Group Activity
In pairs or small groups search the internet for an advertisement that promotes a product.
Is this a good advertisement in your opinion? Why or why not?
Consider the following points:
- How central is the product itself in terms of graphics and design?
- What information do we learn about the product from the advertisement?
- How convincing is the advertisement?
- What are the means used to catch the consumer’s attention and to promote the product?
- Is the advertisement appropriate for different target audiences? Why?
Make a list of characteristics that make an advertisement a good one.
Each group will present their advertisements and explain what makes them good/bad advertisements.
Discussion Questions
Look at the Every Woman’s Dream, NurGas Advertisement and discuss the following questions:
- What is the woman wearing and what is she pointing to?
- What products are featured in the advertisement?
- What is the title of the advertisement?
- What are the benefits of NurGas products according to the text on the right?
- Which company created this advertisement?
- Why do you think a woman featured in the advertisement?
- How does the company guarantee that the products will improve the lives of the purchasers?
- What can we learn about gender stereotypes from the advertisement?
- What was your reaction to this advertisement?
- Do advertisers portray women in the same way today? Give examples from contemporary advertisements.
- The poster suggests that only women use home appliances such as stoves, fridges, and water heaters. Was this true then, and is this true today?
- Are there advertisements today which appeal to only one gender?
- Do men and women appear on advertisements only in the traditional roles of women as housewives and men as breadwinners?
- Do you usually buy products as a result of advertising?
- What influences your decision to buy a particular product?
Creative Activity
- Create a timeline of how gender roles have changed since 1900. Include the important events that led to changes during the subsequent years.
- The National Library of Israel published a blog post for International Women's Day: IWD Special: Fixing the Sexist Ads of the Past!. Look at the examples of the fixing that the NLI team did, and fix some modern advertisements too!