“Women Cannot Accept the Way Things Are.”
Nicole Cameron
Jennifer Blades
WR121
10/22/14
“Women Cannot Accept the Way Things Are.”
Ever since Rosie the Riveter, women have craved equality and even power. In advertisements from the 1950s women were portrayed as dependent, sensitive, powerless, and even dominated by men. Americans like to believe that men and women today are entirely equal and the view of the two sexes has completely changed. Unfortunately, when looking in the right places, it is clear that men still have the upper hand. For instance: pay inequality (women are paid 23% less than men for the same job.) rape and violence (one out of every five women will be sexually assaulted or raped by a man.) and societies beauty standards (girls are taught at a young age that their worth is measured by their waistline.). It’s prevalent that many changes have been made since the 1950s, although it’s also clear that women desire equality and power. In contrast to the advertisements from the 1950s, many advertisements directed at women today show woman in positions of power. For example, an advertisement for Rusk anti-frizz spray, published in 2014, shows a woman (rather than being over-sexualized and dependent) looking very powerful and strong. This ad proves that women today aspire to be powerful as opposed to advertisements from the past, depicting that women only want to be adored by men.
When viewing advertisements from the 1950s one might find a Van Heusen advertisement for men’s ties, it shows a well-dressed man lying back in bed, relaxed, being served by a woman on her knees in a robe. The advertisement quotes, “Show her it’s a mans world.” The woman looks completely helpless as she dotes upon the man (assumedly her husband) in the tie. Another example of an advertisement with a similar connotation from the 1950s is one for Mr. Leggs men’s dress slacks. It shows a man from the waist down with his foot on a woman’s head. A tiger skin rug replaces the woman’s body. Below the photo is text that
Jennifer Blades
WR121
10/22/14
“Women Cannot Accept the Way Things Are.”
Ever since Rosie the Riveter, women have craved equality and even power. In advertisements from the 1950s women were portrayed as dependent, sensitive, powerless, and even dominated by men. Americans like to believe that men and women today are entirely equal and the view of the two sexes has completely changed. Unfortunately, when looking in the right places, it is clear that men still have the upper hand. For instance: pay inequality (women are paid 23% less than men for the same job.) rape and violence (one out of every five women will be sexually assaulted or raped by a man.) and societies beauty standards (girls are taught at a young age that their worth is measured by their waistline.). It’s prevalent that many changes have been made since the 1950s, although it’s also clear that women desire equality and power. In contrast to the advertisements from the 1950s, many advertisements directed at women today show woman in positions of power. For example, an advertisement for Rusk anti-frizz spray, published in 2014, shows a woman (rather than being over-sexualized and dependent) looking very powerful and strong. This ad proves that women today aspire to be powerful as opposed to advertisements from the past, depicting that women only want to be adored by men.
When viewing advertisements from the 1950s one might find a Van Heusen advertisement for men’s ties, it shows a well-dressed man lying back in bed, relaxed, being served by a woman on her knees in a robe. The advertisement quotes, “Show her it’s a mans world.” The woman looks completely helpless as she dotes upon the man (assumedly her husband) in the tie. Another example of an advertisement with a similar connotation from the 1950s is one for Mr. Leggs men’s dress slacks. It shows a man from the waist down with his foot on a woman’s head. A tiger skin rug replaces the woman’s body. Below the photo is text that