My husband and I absolutely howl in agony every time we see an ad on tv featuring a woman who fixes all the idiotic messes her stupid, slovenly husband gets into. The beautiful/smart/impeccably groomed woman and the stupid slob man are really ruining our network television experience! We may actually have to have a conversation, for heaven's sake!
2007-12-30 04:35:27 · 17 answers · asked by vintner 6 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
fyi: that part about having to resort to conversation with my husband was a little joke. Apparently very little.
Now, I should probably make something clear before I get more suggestions--I enjoy many ads and consider them to be part of television's entertainment value. I just can't stand those two stereotypes.
2007-12-30 05:15:51 · update #1
There is a current UK advert for a kitchen cleaner, that shows two blokes using the new product then watching football because the product works in half the usual time. The wife then comes home from a hard days work and they lie to her that they were working hard all morning. Similar portrayal of men as lying slobs. No wonder the UK divorce rate is at a record high.
2007-12-30 04:49:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
This stereotype is not limited to advertising. It is the mass media take on the new "reality" of male-female relationships. For example, note how this dynamic is now favoured in movies which are supposed to be "romantic comedies." The typical set-up is the uptight and humourless career woman who somehow gets hooked up with the slovenly, never grew up male. Judd Apatow is the master of this genre. And as much as I cringe as this being the role model for young men, the soulless young career woman doesn't really come off much better.
2007-12-30 14:58:45 · answer #2 · answered by c'mon, cliffy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's part of a formula that the TV networks have come up with because they have found that it works. Apparently, a lot of people like the stereotypes of the stupid bumbling father, the put-upon all-knowing wife, the smartass kids, the dumb blond, the annoying neighbor, and sassy fat woman. That's because these keep being used over and over again. I don't know who likes them but enough people do to keep on perpetuating them.
2007-12-30 16:24:54 · answer #3 · answered by RoVale 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, there are more couples where the wife looks better than the husband. Most of the time, they look about the same in terms of attractiveness. Many sit-coms paired unlikely people, as well. I've always thought that women are pretty realistic and aren't waiting for a Fabio ( but, with brains), while men still fantasize about the cheerleader (with brains or not).
C. :)!!
2007-12-30 13:35:16 · answer #4 · answered by Charlie Kicksass 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is really annoying. Have you also noticed that virtually all cleaning products are advertised showing a young housewife or mother running around cleaning up after husbands and kids? As though men, college students, and the elderly don't clean or something. I also hate the ones from Pizza Hut and KFC that show mom "getting a break" because the father went out and bought those products. Like it's just her job and he couldn't have cooked something.
Marketing and advertising often feed into old stereotypes and lame ideas of gender roles.
2007-12-30 12:42:48 · answer #5 · answered by Jennifer W 3 · 5⤊ 2⤋
This stereotype is just as bad for women as it is for men; it sets up an ideal that we can't always meet, and it makes it seem like we still haven't lost the "second shift." Someone needs to start up an ad agency specializing in completely non-stereotypical campaigns.
2007-12-30 15:40:41 · answer #6 · answered by Rio Madeira 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I just can't get passed the initial question of "why did SHE marry HIM in the first place?"
It's not just reverse sexism at work here. At the heart of it seems to be the assumption that the worst of the male population still deserve the best females. And that women should not care about the looks and/or intelligence of their partner because he was willing to take her off the shelf.
If having a conversation with your husband is a pretty moldy alternative, may I suggest buying some DVDs of The Avengers (with Diana Rigg) and Dick Van Dyke? Here you have examples of male-female partnerships where both sides of the equation are attractive, intelligent and share equal time getting into messes and fixing them.
And there are no ads at all!!
2007-12-30 13:06:02 · answer #7 · answered by K 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I agree. These stereotypes are harmful to both men and women and sadly are not just in ads, but in nearly every sitcoms. Rarely are men and women portrayed in a positive manner. The men are generally portrayed as ignorant, socially inept, dependent on a woman, unhealthy and/or (as you mentioned) a slob. Women are generally portrayed as sarcastic, unhappy, easily frustrated, naggy, and helicopter moms.
I think this is largely to do with the unrealistic expectations of women and lack of support for positive male role models on TV.
2007-12-30 13:18:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
Those type of stereotypes are really getting to me. God knows that a woman can make a mistake or two.
2007-12-30 12:38:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
In commercials today, men are actively "depowered" while women are actively "empowered."
The advertising agencies are predominantly female & they are selling to female demographics. (women buy more stuff)
The apparent need to build women up by tearing men down is nothing short of pathetic.
The juxtaposition of the weak stupid male next to the smart empowered female is the norm nowadays in commercials.
I hope these advertising agencies are just lazy & "go to the well" too often rather than supplying females with what they actually get off on seeing.
2007-12-30 13:14:19 · answer #10 · answered by hopscotch 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋