This piece is written in response to Sarah Platt’s guest column regarding advertising in society. An answer to the question she posed: I strongly believe society shapes the media.
Advertisements are made to relate to the audiences with whom they are communicating. If they follow the correct procedure, advertising research of target audiences finds out how consumers think and feel. The findings are then analyzed and applied to develop the strategy of advertising campaigns.
It is correct that stereotypes often have negative connotations and make assumptions that are not always true. However, we often make the mistake of mislabeling generalizations that are arguably evident in society as stereotypes.
I think that a man’s weight-loss process is significantly different from a woman’s. It’s science. Our bodies are made differently, so how they function differs as well.
Also, if I were on a quest to lose weight, I’d certainly be interested in a solution that offered me the chance to eat the foods I’d like to eat. Advertisements didn’t engrave that in my head: It’s a personal sentiment that I think many other women of all ages would agree with.
Although you may feel there are too many gender stereotypes presented in advertising, I think they may merely be a reflection of the world around us.
Advertisements have the power to change perceptions, but I believe, for the most part, they are a mirror image of what happens in our world. Perhaps members of society should work on eliminating negative stereotypes in their everyday lives so advertisers wouldn’t have to reinforce them — as that seems to be the most effective way they relate to and communicate with consumers.
I also wanted to respond to Ashley Miller-Shaked’s guest column “What women want: good vs. bad guys.” I have had this conversation several times with female friends and have come to a common conclusion: There is nothing wrong with a “good guy,” just not everybody likes guys who some consider to be a “pushover.” Somebody who will be a bit of a challenge is often more intriguing than someone who is too kind and very predictable. To quote Lady Gaga’s song, “Yoü and I”: “There’s something, something about the chase.” People often want something they can’t or shouldn’t have. For what reason? I really couldn’t tell you, except that it provides a sense of adventure to some.
A friend told me her ideal guy isn’t necessarily bad, but he has a little bit of an edge. Everybody has something that makes them interesting and intriguing. Guys who are “too nice” get a bad reputation for being overly dedicated to the person who interests them. The words “sprung” and “whipped” describe a person who seems to wait hand-and-foot on a significant other. Surprising to me, it’s a huge turnoff for some girls. In a similar manner, I suppose some guys may feel “goody-two-shoes” girls are no fun and are too clean-cut or well-behaved to date.
Hopefully as we grow and mature, young adults will start to realize that finding genuinely positive qualities and traits in others should be embraced and appreciated rather than frowned upon.
Everyone is different, but my personal definition of a masculine man is someone who would go out of his way to do anything for anybody he is passionate about.
I’m not saying the ideal man is a submissive personal servant, but I do believe he should enjoy showing appreciation for whomever he cares for. Not necessarily material things. The time it takes to let someone know you genuinely care and want to show it is enough.
Lastly, in regard to the statement about how different influences make women feel, I believe girls should always be able to recognize their self-worth on their own — with or without the affirmation of society, a guy or a media outlet.
Anayo Ordu is an advertising sophomore at UF. You can contact her via opinions@alligator.org.
