Reading Response #1

“Gender Policing” in “Advertising Sets a Double Standard for the Male Gender” by William Sea

Question #2

Sea’s essay suggests a growing frustration with advertising as it pertains to dealing with the two genders and societal stereotypes. The Miller commercial example does in fact employ “gender policing”, by showing men doing supposed feminine actions and then punishing them for it. However, since when is swatting at a fly or removing excess grease from pizza strictly feminine? Advertisements like this one end up inflicting embarrassment on their targeted audience and making them feel like they need to conform to the accepted societal norm. If the oh-so-cool beer people think it’s fruity to swat a fly, then it is obviously fruity to swat a fly. This is how stereotypes are perpetuated, by using popular advertising to set the rules on how specific types of people, in this case the male gender, should behave.

Ethnic group policing has become increasingly evident recently. Since the attacks on September 11th seven years ago, an uprising of racism towards those of Middle Eastern decent was sparked. Many people associate this ethnic group with terrorism now, and expect them to act suspicious. Moreover, any action by a Middle Eastern person is carefully scrutinized by the general society. In one sense, yes, this behavior has an extremely emotional reason behind it. In another sense, we as a society won’t grow and move on without open and accepting minds. There has to be a middle ground.

Policing does serve some functions, such as creating a category that people can associate themselves with and belong too. It also keeps the peace in some strange situations, such as establishing rules and codes of behavior for a radical protest group. I suppose it also is the backbone for many beloved traditions. On the down side, though, policing serves to increase stereotyping which leads to inequality and unfairness among different types of people.