Sometimes, for advertisements to make an impact, they have
to tug on heartstrings, support a powerful cause, or take a stance on a
controversial issue. Many of these
advertisers have joined a campaign to end gender stereotyping. Below are 4 advertisements that have made an impact on doing just that:
1.
Like A Girl
The always ad shows different people asked to perform a
physical activity “like a girl” would. When asked to run “like a girl”, they
all begin to run daintily and slow. Then the ad brings in young girls who are
asked to perform the same activities “like a girl” would, and they all run,
throw, and fight as hard and as fast as they can.
This advertisement brings forward a stereotype that says
women are weak. The term “like a girl”
has always been seen as an insult and Always is trying to say that. The commercial aims to show women that doing
something “like a girl” is something they should be proud of, not ashamed of.
2.
Get Up.org: It’s Time
This ad shows snippets of two people from the beginning of
their relationship until proposal.
Throughout the video you can only see on of their faces, while the other
is behind the camera filming events such as meeting parents for the first time,
moving in together, and first fights. At
the end one of them gets down on one knee and proposes (to the person behind
the camera). When the person steps away
from the camera you see it is two men’s’ journey that you have been watching
the whole time. The video goes to show
that love is love, despite the gender behind the camera, every love story is
important.
Find more campaigns and take actions on the Get Up! website.
3. See the Real Me:
Jazz
In this ad for Clean and Clear, Jazz, an adolescent
transgender, describes her struggle of being transgender in middle school and
how she has learned to love herself for who she is. She tells us about how
others love her when she’s herself and scenes display her playing and laughing with
other girl friends. The video sparks
conversation over transgender, and shows how many struggle with gender identity
as kids. But the point of the video is: they’re still kids, they’re still
people. They want to enjoy the same
friendships as every other adolescent.
Learn Jazz' full story here.
4.
Pantene: Labels Against Women
The video shows a woman and a man of power performing the
same actions but being labeled differently.
Where as the man is labeled a boss, the women is labeled bossy. The video is meant to bring to show both men
and women that these labels do exist. Pantene hopes to have people re-evaluate
the way they label others as well as fuel women to ignore the negative labels
and be confident.
All of these advertisements and videos are using the power
of a product to take a stand on a gender issue.
These videos reach millions and have inspired change across the world.
Jillian,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this blog and watching the videos. My favorite is the "Like a Girl" video. If only everyone could think like a child in certain aspects of life. We would all be so much happier and not so judgmental. The last one about labels against women makes me think of so many different situations I have either witnessed or been involved in. Drives me crazy when people put me down or think I have no idea what they are talking about just because I’m a lady. Great post!
Heather O.
ho382615@ohio.edu
Jillian,
ReplyDeleteI think you did an outstanding job capturing the viewpoint of diversity in advertising. Thankfully the younger generation can surpass the judgmental viewpoint towards, women, marriage rights and transgenders. In many of these situations, the world of social media, advertisements and the entertainment field have helped make these problems more acceptable. I enjoyed watching your videos and reading your viewpoint on each topic, great post!
Samantha Schilder
ss469613@ohio.edu
LOVE LOVE LOVE your post and all of the accompanying videos! The Always "Like a Girl" ad was my favorite. The older generation of females shown, and all of the males, portray females in a negative connotation because that is what they think people expect of girls. But when you get to the younger generation they do what they know, not what society thinks they do because they haven't been exposed to the negativity yet. They are still young but hopefully with ads such as these they will continue to shine.
ReplyDeleteThe marriage equality advertisement made me cry. My younger brother is gay so I know that one day this will be him. I just hope that when that day comes everyone is able to look past the fact that it's two males and just see that they love each other for who they are.
The Pantene "Labels Against Women" hits home with me most because one day I hope to be in a position of power. I am going to be given all of these exact labels, and more, but I need to remain confident and continue ahead.
It's because of advertising companies such as these that I know the future will be bright for minorities of all kinds. We need to start accepting the changes, and when companies of this magnitude step on board it's only a matter of time.