Stopping Gender Stereotypes in Advertising

The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority recently published its Depictions, Perceptions and Harm report detailing how harmful stereotypes can limit the choices, aspirations and opportunities of children, youth and adults. This was followed by the organisation’s move to introduce tougher guidelines on gender stereotyping in advertising.

According to the research, “advertising can reinforce particular gender stereotypes which contribute to widespread assumptions and expectations about how people should look or behave according to their gender, and that these can become internalised.”

The research goes on to say that “advertising is one of many factors that contribute, to a greater or lesser extent, to unequal gender outcomes, alongside the role played by some parents, schools and employers, and aspects of particular cultures, communities and demographics.”

Four stereotyping issues the research found

They identified these issues on gender stereotyping in the advertising industry today:

Gender roles and characteristics

This touches on the occupations, roles and positions that are typically associated with adults and children within the family or society. The research cites an example of women portrayed in domestic roles, of men as decision makers or breadwinners, and for children, girls playing with dolls while young boys play with construction toys.

With regards to characteristics, these are gender stereotypical attributes or behaviours associated with certain genders, like women depicted as passive while men are aggressive.

Mocking people who do not conform to gender stereotypes

These are for ads that “create humour by mocking people who do not conform to gender stereotypes.” This research cites a complaint about an ad that was considered offensive and negative towards transgender people.

According to the research, in our society in which heterosexuality is considered as a norm, people who do not conform to the stereotypes of sexual orientation are portrayed with negative images or degrading connotations.

Objectification and sexualisation

This relates to advertising that focuses on objectifying or sexualising an individual, whether they are portrayed in a demeaning way, reduced to physical objects or overtly sexualised imagery.

Body image

The research cites complaints on ads that “promote unrealistic body image”, where for example being unhealthily thin is the ideal body image or is considered more desirable.

The four problem areas the ASA research names © The Voice Realm

What the new UK standards will change

The Committee of Advertising Practice will bring new standards on advertising that feature stereotypical gender roles or characteristics into force in 2018. The advertising watchdog does not call for a ban on all forms of gender stereotypes, but details what type of adverts would constitute “crossing the line.”

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Guy Parker, CEO of the ASA, said in a statement, “While advertising is only one of many factors that contribute to unequal gender outcomes, tougher advertising standards can play an important role in tackling inequalities and improving outcomes for individuals, the economy and society as a whole.”

With these new guidelines, the UK aligns itself with other countries like Ireland, Norway, Spain, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Canada and France that already have in place regulations that will discourage gender stereotyping in advertising.

The ASA’s new standards bring gender stereotyping to the forefront and challenges other countries like the USA to follow suit. The US, through the Children’s Advertising Review Unit, has guidelines in place to ensure that “advertisers should avoid social stereotyping and appeals to prejudice,” but it does not have similar guidelines in advertising for all ages.

Will this initiative of discouraging, if not stopping gender stereotyping in ads by more and more countries prompt advertisers in the US to self-regulate?

How do you think these new guidelines will affect voice over projects in advertising, not just in the UK but in other countries who already have guidelines in place?

Source:

ASA