Stereotypes Essay

message is unethical?

Stereotypes, such as sports-minded men or helpless women, are sometimes used by advertisers to convey a particular message quickly and economically. Do you think the use of such stereotypes is appropriate, or not? Why? Are they unethical?

What are advertising appeals and how do they influence the masses? Basically, they trigger emotions and grab mass attention. They may be funny, cute, bold, deceptive, attractive or inspiring. They carry an emotion which the masses can connect with. And that's how they fetch mass appeal.Advertising intends to promote the sales of a product or service and also to inform the masses about its features. It is an effective means of communicating the value of a product or service with people at large. Advertising utilizes different media to reach out to the masses. It uses different types of appeals to connect to consumers spread across the globe. The various types of advertising appeals use different ways to highlight product features and draw mass attention.

A stereotype is a popular belief about a certain thing/person. This advertising appeal is also known as name-calling or labeling and attempts to categorize the advertised object under a certain class of entities. Depicting women with a fair skin tone as attractive or showing an obese teenager being bullied in school are common examples of stereotypes. This form of advertising uses popular beliefs like these to promote a certain idea.

A lot of gender stereotyping is seen in advertising, with some of it being useful and some of it being harmful. Selling sex is an unfortunate gender stereotype when it comes to women, and it's also a pretty obvious one. There are less harmful female stereotypes as well. Consider the fact that women are also portrayed through ads as nurturing, caring, softer, maternal figures. It is true that women intrinsically fit these societal roles better than men. Example: if a advertising company was selling snuggles fabric softener they would possibly choose a female figure, because of the family and maternal stereotypes that come attached, will more than likely be a successful use of talent.

Men, on the other hand, have plenty of stereotypes of their own. Males are used in the portrayal of rugged, tough advertising. Examples: heavy-duty all-road vehicles are the types of places the tough, determined male figure is liable to make an appearance. Men are also portrayed as loud, obnoxious, brash, and sometimes downright stupid. Think about the Geico Cavemen commercials. Funny? Yes. And for all of the negative, there are some positive male stereotypes as well. Men are often portrayed as strong and courageous leaders. Leaders that serve as family men.

...