years ago.
From Mystique to Elaine:
DeleteI agree with advertisement is a mirror of society and that she made many great points. Like today a lot of things people see are supposed to be "sexy" and advertisers do that to sell their products. But in real life everything isn't sexy and a lot of people in our society are realizing that, which is awesome! Like you said "Go us!"
From Heidi to Elaine.
DeleteI agreed to a certain degree. Yes the fact women were used is now a public issue. However there is an issue that people don’t seem to notice. The fact that both men and women are being objectified. Look at all the old spice commercial or the axe commercials. Men are always told be manly and to get ladies. Well I found this one ad that has both men and women exposed for the sake of an ad. please take a look( i couldn't figure out how to post the picture)
http://thenotice.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/DG-fragrance-anthology.jpg
Gender roles have always been an issue in society, as this article points out. However, they do not apply exclusively to women. While gender stereotypes are usually advocated for women more than men, both genders are put under strict limits of what is deemed acceptable. Although these advertisements shouldn’t be excused, we should focus more on society as a whole and attempt to stray away from these harsh stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteHannah
DeleteWe are taught from a young age what society wants us to be but it causes a lot of stress on both genders. Between photo shop and sexist comments, advertisements have a huge impact on societal dynamics hindering our ability to move forward where everyone is accepted for being their authentic self.
Tessa to Chloe:
DeleteI think it is critical that we look more to society than to one specific gender because it is everyone who is judging everyone. If it were true that just women or just men that the stereotypes were about, you could focus on the opposing side to try and fix the issue. But like you said, its not just one or the other, its both.
Adi: I believe that this video shows the ways woman and men are portrayed from back than and now. Woman where treated differently back than and it was more of a problem because they were already looked down upon an considered nothing compared to a man. But now i don't see these adds really as a problem because in a way woman are showing their power that even their body can sell a product but that's something not all men can do. Also in society now, showing skin is probably one of the top ways to sell a product and mostly used in advertising. I don't think its a problem it all depends on how others look at it
ReplyDeleteI feel you mentally. True facts. A lot of people back then tend to be judgmental to the present. But yes woman are actually making these moves out here because they don't want to be treated like nothing just because of there gender or size. They know they have more than what people can see.
DeleteJaida Degnan:
ReplyDeleteAlthough very one sided, Mahdawi's ideology about the objectification of women in present day advertisement is accurate. Throughout history we see the objectification of women but we rarely if ever, discuss the objectification of men. Men are sexualized along with women, perhaps not as much but it certainly occurs and in various ways. I believe Mahdawi’s point would been corroborated more if there was more discussion about the similar challenges men face. Its also important to discuss the effects of ads. Advertisements are in some ways, a reflection of society but also have an impact on how people view things. Therefore, corporations should be cautious of what images are being created and the effect their ads might have on viewers. As we move forward, we hope to see less and less gender stereotyping and the sexualization of both men and women. In some ways this article shows progress made over time and a reminder that there is still room for improvement.
http://media2.giphy.com/media/S8eQx9GFb3chW/200.gif
DeleteALL DAY.
First off I think it is kind of messed up that when the last video showed the roles of the models switching that the guys were fat and they looked gross and the girls looked ok. Now on the other hand it is also messed up that for some commercials it shows women being used for their bodies, I think it is terrible that some of the magazines show some sort of domestic violence towards women. One thing is for sure on why people do this to women is because sex sells. I bet if they stoped using these ways sales would go way down.
ReplyDeleteFrom: Sidney To: Abram
DeleteAbram proves a valid point, “sex sells.” The main component in every one of those ads aside of sexism was sex. Whether it was a hot supermodel in lingerie or it was a shoe ad with a naked woman wearing shoes all over her, the element of sex was always present. Without it, many of their products wouldn’t sell because they wouldn’t have gathered the necessary attention to cause them to sky rocket.
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DeleteI think you are totally spot on. Sex really does sell. Many men like seeing attractive women on magazines, and many women like seeing attractive men on there too. If someone you find enjoyable to look at is modeling with a product, odds are you are more likely to consider purchasing the item. It is crazy that it is such a no brainer kind of thing.
DeleteMahdawi’s comments were pretty accurate in my opinion since she was being sarcastic. When people look at ads, they want to see what it appealing to their own eyes. They don’t think about the generalization or actual interpretation of the ad, and they don’t usually question it either. It does seem like many ads nowadays lean towards the masculine perspective, which upsets a lot of women but what can you do when there are models who’d fulfill these types of requests anyway? If someone is so used to seeing the same things over and over again they wouldn’t think anything is wrong with it and they’d tell you to your face that there’s nothing wrong with this ad. Of course these are a reflection of society, they’re ads! The goal is to appeal to bigger and “important” groups to bring attention to an idea or product. Somewhere, somehow and for whatever reason people seem to think that this is what draws the public eye so as long as it goes uncorrected, it’ll continue to be this way.
ReplyDeleteFrom Deon'e to Shakeiya: I agree with you, i feel as if creators of ads know what they need to do and say to get their product to sell. I don't understand how the majority of women today are about body loving and self acceptance but when i woman feels comfortable enough to do a commercial in her underwear it send the wrong message to society. If the woman accepted the ads request at her own discretion why is this a problem?
DeleteFrom Seyvion to Shakeiya:
DeleteYou are completely right, Shakeiya! These type of advertising techniques are used because it appeals to what the people want. Even if it is sexist and woman-degrading, these type of ads will continue to be produced because no one correcting it, as you said. I also liked the point you made about women being upset - You can’t really do anything about these ads, when we still have women out there willing to fulfill these sexist roles. It’s a sad, sad truth.
Concetta: I feel that the author here made very valid points throughtout this article. I think it was important to bring up this idea of sexism through the use of advertisments. Many of her points in the article I feel do pose for valid arguments, however she does mention she may have biased because of the line of work she is in. I think that might play a role in how the information is passed along to the reader. In many of the advertisments shown to us here show women being submissive to a dominant male. This helps to validate the authors points. Over all, this article has many good points that should help bring attention to sexism that takes place in the advertising business today.
ReplyDeleteThe author makes excellent points regarding sexism and gender roles while also identifying that these problems are not simple issues; they are intrinsically embedded in our society and require great focus to change and hopefully bring an end to. Sexist ads are a reflection of our society’s unwillingness to change how we view gender roles and stereotypes. The author also makes a good point that although gender roles can have crippling effects on women, than can also have adverse effects on men. Her points were less biased than most, making the article more accessible.
ReplyDeleteFrom Maritza to Michael
DeleteI also found logic in the author’s point where she brings up the effects sexism has on men as well. It really turned the picture into a panorama of the entire situation. Most feminists subconsciously strive to be better than men when the whole point of feminism is to be equal.
"Claire Rebholz
ReplyDeleteMahdawi's article is accurate when it comes to society's view on gender roles. Society is constantly being reminded of negative stereotypes, eventually some people might not see how inappropriate and wrong they are. Although this article makes some very good points on how society perceives women we can't forget that men are also being stereotyped. Society needs to change how they perceive both men and women as a whole. You should not judge someone based on how you think they should look or act, but instead judge them on their character."
To Claire Rebhloz From Katie Murrer
DeleteI agree with your statement, I think Mahdawi's articles missed the point of men also being stereotype, that's its not just women that have to deal with the struggles of society classifying them. But on the other hand your comment about not judging someone based on how they look or act, I don't that will every stop. We can state the problems wrong in society but I don't believe that they will ever change fully there's too many different opinions in the world, but we need to recognize that its not just women that get these negative stereotypes.
To Claire from Maya R.
DeleteI agree with you. Most people probably don't realize that in media there is a lot of negative stereotypes because its not even seen anymore as negative. I also agree that it is wrong a inappropriate for people to think that way but, honestly, in some ways we probably do too. Its something that everybody would have to work on.
Simon Lin
ReplyDeleteMahdawi’s analysis gave valid points from an advertisement perspective, and it was relatively accurate about sexism being portrayed in ads. The example of Dr. Pepper and Tipalet reflects on society using techniques that can grab the consumer attention. If the ads become effective, it’s most likely that they will continue and sequels may be underway. An institution typically won’t go out of its reach to find an alternative advertisement if they have one that’s already successful.
From: Sidney To: Simόn
DeleteI agree with Simόn because why else would companies like Dr. Pepper or Tipalet use any other means of advertisements if using raunchy or sexist messages gets them more publicity or attention than using messages that are sweet and nice. By using these kinds of messages, it causes more hype around them and brings them more attention.
From Duncan to Simon
DeleteIt is easy to agree with the points you are making. Society makes these inappropriate techniques successful which encourages further use of them. I agree with your point that companies won’t go out of their way to change their techniques if their products are doing well as a result of it this advertising.
Tahmir:
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article I have realized that alot has socially changed since the 50s and 60s. But we as a people still have room to grow. To me sexism is a big no-no! No one should have to act or look a certain way just because of their gender and Arwa Mahdawi did a great job showing this, WIth that being said, you should stand above the social norms and the judments of society. Individuality is key!!!
From Maritza to Tahmir
DeleteI agree with your closing statement, “Individuality is key.” I think society should focus on individuality rather than “I’m a man” or “I’m a woman.” Sexism against women led to the idea that now, women should try to be better than women. I think focusing on the individual rather than applying gender stereotypes would greatly benefit our society.
I totally agree with Tahmir’s statement on when he stated that sexism is a big no-no, because no one should live like somebody else just so they can be like them. They should live their life no matter what they look like, and that individuality is very important in society.
DeleteHannah
DeleteSociety as a whole hasn't changed enough. Women are still used as objects to sell products and gives women a bad reputation. At this point in time shouldn't we have moved on from the traditional views of women and their role in society?
I agree with your statement Tahmir, people now have a tendency to emulate another just to fit in. I also feel individuality is key, just be yourself cause there’s no one like you and that what makes you special. I agree that we still have room to grow but it’s now a question on whether we want to or not.
DeleteTessa Garbacik:
ReplyDeleteMahdawi’s article about the gender stereotypes in the media is an accurate representation of what is occurring currently in society. I also agree with her points on how people might be taking the ads too seriously. If this is how we are treating each other, if this is the norm, why shouldn’t Dr. Pepper, or whatever company, use it to sell their products? I think her article proved that things should be looked at differently.
Your statements about us as viewers taking ads too seriously are valid but if we accept the images that are being created no progress will be made. We are at a point now, where the use of women and men in ads should not be frowned upon nor should it be something we value. Allowing the objectification of men and women in ads makes it more difficult for progression towards gender equality.
DeleteFrom Michael to Tessa:
DeleteI think you interpreted the message of the article very well, saying that these ads are wrong but work because of societal norms. They exist because we aren’t doing enough to change ourselves and our perceptions of gender roles. A part of the problem, however, is that these ads are still allowed regardless of their harmful messages.
From Alice to Tessa:
DeleteI agree that some people may be taking these ads too seriously, however, women do deserve fair treatment and in some circumstances these advertisements may not be appropriate. Saying that a product is off limits to women doesn't seem fair even in our modern day society, and of course they would still be able to buy the soda if they were so inclined, but the selective audience may turn women off to the company as a whole and their advertising techniques may backfire on them.
Jeremiah King
ReplyDeleteCommercials: Are they truly blameless?
In Arwa Mahdawi’s Article on “The Guardian” about commercials and how they affect stereotypes, she states that “at its heart, advertising is less a catalyst of social change and more a mirror. So if we're looking at that mirror and not liking what we see then the blame may not lie with Dr Pepper or even ad execs, but with our society as a whole”.
I agree that commercials aren’t entirely to blame for the stereotypes that we as a society consciously or unconsciously set and support, but just because they may be imitating what we as a society put in place doesn’t mean that the messages they are sending are okay. Just because back in the day it was acceptable to discriminate against gender and even race doesn’t make the inequality and racism that happened okay.
The same goes for today, our children see these and assume they are the norm because they don’t know any better and then it becomes more than just a stereotype. Just because men believe that a diet soda is only for women doesn’t mean that furthering the stereotype that women are lesser than men is okay by saying that Doctor Pepper Ten is “Not for women”. Just like saying that Armani suits are “Not for Blacks” or that Lawn mowers are “Only for Mexicans”. Just because it’s stereotypical doesn’t mean you get to use it to make a profit and then hide behind society by putting the blame on us. Not to say that it’s not our fault, it most certainly is and we as a whole need to rally together to end such foolish assumptions, But commercials are as much to blame. Not all stereotypes are terrible, but they don’t do anyone justice, they certainly aren’t necessary, and we’re all to blame for using them.
ReplyDeleteArwa Mahdawi’s observation of society or the contributor to the continuation of gender stereotypes is pretty accurate from the commercials that she referenced. Advertisement has continue to guide thinking, actions and behavior as people come to accept mainstream ideas through visuals. The worst of these is what it means to be a man or a woman as well as ideas of how we should feel, dress and behave has been the bedrock of our culture since the 50s and 60s. Even til this day in which we live. Commercials and print ads shape the way men and women should be in accordance to society. Advertisers give us gender specific advertisement to tell us what it's like to be a woman. With these gender defining ads, society has caught on to the concept in which traditional roles in gender should be. Then ads and commercials uses these concepts to advance their products for consumers use. Although individuals have a choice of whether or not to follow up with what society perceives them as being. So the ony persons to be blamed are the ones purchasing these merchandise, which basically insinuates their acceptance of the stereotypes.
From: Sidney To: Joyce
DeleteI agree completely with Joyce because people look towards society to find their place in it. If a woman wants to learn how to think, dress, and act, she’ll read a magazine or see thee commercials and she’ll believe that it’s the only acceptable way to live. The same could be said for men, they see that men are aggressive, dominating, and emotionless and they believe that it’s the correct way to do things.
I disagree with the statement that the author of this article made towards the end. While I think it’s true when she said that ads simply mirror society and are not the root of the problem, they only aid in perpetuating those ideals in society. This is exactly the problem that we have in every area; we are too passive. Sure, we can say that stopping those commercials won’t change anything, and that may be true, but we say that about everything else as well. If we started to actively put a stop to things that we said wouldn’t make a difference, it would eventually add up to significant change.
ReplyDeleteFrom Phil to Nikki:
DeleteI agree with what you have to say. However, I feel like although society is too passive in the subject of portraying human beings as sex objects, we need to be more aggressive and face this issue head on. Trying to be nice about it and not trying to hurt anyone's feelings has not gotten society as a whole further; if anything, it has only hurt us.
From Lauryl to Nikki:
DeleteI agree with what you have to say. It is ignorant to say that the problem will not go away when it is fixed if they do not know the possible outcomes. If people were to try and make change they might actually achieve something of importance. However, if we do not try to make change then we will never get anything done.
From: Enuma To: Nikki
DeleteI agree completely with what you have to say, but I do not feel as though it is because society is too passive. We as a society reacts way to negative to change and are unwilling to accept when change must occur. It does not stem directly from being to lenient about change, but rather that nobody wants to change in general. Change would mean a self reflection on the wrong doings in society and that, even so being appropriate, would bring many to a stand still. If people do not want to change, no amount criticism or activism will alter anything.
To Molly to Nikki:
DeleteI agree with what you are saying. People make such a big deal out of commercial advertising and how it is reflecting the problems of society and assisting the spread of those problems. Nothing is being solved by simply recognizing that there is a problem. If more action was put towards stopping the spread of negative advertising in out culture.
Seyvion Scott
ReplyDeleteI wholeheartedly agree with what the author has written. The advertisement industry is a reflection of our societal beliefs, or as Mahdawi puts it, “Attitudes to gender in advertising track attitudes to gender in society.” I also believe she is spot on when she says that if there is anyone to blame for the sexist Dr. Pepper and Hope lingerie ads, it is our society as a whole. Our interests, perceptions, and ideas are all taking into consideration when ads are being produced. It is also a sad truth to realize that the advertisement industry is not aiming to be a “catalyst [for] social change,” instead their only intent is to advertise and sell their product. Overall, this was a well written article. Mahdawi made very valid points.
From Phalyn to Seyvion:
DeleteI agree, but I also think she made this article in more support of women than of men. Men are objectified as well- not always sexually, but high with masculinity as well.
From Shakeiya to Seyvion:
DeleteI like how you put it Seyvion. The priority of a business is to sell their products. As long as they produce what they think the people love and people continue to buy, nothing will change. Whether or not people realize that the things they're drawn to are reflections of society doesn't matter if they continue to buy what the ads offer. Businesses don't care about individual opinions, they want what's common or popular/trending overall. After all, that is how you sell a product, right?
From Emma to Seyvion:
DeleteI agree with you, business will do everything they can do to sell more products. If they think that the sexist ads will sell more product they probably will and also it's not like society as a whole have stood up and stop what they considered is wrong.
I feel like the points the author makes are important to recognize. There is so much objectification of women in media that it seems like something that it 'good' and 'okay' to do. However, she does fail to mention the objectification of men too. Men in media are seen as masculine and well kept. This is pressure on men too, to be in shape and be 'masculine'. The pressure is subtle for both genders but it is definitely there. We are trying to campaign and break out of the general gender stereotypes using commercials like the "Special K: You're More than Just a Number" kind of thing. Society needs to spend a little less time on perfection, and embrace the imperfect.
ReplyDeleteTo Carly from Maya R.
DeleteI agree with you. It is a lot of objectification in media for women and for men. Many people don't even realize that it happens for men too. Maybe because men are more accepted? Not sure. But, good point.
This analysis of gender roles by Arwa Mahdawi shows a true mirror between gender roles in society and their part in advertising. Although we see the ads from the 1950’s and 60’s as outdated, at that time they were considered “culturally acceptable” and joked about. Feminism in this day and age is often seen in most women although many don’t realize it. Often when people hear that someone is a feminist, they are intimidated and think negative things such as “all men are evil.” This article does a excellent job of showing the authors feminist stance without being extreme along with showing how gender roles and advertising go hand-in-hand.
ReplyDeleteTessa to Rachael:
DeleteYour point on the views of feminism are quite accurate in my opinion. The author was not in your face with her article, “my opinion is the only right opinion” type of writing. It shows that feminism can be handled quite well. It is important we change our views on women, and also men, in society.
To Rachel from Phalyn:
DeleteI feel that our generation have unknowingly become fieminist in a way because we've grown up learning about things turning right from wrong. We are now in a society where women and men are just about treated equally. I feel men have become more open and accepting to the fact that not all women have a goal to be housewives and cater to their men and their goals. Women have dreams and goals as well.
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ReplyDeleteMorgan Castle
ReplyDeleteCommercials and ads like these influence people all the time. Unfortunately men and women sometimes feel the pressure of being expected to look like this. Commercials influence behavior from both genders and I do not think it is specifically towards women. Ads and Commercials from the past are similar to those today in the sense that commercials do what they can to sell products.
Samiya Coney
ReplyDeleteI feel that these advertisements should not be taken to heart. Even though they show men in a dominating way and women as the sexual house wife, I feel that it depends on the person and how they interpret the audience. I was raised by a single mother, and my mom dominates my house hold, so when I see advertisements like those I don't really pay them any mind. I actually find some of them hilarious. So I agree with the author when she says "...the advertising industry is simply a slave of popular culture and bears no responsibility when it comes to changing attitudes, be they about sex, sexuality or race."
Miricle Ortiz
ReplyDeleteArwa Mahdawi made a great point. No one should have to feel uncomfortable or insecure just because of the gender they are. Gender stereotypes still continue today but it’s the way we live today and the ads or commercial don’t make any difference. But woman can solve this situation by being independent no matter the size or gender.
Nick:
ReplyDeleteAwra Mahdawi's article on how women are looked at in today's society is completely different from how they used to be looked at. There are many gender stereotypes that people look at, which is very accurate in this world. The ads use different techniques on wanting to grab the consumer’s attention, and if they do they will make more of them.
From: Concetta to DyNesha
ReplyDeleteI understand a lot where you are coming from when you make a lot of points that you do, however when you say if women are weak and advertisements make them cry do you think that there may be a reason behind that? Perhaps someone may be extremely self-conscious, and watch an ad like that and feel like they are not good enough. No this article is not perfect, and I feel is very biased, but something just to consider.
From: Concetta to Betty
I would say I do have to agree with you here. As mentioned in the article, Mahdawi said that she was biased towards this whole thing because she works in the advertising business. I do have to agree with the statement you said about radical feminists. I think that this article is from a feminist’s point of view rather than someone who would want to have equal opportunities for everyone.
From: Concetta to Angie
I have to say, you have a very interesting point of view on this topic. I think that you have a very valid point when say that because of the media, women are looked down upon because of advertisements such as this article displays. This article I think is biased towards one side rather than the other, however you do create an argument I never thought about.
ReplyDeleteHannah Schneible
By seeing men in the same ads doing the same poses that women have done made the gender gap that much more apparent. Because women are objectified in almost every ad out there made me realize how blind we are as a society to the disrespect and mistreatment of women because its become a societal norm. It just highlights the fact that after how many years women are still used to sell products by selling sex or making them seem like the weaker gender.
Advertisements are a major reason our society cannot move forward and treat each other as equals. The actors and actresses in the ads are an unrealistic depiction of how people should look, dress or act and create a lot stress and anxiety for both genders. By talking about all the violence in canada that is directly related to how we view ourselves and others as we fit into the societal norm but was caused by ads telling people what to think and how to act.
ReplyDeleteMorgan Castle to Katie Murrer: I agree that some commercials are aimed at objectifying men or even glorifying them and I think she missed a huge opportunity to speak about that. The fact that commercials reflect our societies opinions worries me and makes me really think about why we think some of these things are ok.
Morgan Castle to Elizabeth Clark: I agree completely. I wonder if it is really necessary to sell products this way. Honestly Geico has a Gecko and they are doing great. Do we really need to sink so far and make “sexy” commercials just to sell simple things?
Morgan Castle to Jeremiah King: I agree wholly. The fact that commercials reflect our society really bothers me. We say these things are not okay then we support them by accepting the ideas they put forth. Society has improved but by how much? I honestly don’t understand why we don’t just use babies and animals.
Clarissa: Gender differences will always exist however, gender stereotypes are introduced at a young age. Infants are assigned a color blue for boys and pink for girls. Some commercials using gender stereotypes are used for humor while others are not. Using any form of stereotypes can lose the product the advertiser is trying to sale from the over use of different or a certain production technique.
ReplyDeleteAdi: I agree with you that it starts at a young age and we have made it become the way it is today. Also to much humor could lose a buyer because they over did, but if they add something very little and common it shouldn't be a big deal. But I agree gender and stereotypes will forever exist, we cant change someone's opinion or view.
ReplyDeleteTImothy Schuler:
ReplyDeleteArwa Mahdawi's analysis was very comprehensive and well done in my opinion. I find the perpetuation of sexism and gender stereotypes absolutely unacceptable and deplorable. It is the duty of our generation to rid mass media of such ideas. Even a commercial as simple as the one for Dr. Pepper 10 is not okay. By shrugging off such commercials, people are simultaneously shrugging off their responsibility to give women fair treatment in social, professional, and romantic relationships.