Stereotypes Of Women In Advertising Essay

Women and men have always been depicted differently throughout the years, it seems certain stereotypes of femininity and masculinity will always play an underlying role in why advertisements for gender-specific products are displayed and targeted towards viewers the way that they are. This is particularly true when looking at magazines. Society is constantly being reminded of the fact that the images shown to them in magazines are being altered and enhanced in order to highlight natural qualities of both the male and female genders. Women are made to look thinner in some areas while curvier in other areas, and men are made to look bulkier and more muscular in comparison to the women. But besides the obvious physical changes that magazine editors make to pictures in their …show more content…
Silk&Silver is a women's beauty product designed to take the original "yellow tinge" color out of their hair to turn it silver or gray more evenly (Vernon). Pictured in the advertisement are three smiling older women who seem to be having a great time with their newly gray hair (Vernon). This is the first time in any of the Better Homes and Gardens magazines that I've seen where a product has gone against what society typically tells women to do. This ad was very positive towards women aging, which is stereotypically to be avoided at all costs. At the bottom of the advertisement it says, "Your gray hair can be one of the best things you have!" (Vernon). Saying that a sign of aging could be the best thing a woman has is refreshing in contrast to the rest of the Better Homes and Gardens magazines saying the best thing a woman can have is a husband and children. Even though this advertisement was still about women's appearances, Better Homes and Gardens manages to spin a positive twist on aging and break the expected gender norms of dying gray hair