Stereotypes and 1950s advertising

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:33 pm

Emm's bad word thread got me thinking, and I thought it would be cool to post ads from the 1950s that seemed to have shaped our thinking into certain stereotypes. The quintessential housewife seems to come to mind here. Here's an example (although not the best). Notice the apron, which indicates she's been working all day, and yet she still looks spectacular: make up perfect, hair in place.....I'll bet she'll even have supper on the table at 5pm sharp!

So go ahead, share some ads that seem to have shaped our thinking, even now. I think it'll be interesting.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:35 pm

This one seems rather accurate... don't men do just about everything in just their skivvies?

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:38 pm

hehehehe.....

sorry...I'm getting a bit carried away now, I think.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 5:45 pm

Just one more...I'm on a roll. Note how perfect Mom looks...her nails are even well manicured

I love ads from the 50s

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 8:17 pm

I fear I don't have as much access to 1950s magazines as you apparently do.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:15 pm

Cranberry wrote:I fear I don't have as much access to 1950s magazines as you apparently do.

you have as much access as I do...it just takes a Google search

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:22 pm

TonyHiggins · Post by **TonyHiggins** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:31 pm

This one seems rather accurate... don't men do just about everything in just their skivvies? lol

These are called 'tighty-whities' nowadays.
Tony

Cynth · Post by **Cynth** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:49 pm

I feel like this is Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson has finally proposed to her.

She can quite solving those silly mysteries now and become a real woman.

http://www.lileks.com/institute/perm/gallery2/4.html
This is from James Lilek's fabulous website.
The fifties ads are funny but there is something poignant about them.
Perhaps it is my age that sees them that way. Everyone is so healthy-looking, and hopeful, and well-groomed.
They don't know what's ahead.

raindog1970 · Post by **raindog1970** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:58 pm

While we're being politically incorrect, the Lysol feminine hygeine ads from the 50's are worthy of mention.

Here's a link to one of them: http://flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=68001820&size=o

How's that for stereotyping housewives?

Cynth · Post by **Cynth** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:04 pm

Oh dear, I had no idea I was, well,..errr...icky! Those poor women!

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:55 pm

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 12:08 am

Does this count?

What about this?

I wanna get a copy of that...just to see what it says, of course--I don't really care much for revolting, and I'm not a communist either.

scottielvr · Post by **scottielvr** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 1:20 am

Ain't we got fun. As if the notion of advising women to douche with Lysol weren't bad enough, while searching around I found ads cheerfully urging, ehrm, homemakers to wash their pots and pans with Drano. But they were from the 1940s so I had to pass them up. Now then:

A Dramatized Story That Could Happen To You!

This must have confused the innocent 1950s consumers. They might have been quite ready to believe that marital conflict is actually caused by vitamin-poor diets...but if this truly Could Happen To Them, then why the diffident little disclaimer under the steamy photo: "Posed by professional models"? There goes your willing suspension of disbelief, right out the window, along with the 25 cents.

The nattily attired 50s family shops for Vaseline together. Heart-warming, isn't it? Especially the way mother and daughter proudly hold high their Blue Seal packages, pointing at them ecstatically as though this proves the Rapture is nigh.

Scotties keep cold germs from spreading. Scotties are, in fact, sneeze-proof. What more need I say?

If I had only realized long ago that etiquette required me to place rolls of toilet tissue on little pedestals throughout my home, my social life would have been so much more fulfilling. Still, it's never too late. Anyone know where I can get a good price on 75 yards of pale-pink tulle...and a crinoline?

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:18 am

Well, I have seen green and blue Kleenex before. If I remember correctly, it smelled like flowers. Or something.