"Sex, Lies & Advertising"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Steinem's article in which the author and feminist gives a detailed account of how advertising dollars dictate the ads as well as the editorial content in "Ms. Magazine." This paper discusses the actions taken by advertisers such as Revlon and Clairol when their demands regarding editorial content aimed at promoting their products were not met. One example in Steinem's article cited that Clairol withdrew its advertising support after "Ms. Magazine" published an article on the hazards of carcinogens in hair dyes. This paper analyzes how diversity in the field of advertising is seen as a direct threat to reaching a primarily white audience. This paper also examines Steinem's regret in using her publication to sell products that may not be in the best interest of women by citing the financial necessity in doing so.

From the Paper:

"Does consumer power really drive what types of ads are run in magazines? According to Steinem, this is not necessarily the case. Although her magazine had presented ample evidence to advertisers that women are decision makers in purchases involving automobiles, consumer electronics such as sound equipment, VCS, and computers and office equipment, the publication had a really hard time obtaining advertisements for these types of products. One of the reasons given is that the advertising industry lags consumer reality. Where women may once have turned to their significant others to help them make their decisions, they now increasingly rely on their own judgment. But, the old perceptions remain ingrained in advertising executives. And, Stinem states that acceptance of products by women is viewed as a threat to the perceptions of the products by males."

More papers on "Sex, Lies & Advertising":

• Book Review # 120862 : "Sex, Lies and Menopause"
• Article Review # 105889 : "Sex, Lies and Conversation"
• Analytical Essay # 62256 : "Sex, Lies and Conversation"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: