Teenage Stereotypes
Brainwashed Barbies Believe it or not, shopping and going online are considered favorite hobbies for many young teenage girls. A teenage girl will shop at any day or time of the week, so whenever a new cool product is out on the market, they’re probably already in line for it. Whether a new product is out, or some new celebrity gossip, technology has nearly all teenagers caught up with social media and constantly on social networking sites. Young teenage girls are exposed to so much media and ads that their idea of ‘perfect’ and ‘acceptable’ have been altered to society’s rules. Because of these influences from society, advertisers are able to use these popular ideologies to their
…show more content…
advantage and manipulate their young audience. Advertisers market products to young teenage girls by abusing the influences that pop culture has on them to sell products that correspond to their needs, making products that attempt to cope with their insecurities, and by using teen icons to influence and subliminally advertise negative messages. Victoria’s Secret is one of the largest and most well-known companies specifically made for female lingerie and fragrances. This company, which makes products specifically for teenage girls and older, sells a line of lingerie that is considered to be the most popular, and ‘sexiest’ out on the market. Victoria’s Secret constantly advertise their lingerie all over billboards and TV commercials by photographing perfectly proportional and gorgeous figured women in very seductive poses and laced undergarments. In one of their commercials, they introduce their new product: the “miraculous bombshell” push-up bra. Model Adriana Lima is shown half naked while posing and dancing seductively in the new push up bra. The bra is said to “increase two cup sizes instantly” thus having the camera focus on her breasts. The need to actually advertise a ‘push-up’ bra is clear to me that advertisers knows that females are unhappy with their natural size and want to have bigger breasts. The message that this ad gives out is that instead of telling females to move away from their insecurity, they should simply try to hide it by having a superficial happiness of pretending to have their desired breast size. This ad is very successful because the models who are advertising the bra show “miraculous” results from wearing it, and appear to be “more” sexier and attractive. Girls look up to beautiful models and want to look just like them so they go out to buy the products that their role models are shown using. Advertisers not only use gorgeous photoshopped women, they also have the advantage of using adored celebrities to endorse their products. Heartbreaks, boy troubles, and emotional nights, which teenage girl hasn’t been through any or even all of these common problems?
Leave it to Taylor Swift to sing out these problems and become one of the most adored teenage female idols of today. Not only is she advertising stereotypical high school love stories, but she has now become a spokesmodel for CoverGirl cosmetics. In an ad (now banned)attempting to sell a new mascara, Taylor Swift is photographed at a low angle with her arms raised, and face looking up at a far distance. Her face and skin is nearly flawless and her eyelashes are absolutely long and gorgeous. Near the corner of the ad, it says “ new natureluxe mousse mascara” and displays a giant “Cover Girl” on the very top of the ad. So what’s the problem? Well for one, no product or description of the product is provided to us at all. And two, the ad was instantly banned for “lash enhancement” with photoshop. This method of advertising creates a false hope for many young teenage girls as they strive to be just like their “perfect” role model. The method of using a popular and adored teenage idol is proven to automatically sell products and have young fans become easily manipulated into a company’s products. Aside from having the product endorsed by a celebrity, the fact that this ad was banned for lash enhancement is ridiculous. They’re basically selling a product and claiming it to have amazing results when subliminally saying: “no, not really.” This shows that perfection is overrated and how gullible teenage girls can get when they see such a ‘perfect’ role model advertising products. Perfection is nearly impossible and having ads like these only impact their expectations and self esteem negatively. CoverGirl not only use celebrities to endorse their products, they also objectify their models by having them advertise demeaning messages towards
women. CoverGirl’s “new outlast, stay brilliant” nail polish line are the latest products they’re promoting with America’s beloved actress and super model, Sofia Vergara. The ad shows Vergara nude with her hands covering her chest and having her mouth slightly open while staring into the camera. Her finger nails are painted a deep purple color while pictures of the nail polish bottles are advertised on to the side of her chest. “COVER GIRL” is written at the very top of the ad and a description of the products are written next to the three nail polish bottles. Ironically, in the very middle of the ad it says: “GO TOPLESS!” The use of having Vergara half naked, and having the words ‘go topless‘ are related because the ad is basically comparing her body to a bottle of nail polish. The meaning of ‘going topless‘ in “nail polish terms” means not having to paint an extra clear layer of nail polish to protect the original/first coating. This ad is very discriminating towards females because it shows that women must be naked or topless in order to catch attention. Without the sexual pun of ‘going topless,’ there is no connection between a bottle of nail polish and a female body. This ad is effective on young girls because aside from having the use of a celebrity endorse their product, women are seen as sexual objects and this shows girls that they are permitted do exactly what they see. This ad makes the idea of having girls purposely strip down their clothes for attention seem okay, and appropriate. Nail polish is a very popular product among young girls so having a celebrity endorse it just increases more sales automatically. But advertisers do not only photograph half naked women to sell their products, half naked men with large muscles are also very much appealing and are looked at just as much by young teenage girls. Aside from their expensive prices and a stitched moose logo, Abercrombie & Fitch is infamously known for their provocative and sexually appealing advertisements. Their ads almost always feature nearly naked models posing seductively in grassy environments, beaches, or sometimes just having them pose together in a very sexual manner. In their ad to promote their new fleece jackets, a couple is shown passionately kissing while posing in front of a grassy area with the giant words ‘Abercrombie & Fitch’ plastered behind them. The male model is shown wearing nothing but jeans while having his fleece jacket hang off his shoulder. The female model is shown having her fleece jacket unzipped by the male model and has the side of her midriff exposed to the camera. This ad captures our attention by the exposure of their skin, and their public display of affection. The setting seems to be very romantic yet sexual because of the male’s actions towards the female. The use of showing sexual activity can catch anyones attention but it definitely has its affect on young teenagers. The male model is shown as very dominant in this ad as he is taking control of his actions by undressing the female. This is very appealing to many young teenage girls because their hormones tend to take action and may find men like him very attractive. Advertisers know that many young girls want to be in love and want to have relationships just like the ones they see in movies, and on TV. They have the need for nurture and affiliation so by photographing the male gently holding the female, it may be ‘romantic’ for them and very much desired. They may want to feel very dependent towards a male and want to have what the female model has. Teenage girls are always comparing themselves to their peers, and to gorgeous celebrities. Insecurities and self esteem will always be a problem for young teenage girls because of society’s idea of ‘perfection.’ Advertisers have taken these insecurities to their advantage and are advertising features that aren’t “acceptable” as negative “flaws.” Teenage girls are very vulnerable to buy products to help ‘improve’ their natural features because they want to be labeled as ‘pretty’ or ‘perfect.’ Advertisers manipulate their minds by having a stereotype of what girls should have and what should be considered as ‘acceptable’ and ‘perfect.’ This method of selling products to their young audience is effective because girls are very dependent on materialistic items and other people to keep their confidence up and their self esteem high. The need for affiliation, attention, and guidance are shown in the ads stated above. The ads all pry on the different needs that young teenage girls focus on. The company’s technique of advertising these products is to mock their audience by showing them what they don’t have and then advertising what they can buy to have what they want and see. Ads towards young teenage girls are usually a negative influence and sadly successful because they are able to target the weak spots of females and provide false solutions to increase their confidence and have them become a step closer to being ‘perfect.’
advantage and manipulate their young audience. Advertisers market products to young teenage girls by abusing the influences that pop culture has on them to sell products that correspond to their needs, making products that attempt to cope with their insecurities, and by using teen icons to influence and subliminally advertise negative messages. Victoria’s Secret is one of the largest and most well-known companies specifically made for female lingerie and fragrances. This company, which makes products specifically for teenage girls and older, sells a line of lingerie that is considered to be the most popular, and ‘sexiest’ out on the market. Victoria’s Secret constantly advertise their lingerie all over billboards and TV commercials by photographing perfectly proportional and gorgeous figured women in very seductive poses and laced undergarments. In one of their commercials, they introduce their new product: the “miraculous bombshell” push-up bra. Model Adriana Lima is shown half naked while posing and dancing seductively in the new push up bra. The bra is said to “increase two cup sizes instantly” thus having the camera focus on her breasts. The need to actually advertise a ‘push-up’ bra is clear to me that advertisers knows that females are unhappy with their natural size and want to have bigger breasts. The message that this ad gives out is that instead of telling females to move away from their insecurity, they should simply try to hide it by having a superficial happiness of pretending to have their desired breast size. This ad is very successful because the models who are advertising the bra show “miraculous” results from wearing it, and appear to be “more” sexier and attractive. Girls look up to beautiful models and want to look just like them so they go out to buy the products that their role models are shown using. Advertisers not only use gorgeous photoshopped women, they also have the advantage of using adored celebrities to endorse their products. Heartbreaks, boy troubles, and emotional nights, which teenage girl hasn’t been through any or even all of these common problems?
Leave it to Taylor Swift to sing out these problems and become one of the most adored teenage female idols of today. Not only is she advertising stereotypical high school love stories, but she has now become a spokesmodel for CoverGirl cosmetics. In an ad (now banned)attempting to sell a new mascara, Taylor Swift is photographed at a low angle with her arms raised, and face looking up at a far distance. Her face and skin is nearly flawless and her eyelashes are absolutely long and gorgeous. Near the corner of the ad, it says “ new natureluxe mousse mascara” and displays a giant “Cover Girl” on the very top of the ad. So what’s the problem? Well for one, no product or description of the product is provided to us at all. And two, the ad was instantly banned for “lash enhancement” with photoshop. This method of advertising creates a false hope for many young teenage girls as they strive to be just like their “perfect” role model. The method of using a popular and adored teenage idol is proven to automatically sell products and have young fans become easily manipulated into a company’s products. Aside from having the product endorsed by a celebrity, the fact that this ad was banned for lash enhancement is ridiculous. They’re basically selling a product and claiming it to have amazing results when subliminally saying: “no, not really.” This shows that perfection is overrated and how gullible teenage girls can get when they see such a ‘perfect’ role model advertising products. Perfection is nearly impossible and having ads like these only impact their expectations and self esteem negatively. CoverGirl not only use celebrities to endorse their products, they also objectify their models by having them advertise demeaning messages towards
women. CoverGirl’s “new outlast, stay brilliant” nail polish line are the latest products they’re promoting with America’s beloved actress and super model, Sofia Vergara. The ad shows Vergara nude with her hands covering her chest and having her mouth slightly open while staring into the camera. Her finger nails are painted a deep purple color while pictures of the nail polish bottles are advertised on to the side of her chest. “COVER GIRL” is written at the very top of the ad and a description of the products are written next to the three nail polish bottles. Ironically, in the very middle of the ad it says: “GO TOPLESS!” The use of having Vergara half naked, and having the words ‘go topless‘ are related because the ad is basically comparing her body to a bottle of nail polish. The meaning of ‘going topless‘ in “nail polish terms” means not having to paint an extra clear layer of nail polish to protect the original/first coating. This ad is very discriminating towards females because it shows that women must be naked or topless in order to catch attention. Without the sexual pun of ‘going topless,’ there is no connection between a bottle of nail polish and a female body. This ad is effective on young girls because aside from having the use of a celebrity endorse their product, women are seen as sexual objects and this shows girls that they are permitted do exactly what they see. This ad makes the idea of having girls purposely strip down their clothes for attention seem okay, and appropriate. Nail polish is a very popular product among young girls so having a celebrity endorse it just increases more sales automatically. But advertisers do not only photograph half naked women to sell their products, half naked men with large muscles are also very much appealing and are looked at just as much by young teenage girls. Aside from their expensive prices and a stitched moose logo, Abercrombie & Fitch is infamously known for their provocative and sexually appealing advertisements. Their ads almost always feature nearly naked models posing seductively in grassy environments, beaches, or sometimes just having them pose together in a very sexual manner. In their ad to promote their new fleece jackets, a couple is shown passionately kissing while posing in front of a grassy area with the giant words ‘Abercrombie & Fitch’ plastered behind them. The male model is shown wearing nothing but jeans while having his fleece jacket hang off his shoulder. The female model is shown having her fleece jacket unzipped by the male model and has the side of her midriff exposed to the camera. This ad captures our attention by the exposure of their skin, and their public display of affection. The setting seems to be very romantic yet sexual because of the male’s actions towards the female. The use of showing sexual activity can catch anyones attention but it definitely has its affect on young teenagers. The male model is shown as very dominant in this ad as he is taking control of his actions by undressing the female. This is very appealing to many young teenage girls because their hormones tend to take action and may find men like him very attractive. Advertisers know that many young girls want to be in love and want to have relationships just like the ones they see in movies, and on TV. They have the need for nurture and affiliation so by photographing the male gently holding the female, it may be ‘romantic’ for them and very much desired. They may want to feel very dependent towards a male and want to have what the female model has. Teenage girls are always comparing themselves to their peers, and to gorgeous celebrities. Insecurities and self esteem will always be a problem for young teenage girls because of society’s idea of ‘perfection.’ Advertisers have taken these insecurities to their advantage and are advertising features that aren’t “acceptable” as negative “flaws.” Teenage girls are very vulnerable to buy products to help ‘improve’ their natural features because they want to be labeled as ‘pretty’ or ‘perfect.’ Advertisers manipulate their minds by having a stereotype of what girls should have and what should be considered as ‘acceptable’ and ‘perfect.’ This method of selling products to their young audience is effective because girls are very dependent on materialistic items and other people to keep their confidence up and their self esteem high. The need for affiliation, attention, and guidance are shown in the ads stated above. The ads all pry on the different needs that young teenage girls focus on. The company’s technique of advertising these products is to mock their audience by showing them what they don’t have and then advertising what they can buy to have what they want and see. Ads towards young teenage girls are usually a negative influence and sadly successful because they are able to target the weak spots of females and provide false solutions to increase their confidence and have them become a step closer to being ‘perfect.’