Do stereotypes sell?

15:33 Suzy M 2 Comments




Did you know we are exposed to about 500 advertisements on a daily basis? What's even more surprising is that we actually retain about 75 of them.


It's no unperceived fact to anyone that commercials ultimately convey and put out tons of implicit messages to us viewers and being bombarded with so many, these messages sometimes stick. Because that's their job, right? 

On the contrary....






In the 2015 Chevy Colorado commercial, the question being brought to light is if the opinions of people about a guy be changed based on whether or not he drives a truck. 

The commercial then goes to to say that they polled "real people" (as opposed to fake ones) to form focus groups and determine whether or not the statement above can be proved to be true. 

Twelve interviewed groups almost unanimously agreed that men with trucks put off a sexier, more rugged and tougher look than the man with a regular, small car. But it didn't stop there. Oh, no. The commercial started to dig deeper than that, bringing up questions like "What kind of pet would these men have?" and "who would you rather have your daughter marry?" The end result was that the man with truck was not only cooler and sexier but also more dependable, more resourceful, and living a better life. One man claimed that he'd definitely want his daughter to marry the man with the truck because she'd be safe and protected. 


Gender norms are more than obvious here, plainly stating that men with trucks are much cooler than men with regular cars, and that if you want to be a "real man" (whatever that means), you must drive a truck. As if masculinity is associated with the vehicle that you drive. 

Freeman, a commercial marketer, stated that "Advertising doesn't just sell things, it articulates values and build meaning, sometimes through constructing stereotypes that simplify a complex trait such as gender." That does make sense. I guess any advertisement has to have a certain group they target their merchandise to in order to sell whatever it is. But I find that sometimes it goes a little too far. Then again, perhaps that can also be advertisers plan, to make it controversial so people talk about it.

In conclusion, 

Do I find this commercial stereotypical? Yes

However, I wouldn't exactly say that it went too far or was particularly offensive. Maybe it's because I'm a girl and it's refreshing to finally see a commercial that doesn't stereotype girls. I'm not sure, but whatever the case:

"To the men who don't drive a truck — don't worry. Your girlfriends/wives aren't going to leave you just because you don't drive a truck."

2 comments:

Is Shaming the Fix to Your Misbehaving Child?

14:46 Suzy M 2 Comments



"If your kid’s acting out, barber Russell Fredrick and his team at A-1 Kutz, a barbershop in suburban Atlanta, are happy to help with a creative kind of discipline."



A suburban Atlanta barbershop has been recently brought about in the social media world. Three days a week, Russell Frederick and his team of barbers offer what is called the "Benjamin Button Special" to parents who would like to try a new form of discipline with misbehaving kids. The cut involves shaving off the child's hair at the top, making it resemble the hairline of a balding old man. 

Frederick claims that he used this technique on his own son, Rushawn, and he immediately experienced "dramatically skyrocketing" grades. Many other parents have also shown support towards this disciplinary technique. The claim is that, previously, parents could spank their kids or use some sort of physical punishment in order to get them to behave. Nowadays, that is considered illegal, for good reason. But this leaves parents feeling helpless and at a loss of what to do when their children are continuously acting out. 

Personally, I understand where Frederick and his supporters are coming from but it doesn't change the fact that this isn't punishment. This is ultimately a way of shaming children which is a form of emotional abuse. 

Although, this method may work on select kids, it definitely won't work on all. In fact, it can discourage kids. By giving kids an embarrassing haircut, it can pinpoint them as a target for bullying in school. So instead of motivating them to improve their grades, it can actually do the opposite. It may dishearten them from going to school as a whole due to the tormenting or teasing that they may face there. It can make them feel self-conscious and insecure which can cause a lot of emotional issues.

I also find that this is a way of lazy parenting. It seems as if the only parents who would be up for it are ones who have messed up so badly that they don't know what to do with their children, and are desperate for a quick "fix". Unless the message you are trying to send to your kids is that they are an embarrassment, something to be ridiculed and a source of entertainment to their parents, there is no need for this. 

All in all, it's safe to say that I'm against shaming in all forms, and this is definitely shaming. Quite possibly even the worst kid, since it's done by the kid's parents who are supposed to do the exact opposite. 



2 comments: