Summary:
In Women's Women of Steve Craig's Men's Men and Women's Women, the commercial for Weight Watchers is presented to give an idea of women's women. The commercial describes a woman who is clearly overweight and is looking for the best way to shed the weight off. She turns to a quick solution joining Weight Watchers because she "hates""starving herself" and finds that joining this program she will not have to because it is "fast and flexible." The way the woman promotes this weight loss program, she portrays the concept as being able to live her life and have fun while losing weight without any worries. She is depicted as the modern day woman with her husband, children, and her humble abode. A couple shots were taken with her poolside and bits and pieces of her husband and children accompanying her. The overall notion that Weight Watchers is trying to sell, is that their program is going to lessen the pain of dieting that way women can "still have fun" and lose weight simultaneously.
Response:
While reading this certain essay I had a general idea of what was going to be talked about. I am familiar with such Weight Watchers commercials and it just all seems unrealistic, but it makes sense from an advertising stand point. Yes, they are trying to sell their product, but if one was to think about it realistically, the only way someone could lose weight is by eating healthy, drinking copious amounts of water, getting good sleep, and exercising. It is not an easy process, but that is the reality of it all, not some diet program that has many claims with no proven results. In the commercial, the woman shows that she truly hates her body, but what should be focused on is that everyone should embrace their curves and all. Cheesy as it sounds, we are all unique and our flaws is what makes us our own individual. Media has a way of manipulating the minds of women thinking they are not good enough in the skin they are in when they should push forward into promoting loving oneself just the way they are. Empowering all women around us.. Now that is beauty.
I agree with you, Kayla, but don't you think advertisers have to support this stereotypical view of women (and men as well)? In striving to meet this unattainable goal, women purchase the products that these advertisements are selling. If we started accepting and loving ourselves just as we are--having healthy bodies, minds, and attitudes--then we would not buy these products.
ReplyDeleteWhat bums me out is that many people's idea of attractiveness is based off of media and ads. Call me a cynic, but I have a feeling that no matter where we stand in the midst of our insecurities and self awareness, there will be some advertising project geared toward either exploiting our thoughts, or changing our view. Like what you say about curves, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a new diet program promising more prominent and noticeable curves, and there's always going to be a community who will chase after those claims. Overall, good post! Way to shed light on a common issue.
ReplyDeleteKayla, I completely agree with you that advertisers uphold to their stereotypical views on women (and men). I love how you brought up the fact that everyone is beautiful in their own way. If women would accept their bodies for the way they are and not try to be like "everyone else", so to speak, there would be no reason for women to need Weight Watchers. I understand that women may not be happy in their own skin, but there are other ways to change this. The first step that I believe will help is to stop comparing themselves to the perfect women, often shown in the majority of commercials.
ReplyDeleteKayla, I agree with you. I feel like the media do try and manipulate people way of looking at things. They always put models on their commercials so people can see “how the rest of the world has to look like” and to make the audience believe that if they buy their product, they will look like the model of the ad or things for the person in the audience will change (weight commercials). I feel like people show really just embrace what they have because like you said, their flaws are what really make people their own unique individuals in the world. Being like someone else is being the shadow of the light, and that’s how ads want people to be. People need to start being the only light in the room with their own unique things and stop trying to copy or trying to be like some commercial ad model.
ReplyDeleteAdvertising is a powerful force in our culture due to the exposure. It is very unfortunate that the media influences American society to the point that it defines the "ideal woman" as someone that is thin, young, and beautiful.. why not smart? sophisticated? and confident? Today it seems as if being thin is the only way to go. There is a wealth of businesses that depend upon the American desire to be thin to survive. Exercise and diet companies are a perfect example. In order to create a market for their product they attempt to make women feel imperfect about their own bodies through advertisement. These ( false ) Advertisers manipulate women into thinking their value is dependent on their physical appearance. I really enjoyed reading your summary and response.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
and may I add..
to all these beautiful ladies reading this blog, Remember..
A women's best curve is her smile!
I agree with you, Kayla, that it makes sense for advertisers to do this but some times they just make it so obvious that I don't even consider believing it! Nowadays I just think that the people on the commercials that are vouching for this "great product" are just actors and were paid. I feel bad for the people that actually believe it though and use their hard earned money because the commercial says that they will feel so much better about them self, when in reality, when the product fails them they just feel even worse.
ReplyDeleteI agree that every women should be comfortable in their own skin. Alot of women think they have to be model thin to be accepted when in fact not all men/women, whoever they prefer, like a thin women. Every person have their own wants and needs. Advertisers are bullies when it comes to shaming people into buying a product with o real evidence that it works. Advertisers almost always use someone who already is in shape to promote their product. That is unrealistic they should use someone having trouble losing weight.
ReplyDeleteI like this. Media does have a way with messing with our minds. If only media promoted being comfortable in our own skin and not "fantasize" commercials. We need more optimistic posts like this! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI've always hated how manipulative the media seems to be all the time, and diet commercials are one of the worse examples. I just hate it when companies pay actors to sell false hope and lies to people. But that Is the whole of the advertisement industry isn't it? I'm just happy that I can fast-forward now.
ReplyDelete