Gender stereotype Essays

Gender stereotype Essays Gender stereotype Essay Gender stereotype Essay Gender Stereotypes in a Commercial An advertisements intended use might be to sell a product in the grand scheme; however gender stereotypes are often embedded to attract a particular market and indirectly set the social norm. These gender stereotypes are found in commercials, TV shows, music videos and billboards. Men and women are depicted to behave a certain way in society, and have a certain attitude to differentiate genders. This shapes the way men and women should act in society, and creates a targeted end user for a companys product. Marketers exploit gender identities, stemmed from rotational ways of composing oneself to sell products. Targeting a market uses different methods that will attract a female versus a male. For example, pastel colors for a little girls clothes and toys, where as a boys are bold or bright in color. More specifically, a Did Groins pizza commercial was attempting to convince the audience that their bake-at-home frozen pizza was as good as a fresh delivered pizza. : However, when watched closely, this Did Groins commercial expresses women being portrayed as responsible for grocery shopping and cooking, that women are inferior to men, and that all men dictate. Since the beginning of culture, women are often depicted as housewives who do the cooking, shopping and laundry. Historically, chores around the house are gender oriented. Women do the light weight work and nurture the kids, while men do physical, heavy lifting work and take charge. Psychologically, commercials embed these stereotypes, which define how genders should compose themselves in society. In this Did Giorgio advertisement, it is obvious that the woman is viewed in a house setting, as a domestic bringing in the groceries. She is then told by her husband to make a pizza with extra toppings and to make it quick. This gender stereotype proves the label of women having to cook for their husband and family. The point of this commercial, which was trying to sell a home baked pizza Just as good as delivery, left an impression towards women suggesting that you should make what your husband wants, how he wants and when he wants it. When he gets what he wants he will be satisfied and love you. A woman cooking for their husband is understood as trying to make their husband happy, and in return, creating happiness for themselves. The perception about women having to cook and grocery shop is not only a way of this immemorial trying to sell their product, but also to convey that the current restricted gender roles are still the same. Women are widely known as inferior to men, not only in the household but in all settings of society. Whether it is in the workforce, in politics, or religion, women are deemed as inferior to men because of sexual selection. Men prove themselves as physically and intellectually greater than other men when trying to get women, whereas women must be superior sexually. This leads to the conclusion that men are of higher power or value and women should be overlooked. Traditionally, this culture we are raised in does not see a point in women that she hates when he dictates to her, but reluctantly takes his command and makes the pizza. This gives in to the stereotype that women are inferior to men. It comes across as women being passive and taken advantage of. The thought of women being a lesser human being and more unreliable than men is disrespectful. Women should have a right to equality between gender roles, without the needed acceptance of commercials. Commercials display gender stereotypes that are widely followed, with womens inferiority being the case in this advertisement. While women are considered to be submissive and passive, men are also largely stereotyped. Men are represented to be dominant and strong. Male stereotypes can cause pressure on men who do not fit the label of a male physically and emotionally. In society men are pictured as lazy, that they are doctors, not nurses and have the right as husbands, to tell their wives what to do. As seen in the Did Giorgio commercial, the husband is depicted in a social setting, watching television with his friends. The husband, trying to impress his friends, ordered that his wife make a pizza the way he wanted it, in a Emily manner. The husband was essentially dictating his wife, from naturally having a leadership role. Men are known to dictate in the work force or house environment because women tend to lean on them for assertiveness. However the stereotype that men dictate, particularly women, is not always true. Because of situations they are put in, for instance in decision making, marriage or outside affairs leads to believe this is how all men act. Gender stereotypes lead to believe that all men should dictate in society, and have the right to. The commercial which is viewed by millions, encourages men to continue to act that way without hesitation. Advertising relies on stereotypes to sell their product, while simultaneously defining gender. Because so many people watch commercials, television, or ads, they have the power to influence society stereotypes. The Did Giorgio commercial confirmed that men still desire for the dictator role in a relationship, while females continue to insist on equal rights. Granted, females have Just as many rights as males do today, but equality is something constantly being striver for in the twenty first century. Commercials are a way of making us believe what we are watching, which sells their product, but also psychologically tells us how we should act in a traditional culture. The traditional culture has always been looked upon, and never really been challenged of its standards. It is hard when the public norm does not acknowledge males as nurses or females as presidents because of gender stereotypes portrayed in commercials. Gender is only a part of which people are; it does not define them or their limits. Advertisements contribute to our perception of cultural identity, gender identity and gender roles, but perception is not reality.