Advertisements and Stereotyping
Advertisements are meant to inform the customer of their
product and convince them that it’s a
product worth buying. However, how the advertisement presents itself may
portray a level of subliminal messages. For example, depicting a young girl
carefully organizing her things and dancing around like a ballerina while her
brother jumps around the house dressed in a superhero outfit – may imply to the
viewers that this is typically how girls and boys act at that age. As adverts
are all around us, we constantly see an ideal type of appearance or an
appearance that we find attractive, and due to their tactic of always associating
an attractive person with the intended product, can we not say that practically
everything we own is a subtle reminder to follow that standard? This can affect
how individuals see themselves and limits them from being who they are,
furthermore focusing on who they want to be based on what is high standard.
Anytime society creates a criterion, and it catches fire, it’s impossible not
to feel “chained” with the goal of following it in order to fit in.
Although, I do believe that stereotyping is expected as it is a way we categorize/organize people. This is clearly seen in the labels we have created for different ethnicities (social groups that have a common national or cultural tradition), religions (what beliefs they follow), sexual orientation, gender (male or female), etc. Using labels in our daily lives to describe/group each other – I can see why we are involuntarily stereotyping one another. In my opinion, as long as they don’t over exaggerate these stereotypes or affect the viewer’s capabilities based on stereotypes, then what is the harm?
With those labels come the stereotype of what is expected of someone. As mentioned earlier, they are something that influences our character. Depending on how affective the ad as, we might even conform to that stereotype out of the need to be involved in this painting of a “happy society” as ads always portray the world as a utopia.
Do you think that advertisers have a moral duty to avoid stereotyping people?
It’s difficult to answer whether advertisers have a moral duty to avoid stereotyping. They don’t need to think about their morals because if it’s necessary to do for money then they will do it. Additionally, creating advertisements that have stereotypes can stir conversation and give more attention to the ad. So, it just comes back to the viewers’ perspective as people from one group may perceive it as offensive, and in another – a harmless idea. As we live in a progressive world, one can only hope that today’s generation can see someone past that stereotype and not be influenced by ads.
Clearly, I am conflicted as what side to take for I am a product of my own generation and have governed my view of the world through how people have shaped it.
Although, I do believe that stereotyping is expected as it is a way we categorize/organize people. This is clearly seen in the labels we have created for different ethnicities (social groups that have a common national or cultural tradition), religions (what beliefs they follow), sexual orientation, gender (male or female), etc. Using labels in our daily lives to describe/group each other – I can see why we are involuntarily stereotyping one another. In my opinion, as long as they don’t over exaggerate these stereotypes or affect the viewer’s capabilities based on stereotypes, then what is the harm?
With those labels come the stereotype of what is expected of someone. As mentioned earlier, they are something that influences our character. Depending on how affective the ad as, we might even conform to that stereotype out of the need to be involved in this painting of a “happy society” as ads always portray the world as a utopia.
Do you think that advertisers have a moral duty to avoid stereotyping people?
It’s difficult to answer whether advertisers have a moral duty to avoid stereotyping. They don’t need to think about their morals because if it’s necessary to do for money then they will do it. Additionally, creating advertisements that have stereotypes can stir conversation and give more attention to the ad. So, it just comes back to the viewers’ perspective as people from one group may perceive it as offensive, and in another – a harmless idea. As we live in a progressive world, one can only hope that today’s generation can see someone past that stereotype and not be influenced by ads.
Clearly, I am conflicted as what side to take for I am a product of my own generation and have governed my view of the world through how people have shaped it.
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