Representation in Magazines

Reinforcing Hegemonic norms - constructing representations of femininity

-In 'Woman' Magazine, there are several messages about female identity encoded within it. For example, there is an article about being an 'A-Level beauty' which would suggest that women need makeup to be beautiful.
-There is also an element within an article about kitchens where women are told to get the "man in your life" to help them. This would suggest that women need men and that they aren't strong and can't do things for themselves.

Impact on the target audience - 
- Target audience is women who are aged between 25-50.
- The magazine cultivates the idea that woman have to wear makeup
- It cultivates the idea that women are meant to be housewives and have children
- It constructs a target audience as it is very specific
- If you control the women, then you control society



ADVERTISING IN MAGAZINES

• magazines generate revenue primarily through print and digital copy sales and the rest is through advertising.
• Advertising accounts for one third of revenue, and by using advertising the magazine costs a lot less than it is worth, due to the fact that they are expensive to make. 
• There is a high audience engagement as people have chosen to read the magazine and will be concentrating on it.
• Less likely for people to be distracted from the advert by other things.
• There is a better ability to target niche audiences.
• Higher production values, the advert will be better quality.
• Potential placement in highly relevant editorial environment, as there could be more of an association with the article and your product

Analysis  / Audience Response:

• This is a soap advert and I feel that this could reinforce the fact that women should smell nice and be clean all the time.
• The word "darling" is used repeatedly which is quite patronising, like a man talking down to a woman.
• Even bathing and becoming clean is sexualised here.
• "Because you're a woman" is a reminder about how women are not treated equally in society.
• Her hair and face is perfectly made, as though women should always be made up and pretty
• She seems to be blowing a kiss or bubbles and this is a romantic yet almost seductive way of representing a woman, implying the soap makes them sexy.
• This would also appeal to men and men could want their wife or girlfriend to be using this as it makes them better.
• Women could feel that they are going to become more attractive if they use this soap.
• The focus is on the main image of the woman, and other women could aspire to be like her.
• It says that it will "show you kindness", which would imply that it looks after you, and the personification reminds you of maybe a male figure.
• It could be empowering women to want to be proud of their bodies.
• Closed body language could show how she has control over her own body, and that women should be in control of their own bodies.
• A preferred reading of this could show that women are working hard and sweating and therefore need something take care of them for a shame.
• There is a binary opposition of being gentle in order to clean, however it is also tough because it is destroying dirt.
• The word "gentle" implies that this is how women should always want to be