Models on Every Front Page

In the 1950s or 1960s, the most common way of luring customers was to feature models in advertisements. A gorgeous woman with an hourglass figure on the poster could be seen if it was a campaign despite its cause. Be it to promote good oral hygiene or marketing violin lessons.

Sadly, if we carefully observe the advertisements of recent times, not much has changed. There are still hot-looking models publicizing a product or a service to grab customers' attention. This ad for selling Tiparillo works in the same fashion. The brand features models with layers of makeup to promote their sales.

Exchange Vows with Pyrex

Everyone has a fantasy when it comes to weddings. Pyrex used it to their advantage by linking a happy married life to their products by baiting the customers. There is no denying that this brand has been around for a long time and is well-known. However, they are most likely over-promising their customers in their advertisements.

They used the tagline "successful marriages start in the kitchen" to lure new couples to buy their products in order to make their relationship last longer. Furthermore, the brand normalizes sharing the gender roles by adding a graphic of a couple cooking together in the kitchen.

Sauce it Up With Gil

Gil Elvgreen was an artist who was known for his ingenuity in creating pin-up posters rather than for generating paintings. This gorgeous illustration was only one of Gil's many works that earned worldwide acclaim. He had an uncanny ability to paint girls in daily situations and make them look stunning in a manner that no one else could.

It can't be said whether these pin-up posters would have sold today, but they were a massive hit in the 1930s and 1940s. The painting appears to be filled with creativity, as it should, yet the girl, being a pin-up girl, seems to be completely ready for a click.

The Centuries-Old Stereotype

Numerous generations have passed by, but the stereotype that "women belong in the kitchen" still resides in our systems. This advertisement is the perfect example of how the conservative society believes that the females belong inside the house's four walls. Their purpose is to keep their family and husbands happy.

Fortunately, we have come a long way as this ad would have gotten a lot of criticism had it been released in today's time. We are re-learning and busting the centuries-old stereotypes and getting acclimatized to the fact that it is the responsibility of both partners to take care of the house.

Keep Your Woman in the Kitchen

The advertisement of Kenwood Chef Food Process is yet another example of the double standards that exist in a society claiming that the dominance of men over women should prevail. The poster literally says that the only purpose of a woman is to cook.

The work division based on genders isn't something new that you come across. To date, a girl child has bought a kitchen set to play with while the boys are gifted cars. Thankfully, in the 20th century, men valued women and believed in an equal division of all sorts of work, be it being the bread earner or baking it.

The Morally Correct Wife Spanking; the1950s Trend

The 1950s saw a controversial practice where men could spank their wives with no eyebrows raised. This trend died down over time and is now considered wrong by many people. Still, four different interviewees for an opinion column written in the daily mail online website said that it's okay to hit your spouse whenever they make mistakes- as long you don't leave marks!

Furthermore, this ad is the perfect example of how misogyny exists in our society, where husbands find it pretty normal to spank or hit their counterparts if the coffee is not up to their standards.

 

It's a Man's World

The advertisement's title is "It's a man's world," which in itself is derogatory in all possible ways. In this poster, the man is in his bed wearing formal attire while the woman serves her breakfast, which symbolizes her duty to get her man a freshly prepared meal while he dresses up for work.

We all love breakfast in bed, so why should just men be on the receiving end of it? Furthermore, the female on her knees again symbolizes that men think that is where they belong. The fact that Van Heusen made sales due to this advertisement reveals much about the male-dominant society.

Even Gets a Tiger Lady on the Floor

Did you see the lady below the shoes of a man? Why isn't the poster's title "everything that is wrong with an ad"? Apparently, the manufacturers of Mr. Legg's pants depict that their pants are so hot that even a lady who is as brave as a tiger would lay down for you.

The subtitle "it's nice to have a girl around" is another disturbing sentence to print on posters as it depicts that women are nothing but mere flesh to please men. Sadly, the advertisement gets the females who were fighting for their rights in the 60s back to square one.

Come on, Dummies, Get a Man

Most of the advertisements of the 1930s to 1950s targeted women mockingly to appeal to men and thus increase their sales. This attempt of selling a deodorant falls under the same category. This particular ad calls women "beautiful but dumb", as if the only asset a woman has is her beauty.

The brand is asking females to buy their deodorants, become smarter since they are too dumb to buy them on their own, and attract men. While releasing the posters, there were no second thoughts that women are intelligent or their only purpose in life is not to please a man.

We Think About You

The 1960s were a revolutionary time for many things, but not so much with advertising. Until this point in history, the ads had only differences between men and women - usually focusing on their differences rather than similarities. However, this ad by Parker was women-centric after their continuous efforts of fighting for their rights.

The company advertised a women-sized pen that was comfortable for them to hold and write with. Advertising a pen suitable for a girl's hand was directed towards women's empowerment. Having a pen depicts that females are capable of working other than just being responsible for household chores.

They are Children Not Toys

Every underlying concept behind this ad is illogical. It is surprising to witness that such a portrayal made it to the press. It is understandable that an advertisement's creative team may not always be able to deliver to its full potential. But that's when your coworkers come into play. They didn't do it since this commercial is entirely devoid of rationale.

If such an advertisement were to be released today, the creatives would be roundly chastised. To begin with, forcing a child to use a sharp razor can result in terrible consequences. Furthermore, a child does not need a razor, especially a toddler, as shown in the poster.

A Bizarre Delivery

Every successful advertisement relies on phrases that are both easy to read and unique. The joint statement "the best things in life are free" was perverted into "the best things in life come in a Cellophane '' by this company. Even though their creativity deserves due credit, the graphic is still disturbing.

Instead of wrapping a basket of chocolates in cellophane, they thought it would be fantastic to wrap a newborn with their goods. Don't you think no one in their right mind would come up with such a strange concept? The adorable-looking stork is a beautiful addition, but it should have come with a disclaimer that said, "strictly for gift baskets."

A Wow Invention for Women!

Wow! The brand manufactured a bottle that women can open? So considerate. Was the company unaware of the fact that these are the same women who toil hard in the kitchen and crack open innumerable lids? This poster serves the concept of misogyny and is not a product that females would easily use.

The tagline "you mean a woman can open it" reveals a lot about the creatives, especially the male-centric ones in the 1950s. Society believed women to be the weaker gender who lack the strength even to open a bottle's cap. Fortunately, we have experienced a change in this mentality.

It's Just a Tennis Game

Taking a first look at the poster, nobody can guess that the ad sells a tennis game. Indeed it is a 1980s computer tennis game. It would undoubtedly be a fun way to pass the time. The brand has tried to catch people's attention by writing "Davis cup" in huge, bold characters. It's a straightforward selling method with a concise but compelling notion.

However, the only thing that didn't make sense was the graphics on the advertisement. Why would there be an adult picture of a lady to market a computer game? Thankfully, the scenario of advertising is much better now.

Your Magic Potion

Drinking a glass of wine after having a hectic day indeed helps you relax. However, suggesting someone with depression to drink wine to have a calming effect is wrong on all levels. Instead of benefits, it can worsen the feelings of sadness and despair.

Topics like depression and mental health were less talked about in the 1940s. Hence, brands use it as a marketing strategy to bait someone struggling with a significant mental health disorder like depression. Fortunately, the stigma around these topics is gradually decreasing. Not only depression, but this ad also claims to lower the symptoms of physical illnesses like flu.

Make Your Kids Switch to Healthy Food

This poster promotes the benefits of eating a balanced diet. Parents frequently become tired of encouraging their small children to eat something healthy. Toddlers refuse to do anything unless you make it enjoyable and imaginative. This advertisement, for example, primarily depicts a loving and caring relationship that exists between siblings.

Look at how delighted the kids are with their bananas and how beautifully that young brother is feeding her sister to eat them. First and foremost, it is being humorously broadcast on television. The poster was made keeping in mind that the children will imitate and switch to eating healthy.

We Took into Account: Your Body Size

It doesn't take much thought to realize that having a specific target in mind for a product will make it easier to assist with sales and result in a successful advertising campaign. The advertisement attempts to convey a positive message to all ladies who have a healthy figure. Lane Bryant took a conscious effort to include all dresses for women of all sizes.

However, using the phrase "chubbies" can be insulting at times. But all the brand intends to advocate body positivity in the most subtle way possible. They've put their all into this campaign, both in terms of inventiveness and inclusivity.

 

Your All-Time Favorite Hotdogs

Everyone agrees to the fact that sports and food are inextricably linked, right? And when it comes to hot dogs, all you can think of is a terrific football or baseball game. An advertisement like this is most commonly seen at sporting events where large crowds of people come to eat hot dogs.

Furthermore, hot dogs are a staple diet item for those who cannot afford more expensive foods. As a result, most advertising touted hot dogs as an all-time favorite throughout the Great Depression. The poster too depicts a family with parents and their children spending valuable time together while enjoying the delectability of the food.

Ponies and Unicorns

Let us admit that as children, everyone loved ponies and unicorns. Horses and unicorns have always been popular cartoon characters, and the kids adore them. Thus the brand adopted a marketing strategy by advertising a horse-spread. What makes them think they'll eat it? Can they, or can they not? The marketing department in the 1960s could have only answered this question.

Anyhow, the bold caption, "You are eating a pony," is unmistakably appealing to kids. To be honest, children are so naïve that they will locate one word that appeals to them and rush to their parents to tell them to buy that item.

Glamor All The Way

Illustrations of beautiful women, also known as pin-up girls, promoted the Soviet government's policies. These posters typically featured short skirts and tall boots with massive amounts of makeup that would now be considered attire for any office visit or industrial work setting in the 1930s and 1940s.

The only difference between them is where these pictures came from. While some originated officially through representatives' offices throughout Russia, others may have been created ad hoc by artists who wanted their contribution towards propaganda efforts across wide regions. You can genuinely link anything Russian to industry, including these pin-up females if you think about it.

Ah, Women are Not So Hard to Convince.

A good salesperson's attribute is their ability to persuade others with ease. However, it appears that this young man is having difficulty convincing the female to buy his stuff. According to the story on the poster, the woman first refused to purchase the device because she believed it would be difficult to use.

On the other hand, the salesperson persuaded the woman to at least give it a shot. It was no surprise that the girl adored the product. This might be interpreted as if you want something; you should try until you get it. However, some people believe that the ad focused on women as people who are easy to influence.

Sunlight For Your Child

It is no secret that children have always been the prime target for advertisers. Whether it be in modern times or back during the 1930s, one thing remains true: parents want what they need to keep their kids happy and healthy - even if this means spending more money on things like baby monitors rather than TVs.

Such is the case with marketing Sun lamps for kids. However, the brands advertise their products to make significant sales, but they forget to be humane towards humankind. The skin of the babies can be harmed to a great extent by a Sun lamp giving them rashes.

All Hail DDT

DDT aka Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Ever heard of it? Don't worry; you are not alone. DDT is a chemical that is used to kill insects and was once considered an effective mosquito killer. Still, its reputation has since dissipated due to the discovery that many organisms are sensitive or immune to this toxin.

As if that wasn't enough, it was also regarded as a miracle because of its ability to produce fruits and vegetables that were larger than typical. The makers' fortunes changed dramatically when they began marketing this as an outstanding cleaning agent; sales significantly increased because it was classified as a home necessity.

Lifesaver Will be Your Lifesaver

If you think all your wife needs from you are lots of jewels, you might be wrong. The "wife saver" advertisement crossed oceans just to ensure that your wife feels at ease while doing the household chores. And this isn't the best part. The promotions took place for both men and women, and when it came to the 1900s, gender equality was a rare sight.

Even though it did not encourage men to do the chores, it was definitely a step towards caring about females. Furthermore, the tagline "spoil your wife" targets the male audience to give their wives a utility to make their lives in the kitchen easier.

Beauty Comes at a Cost

Advertisements that have been baiting people to buy products that would make you look prettier are not something that you haven't heard about before. Even though there is no guarantee that people will pause to buy such creations, there is definitely a significant improvement in the types of products.

Beauty products have accounted for the majority of company sales. We've been living like this for a long time and have become acclimated to it, and it no longer offends us. This is an advertisement for a chin reduction device (that looks like torture) and is currently being sold under the guise of plastic surgery.

 

 

Making it Up With Perfume

If people do not smell like roses, it is believed that it would be a huge turn-off. Using this belief to a benefit, the manufacturers of perfumes and deodorants increased their sales. Since perfumes became a necessity, the brands faced high competition.

Thus, they targetted the insecurities of people to bait them into buying the costliest scents. The women were advertised that they would not be up to the mark no matter how pretty they looked or how on-point their makeup was. In this advertisement, they make it clear that no matter how attractive and personable you are, you will not be desirable if you don't smell well.

Let the Women Drive

There exists a hesitation in men when a woman wants to be in the driver's seat. While in the 1960s, the women started to come out of the four walls they were caged in for centuries; men still had the final say in investing in a commodity like a car. Thus, the advertisers carefully made a poster with a woman nervously biting her lip while driving.

They advertised a mini car that even a woman could quickly drive. Even though it looks like they are promoting women's empowerment, they are actually convincing men that they must buy a mini version of a car for their wives to drive comfortably.

KFC: A Woman's Best Friend

The practice where the responsibility of making and serving food lies on the shoulders of a woman has been carried on for centuries. When Kentucky Fried Chicken first opened its doors, women were supposed to stay at home and have a hot homemade dinner ready for their husbands when they returned home from work.

KFC advertised themselves as the woman's best friend to sympathize with the female folk. They would carry the weight of making a meal from the shoulders of a woman and take it on theirs. This marketing idea was a big hit as it empowered women to take a break without feeling guilty about it.

A Revolver Acting as a Toy

This advertisement provides a disturbing sight whenever someone tries to look at it. Yes, there is a revolver in the hands of a baby girl. And surprisingly, this ad wasn't the first or last one that depicted a scary graphic that included a child.

The advertisers assumed that they could show how safe their gun was if they handed it over to a child and released a poster. However, it is still a frightening sight to watch a small child holding a gun, whether or not it has a hammer. Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, devoid of the safety precautions taken by the manufacturers.

Beauty Over Brains

As you can witness, most vintage advertisements focus on a woman pleasing a man. Not only do the advertisements promote their brand, but also they throw unsolicited advice at women. This one says that men don't want a woman to be intelligent. They would instead get them a face that is pretty.

Deep-seated insecurities were fed to women that they would only be desirable if they looked beautiful enough to the males. Most beauty products were sold by developing an inferiority complex in women, which forced them to believe they needed to be pretty before being intelligent.

Is Cola a Brain Tonic?

Coca-Cola's original advertising campaign was revolutionary, but the company needed to adjust and keep up with changing times. New products come out every day; however, some have stood through it all: Coca Cola Classic fridge bottles are one such example.

Coca-Cola is a global icon and has been since the 1890s, soon after the brand marketed the drink, calling it a "brain tonic." The company's original advertising campaign claimed that sipping on an ice-cold coke could relieve headaches. The poster guaranteed that the cola would cure mental and physical exhaustion with just one taste. This strategy quickly made them one of the most well-founded brands globally!

Hit Two Targets With One Arrow

This advert focuses on the pros of doing cleaning, washing, and other household chores that would, in turn, be helpful in losing those extra pounds. It targets the people who cannot take out the time and dedicate themselves to working towards achieving the workout goals.

However, there is always a downside to everything. Even though the tagline "Keep up with the house as you keep your weight down" implies that being busy is good for your health, it also lures women to perform the tasks. It lets them believe that keeping the house clean and being thin are goals a wife should strive for.

Your Graphics Do Half of the Marketing

The key to a successful promotion lies in the demographics of the advert more than the product itself. Given that the target audience is men ninety percent of the time, a woman on the print does the job.

This tactic has been practiced for a long time, and due to the high-end results, it is still followed. Consider this ad for a color projector slide from 1959. The focus is on Sabrina and her enormous bosom, with the product itself scarcely visible. We understand that a gorgeous lady will draw a man's eye, but the degree to which this approach is used is impressive.

A Candilcious Advertisement

People of all ages love candies. Parents are well aware of the harmful consequences of a sugar high on their children. While sugar is a delightful pleasure, it causes a significant increase in energy followed by a sharp drop in energy in young children.

It is well-known by the company running the advert that we should consume the sugar-coated drops of heaven in moderation as it can be harmful to the body. However, they exploited it by convincing mothers that their "kids need energy that candies can provide." They went so far to say that only a "wise mother" would get their kids candy.

We Have What it Takes to Fly Higher.

The airline business has undoubtedly tremendous competition. Thus they always need to level up their game and provide the customers with a unique selling point so that they can gain loyal customers that would stay with them in the long run. The airlines advertised themselves with the most beautiful air hostesses to bait the people in business, who are the primary and most frequent customers.

Some airlines focused on decreasing their prices, altering the flight timings, or installing the most comfortable seats; this particular firm sold more tickets than ever by just introducing attractive women to the picture. Since this tactic was so successful, it is still being carried out.

Get Your Breakfast Back

Breakfast is undoubtedly the most important meal, and you should never miss it. Gaining this knowledge, the advertisement of a medical firm released a medication that helps to settle down nausea faced by pregnant women. Taking a look at the idea seems to be perfect as it showed that people cared about issues caused by pregnancy.

However, the misogynistic poster said, "prescribe new medication to your wife," which would help to decrease the symptoms of morning symptoms. And this would help them get back on their feet to prepare breakfast. At the time when a woman should get adequate rest, she should be healthy enough to serve the morning meal.

Spray Your Marriage With the Sweetest Scent

The marketing executives use demographics of attractive women on their campaigns while targeting men. They follow quite the opposite approach when it comes to women. They scare them by giving warnings as they would never be able to find a man, they would never get married if they do not buy their product, or their husbands might cheat on them if they find out their wife is unattractive, and so on.

The message in this vintage ad for a breath freshener is clear: if a man is unhappy at home, he will cheat. The tagline "Men are funny that way" implies that adultery is not only inevitable if the wife isn't ideal.

Perfumes and Wedding Bells

The theme in this commercial may have inspired the famous phrase "Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride." Advertising businesses promote the idea that every woman desires to be a loyal wife who cares for her husband's requirements. They target a woman's insecurity of being left alone forever while the people around them are getting married.

As though being a bride was the ultimate objective for all women, the 1928 ad indicates that a woman with foul breath would never be a bride. Describing a bad breath as the problem that should be addressed and saying that a woman's fairy tale ending may be jeopardized today sounds a bit unfair.

Keep Her Where She Belongs

The idea behind this campaign was to show women who are influenced by men's choices and do not have a voice of their own. But we all know that putting any gender down for an entertaining joke isn't quite as funny once you think about it.

The tagline "keep her where she belongs," which goes along with the theme mentioned earlier, really sticks out like a sore thumb. The ad is supposed to make people believe that a woman should be on her knees servicing whoever walks through those doors. Even though such ads aren't typical anymore, we still have plenty more progress before equality becomes a reality.

Get Yourself a Man

Fortunately, in today's culture, the only purpose of a woman's existence is not to get herself a man but to be capable enough to stand for herself. However, this wasn't the case years ago. Several vintage ads flooded women with tips they could follow if they did not want to live alone for the rest of their lives.

It's so old that it nearly makes you chuckle. The poster has a woman offering a man a plate of donuts as "the way to man's heart is through his stomach." And shockingly, the lady has a ball and chain behind her back as if she wants to cage him by marrying her.