#BodyPositivity #GenderEquality #Ads #Stereotypes
Have you ever noticed that when it comes to ads featuring men, the majority of them still portray very idealized body types? 🤔 It’s a stark contrast to the shift we’ve seen in ads featuring women, where brands have moved towards more inclusive representations of beauty and body types. So, why is there still this discrepancy when it comes to ads with men? Let’s delve into this topic and explore the reasons behind it.
## The Evolution of Advertisements
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the way brands approach their advertising strategies, particularly when it comes to representing different body types. While ads featuring women have started to embrace diversity and inclusivity, ads featuring men have been slower to catch up.
### Women in Ads
– Women were traditionally portrayed in ads as having perfect bodies, flawless skin, and hair.
– Brands have started to feature women of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to promote body positivity.
– Campaigns like Dove’s “Real Beauty” have set a new standard for inclusivity in advertising.
### Men in Ads
– On the other hand, men in ads are still predominantly portrayed as muscular, chiseled, and conventionally attractive.
– The “dad bod” trend has gained some popularity, but it is still far from being the norm in men’s advertisements.
– Idealized portrayals of men can create unrealistic standards of beauty and masculinity.
## Societal Expectations and Gender Stereotypes
One reason for the continued idealization of men in ads could be attributed to societal expectations and gender norms. Men are often expected to embody traits such as strength, confidence, and physical attractiveness. As a result, advertisers may feel pressured to adhere to these stereotypes when representing men in their campaigns.
### Gendered Expectations
– Society often equates masculinity with physical fitness and attractiveness.
– Men are less likely to be targeted by body-positive movements compared to women.
– Advertisers may believe that idealized portrayals of men are more effective in selling products.
### Impact on Men’s Mental Health
– Constant exposure to ads featuring unattainable body standards can take a toll on men’s self-esteem and body image.
– Men, like women, are susceptible to body image issues and eating disorders.
– It’s crucial for advertisers to consider the impact of their messaging on men’s mental health.
## Breaking the Mold: Embracing Diversity in Men’s Advertising
While the idealization of men in ads is still prevalent, there are signs of progress towards more diverse representations of masculinity. Brands that challenge traditional norms and celebrate authenticity are leading the way in promoting inclusivity in men’s advertising.
### Examples of Inclusive Advertising
– Brands like Calvin Klein and Aerie have featured men of different body types in their campaigns.
– The body positivity movement is starting to make its way into men’s advertising.
– Influencers and celebrities are using their platforms to advocate for diverse representations of men in media.
### The Power of Representation
– Seeing diverse representations of masculinity in ads can help men feel seen and accepted.
– Normalizing different body types in advertising can challenge harmful stereotypes and promote body positivity.
– Consumers are more likely to support brands that align with their values of inclusivity and diversity.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, the idealization of men in ads persists due to societal expectations and gender stereotypes. However, there is a growing movement towards more inclusive representations of masculinity in advertising. By breaking away from traditional norms and celebrating diversity, brands can create a more positive and empowering narrative for men. It’s time for advertisers to embrace authenticity and challenge outdated notions of masculinity in their campaigns. Let’s continue to push for a more inclusive and body-positive future in men’s advertising! 💪🏽🌟
Probably because men “aren’t as sensitive” or something. Or maybe just because we lads haven’t fought for it.
Because women fought very hard to get that kind of representation for themselves. Many also tried to extend that to men, but since there is no equivalent group of men fighting for the same thing, progress is much slower.
Because this society as a patriarchal structure, or at least that’s how the feminists put it, predicates on male disposability as the word of the day. This means men by function have to feel not good enough to keep them working in a capitalist society. People who feel like they are enough aren’t as productive.
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But not only that on top of it is the male idealized body type is literally impossible to achieve without steroids and also being born with a very specific genetic bone structure. It’s even worse because the female ideal is sort of achievable naturally, rather it’s very easy in comparison to look anything near the ideal with just basic diet and exercise while for the male ideal if you didn’t get screwed outright at birth, you need steroids on top of strict diet and exercise, like strenuous exercise not pilates but heavy weightlifting.
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Guy with years of experience in the field like 10+
Generally, ads follow the trend. They see that body positivity is a common topic among women, so they show more diverse body types in ads targeted to women.
ETA: I disagree with people who make this political. There might be some truth in it, but in general ads are made to sell products, so they will do anything to reach their target demographic.
Women start campaigning for diverse bodies. Companies determine diverse bodies will get them more profit, make ads. Same thing hasn’t happen for guys cause there’s not enough demand for the companies to consider it worth changing.
Because men like idealization. That’s why when it was a man’s world, that’s what prevailed in advertising. Now, that the world of advertising has become a more shared space, women get what they value and men still get idealization. When advertisers use a female to target male consumers, you still see idealized women in advertising.
For the most part, men don’t care nor are they jealous of other men’s physique. We accept who we are and we commend who they are. They worked for it, or got lucky with good genes, good for them.
I have actually noticed an uptick in ads with men showcasing real bodies, dad bods, hair, I even seen an ad with a man who was disabled (missing a limb).
It definitely isn’t coming around as fast for men targeted ads as for women, but as many have already commented, this is because a majority population of women fought long and hard to start getting proper representation and realistic ads. This has trickled into things targeted at other genders or demographics, but not as completely yet.
I dont care, and i actually like it in the sense that it’s something I aspire to. The dude has a 6 pack most men admire instead of hating. We want that desire of self improvment. Why do you think when we see other buff men we compliment?
Buff men always say the dudes are the ones who admire and compliment them. We know the sacrifice it takes, it takes years and dedication to get that way.
Hell men gym culture normally is uplifting.
1) We don’t care
2) We always want to be in better shape
Bc women voiced up. Men need to actually say something and not be afraid of other men. It’s men that put the pressure on both sexes.
Cus who cares. Its just an ad. Men know its a marketing tactic anyway.
Men have to become more involved in body positivity movements for men. If you want to be among to first to start, we’d back you up 100%.
Because men seem to understand why that guy is there. I feel like even the idea of protesting about this is counter logic. Its something like we all agree that it takes effort to be sucessful.
Because we don’t give a shit and generally, if we see a muscular dude we’re more like “dude looks fucking cool” instead of “makes me feel bad stoooop it”
Most? I think not lol.
As I see it there’s 2 main reasons.
1. Adds are designed to target the wants and needs of particular audiences. Once women started campaigning for more inclusive depictions of women, it made sense to start using diverse models in adds targeting women.
2. Most media is geared towards the male gaze, so having hyper masculine overly muscular men in adds targeting men is seen as a win win. It’s the “men want to be him, women want be with him” kinda mentality.
Because it was a stupid thing to do with women in ads, and it will be a stupid thing to do with men in ads.
Because men are the social/political second class people.
Its ok to sexualize men, its ok to only portray them as idiots, its on to make them the butt of jokes, its not ok for them to be heroes, its not ok for them to save the day. Look at all media these days. Men, especially white strait men, are constantly cast in a bad light.
I think you should get a modelling job for hard work on yourself. not just lump some fatty in cos that’s the status quo
1- because women have fought for it, and men haven’t.
2- because men aren’t told their only value is beauty, so they have a lot less at stake by the mainstream reinforcing that idea. Therefore, again, they don’t fight for it.
You can see it in these very same comments. The amount of men saying they don’t care. Women didn’t get this as a gift, it was and still is a fight. If men don’t care, that is not going to change.
My guess is that most men don’t care one way or the other. In the past, we were typically judged by other standards, and women were judged by their bodies too often.
Unless the clothes are being marketed to plus size women, they are still using thin attractive female models to sell them. I don’t know if any perfume that uses normal models.
Savage x Fenty used very diverse male models and I saw a lot of praise for it. It’s odd to see men say that they don’t care as much, but it’s not just about setting unrealistic standards, it’s about getting a more accurate representation of what clothing would actually look like on you. It always seems like when there’s a double standard, men are the one complaining about it then also being the ones to perpetuate it.
They did? Since when?
Like 99% of ads and commercials still showcase idealized female bodies. I am not sure there is this huge discrepancy between how men and women are portrayed. I think it still favors men, TBH, in terms of showing “nonidealized” body types.
There are a wider range of idealized body shapes for men (thin athletic, large and muscular). For women it is really down to just super skinny w/o or w/o large boobs.
I don’t see the nonidealized women who are featured being the equivalent of beer bellies and George from Steinfeld. They are still models with amazing faces and bodies, just 20 pounds heavier.
Representation is important – and if this is something that people care about, creating awareness and campaigning for a broader spectrum of models is important.
I think that, unfortunately, culture has historically placed attractiveness and beauty as heavily tied to self-worth in regards to women. Using women with unrealistic and for most people unobtainable looks to push products discourages women the advertiser is trying to reach and doesn’t get the dopamine hit the advertisement is trying to achieve anymore for their female demographic.
Men have body issues too, but for most men it is a way less important metric of their self-worth. Most accept you can be ugly as fuck and still be successful and respectable. Creating a situation in an advertisement where men may compare and measure themselves against a good looking dude is WAY less likely to feel like an attack on their own value.
I agree, we need some more fat guys as models. 300 lb men are big and beautiful
It’s pretty clear once you see what’s going on. We live in a gynocentric society. When is the last time you saw any movie, show, or ad showing men in a positive light? The avengers series of movies. Other than that? It’s rare is my point. A group of friends and i were driving along, and saw an ad on the billboard, for a male pediatrician. He was holding up a baby. It was an ad for his practice. One of the chicks in the back seat said something along the lines of “that just looks kind of creepy”. It sparked a whole conversation. Come to find out, it’s just because he was a man, holding up a baby. Main stream doesn’t show that. In fact, they demonize men openly. Everything that men do is bad, everything that women do is great. That’s the message today.
The whole body type is just one small piece of the puzzle.
I question the very essence of your question with the premise that we “did away with exclusively having hot top models for their ads”. Whatever you are using to base this statement on couldn’t be anything other than your anecdotal impression. I think we are far from “doing away” with normative beauty standards for women in any media type. The vast majority still adhere to beauty standards and expectations. Even many of the more diverse ones still largely fit into those standards. And anyone who truly is outside of those standards is usually an outlier not the norm.
Because men haven’t fought or advocated for it. Did you think women were gonna do it for you like everything else?
Who the hell cares? If they’re in good shape, good for them. I’m responsible for my own life and health. Don’t worry about whether someone else is better looking, or has more—people always will. Be happy with what you’ve been given and, if you wish, maximize it by exercising or getting a glow up. The person you are comes from inside, not outside.
1. Women actually demanded it. Men are less vocal about how damaging and unrealistic those standards are.
2. Men aren’t measured as much by appearance as women so aren’t as offended by unrealistic standards and so less motivated to do away with them (generally speaking).
3. (Anecdotal) The Men I’ve met don’t internalize ads the same way women do. Women are more inclined to see an ad and insert themselves into the shoes of the person depicted. Men tend to see the ad as an example or demonstration of the product rather than having it supposed to be them. Many seem to be less influenced by ads in general, pay less attention, and some even view more the attractive men as a goal or aspiration or example of success. Ad companies know this. Women’s ads are run in a way that says “this could be you if you buy our product”. Mens ads say “you could have this product JUST LIKE this successful, handsome gentleman”.
TDLR: Women have more value in their own looks more than men in general, and social change reflects that.
Ads play to what women want to see as they are the majority of consumers and hold the most spending power.