My "Favorite" Commercials

Television commercials can influence our self image.

Here are some examples of commercials that support demeaning social concepts and sustain the objectification of girls.

NANO SALON This is a virtual salon where one can change the model's makeup and hairstyle. In the commercial, two girls dressed quite lavishly are seen indulging in changing the virtual model's hairstyle. The Nano Salon looks more like another version of the Pong. The makers really underestimated the intelligence of young girls.

OOPSIE DAISY Oopsie Daisy is an adorable life size baby doll that crawls when you put her on the floor. Periodically, Oopsie Daisy falls and "needs someone like you to love her." The two small girls no older than six years old says to the fallen baby doll, "Come to Mama."

COSMETIC PARTY PAZAZZE This is a purse-ful of shimmering eyeshadows and lip color for young girls. In the commercial, girls much too young are smudging tons of these makeups over their faces.

BARBIE NAILS
CD ROM FROM MATTEL This CD Rom allows users to design outrageous nail polish stickers. The commercial first portray a girl showing her beautiful nail artwork to a group of girls. They are immediately impressed as everyone rushes around the girl's computer to make stick-on nails! With the aid of these fake nails, the girl is able to make friends.

OUIJI BOARD The commercial shows a group of kids playing with the Ouiji Board. A boy asks, "What grade will I get on the science project?" Then a girl asks, "Who told Brad that I like him?" With a seemingly sex neutral product, the advertisers managed to fit in sexually biased message. Is it really true that all girls care about is being liked by boys? Perhaps that's what the boys wish for.

Created by Kenneth Kao and Jessica Koo for the UC Berkeley class Comparative Literature 60AC, Fall, 1998. Last edited October 16, 1998.

NANO SALON	This is a virtual salon where one can change the model's makeup and hairstyle. In the commercial, two girls dressed quite lavishly are seen indulging in changing the virtual model's hairstyle. The Nano Salon looks more like another version of the Pong. The makers really underestimated the intelligence of young girls.
OOPSIE DAISY	Oopsie Daisy is an adorable life size baby doll that crawls when you put her on the floor. Periodically, Oopsie Daisy falls and "needs someone like you to love her." The two small girls no older than six years old says to the fallen baby doll, "Come to Mama."
COSMETIC PARTY PAZAZZE	This is a purse-ful of shimmering eyeshadows and lip color for young girls. In the commercial, girls much too young are smudging tons of these makeups over their faces.
BARBIE NAILS CD ROM FROM MATTEL	This CD Rom allows users to design outrageous nail polish stickers. The commercial first portray a girl showing her beautiful nail artwork to a group of girls. They are immediately impressed as everyone rushes around the girl's computer to make stick-on nails! With the aid of these fake nails, the girl is able to make friends.
OUIJI BOARD	The commercial shows a group of kids playing with the Ouiji Board. A boy asks, "What grade will I get on the science project?" Then a girl asks, "Who told Brad that I like him?" With a seemingly sex neutral product, the advertisers managed to fit in sexually biased message. Is it really true that all girls care about is being liked by boys? Perhaps that's what the boys wish for.