The Changing Role of Women in Automobile Advertisements

Side-by-side are two advertisements, each showing a picture of a car and two family members. The ads demonstrate the amount of power allotted to women in the times they were made. The differences in these ads far outweigh the similarities. The ad –from a 1954 Good Housekeeping –shows a woman being reprimanded by her husband for wrecking their car. The other–from a 2003 Redbook–shows a wife and mother holding her daughter with one hand and an umbrella with the other. One woman is ignorant, irresponsible, incapable, and not in control; the other is competent, responsible, and in control. The evolution of advertising reflects the changes that have taken place in the way American society views women. The ads use body image, body language, and text to encapsulate the stereotypical women of each era; in the 50's, women needed to be controlled, but now women can be in control.

The 1954 ad portrays the ideal woman of that era. This ideal was incredibly unrealistic. She has a tiny waist but large birthing hips. Her feet are small and she's wearing super-high heels. Her hands are petite and feminine, yet she's not holding anything–her purse has fallen to the ground. But, not a hair is out of place, and the elegant skirt and top she is wearing look unharmed, putting even more emphasis on the fact that the man is "wearing the pants." The 1950's society viewed women as incompetent. They needed their husbands to be in control because they could not fend for themselves; when they tried, they "crumpled fenders." Still, the woman in the ad is the ideal woman–Barbie. She is only good for looking pretty and having children, otherwise, she can't do anything right. No wonder she is not able to drive the car without wrecking–that in...

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...rn society sees women as real people with intellect. Instead of not being allowed or perceived as capable of controlling their own lives and situation, today's women are expected to control their own lives without interference or constant dependence on others, or more specifically, their husbands. These advertisements demonstrate just what a drastic change has taken place in the last fifty years. Even though both ads are about cars, the body image, body language, and text portray a striking difference in the view of women. Maybe this change was brought about by the Women's Liberation Movement, maybe such subjugation just cannot last forever. But whatever the cause, the change has definitely taken place.

Works Cited

"Dodge Caravan." Advertisement. Redbook June 2003: 75.

"Safety Power Steering by Saginaw." Advertisement. Good Houskeeping Feb. 1954: 40.