The Key to Becoming the Perfect Housewife Analysis

The Key to Becoming the “Perfect Housewife”: Analysis of Advertisements Portraying Housewives Angelica Ferguson ENG 101 Ad Analysis Power. Point Presentation 22 September 2010

The Role and Main Goal of Housewives Depicted in Advertisements • Through the use of verbal and visual content, advertisers have portrayed that the main role of the housewife is to take care of the household while looking beautiful for her husband.

Kellogg’s Pep Cereal Ad: Vitamins for pep! PEP for vitamins! • The woman’s husband is holding her and comments, “So the harder a wife works, the cuter she looks!” • The husband also tells his wife that she seems to thrive on cooking, cleaning, and dusting. When he asks her how she stays energized while he is exhausted by closing time, the wife claims that vitamins in Kellogg’s Pep cereal keep her going! The husband’s comments reveal that the main role of the housewife is to please her husband through cooking and cleaning. • The housewife is stereotyped through the woman in the advertisement wearing an apron and holding a feather duster, while wearing a dress and high-heel shoes. Despite her hard work, her hair and makeup remain flawless.

Kenwood Chef Food Mixer Ad: “I’m giving my wife a Kenwood Chef” • The wife, wearing a chef’s hat and having neatly styled hair and painted finger nails, leans against her husband with an expression of excitement that she now owns a Kenwood Chef Food Mixer. • The statement in the advertisement, “The Chef does everything but cook- that’s what wives are for, ” and the Kenwood Chef slogan, “I’m giving my wife a Kenwood Chef” reinforces the idea that it is the housewife’s responsibility to cook for her family.

Coca Cola Ad: “Things go better with Coke” • Two women, smiling while drinking a Coke, are having their hair done and wearing leisurely pink robes. The advertisement states, “Heat’s on? Time for the unmistakable taste of ice-cold Coca-Cola. Lifts your spirits, boosts your energy…. ” Once again, the visual and verbal message is that women should strive to become more physically attractive not for her own sake but for someone else’s. • The Coke slogan, “Things go better with Coke, ” claims that your life will have more fulfillment and each day will have less struggles if you drink a refreshing and relaxing Coke!

Conclusion • The assumption that pleasing men through being physically attractive and taking care of the household is the prerequisite for housewife happiness is evident through the Kellogg’s Pep, Kenwood Chef, and Coca-Cola ads. Women are expected to model after these advertisements in order to be the “perfect wife”.