Class Assignment.
The Issue-The issue that concerns me from my fieldwork studies, is the parental guilt trip that advertising send parents on through out the children’s lives. Most of the campaigns are directed towards food and the household environment, and quite frankly I think they make the parents feel like shit about themselves and their parenting skills after a certain point.
Some ads campaigns:
Moms like you choose JIF/ Choosy moms choose JIF complimented by lots of great family activities, loving mommies and well behaving kids … all in 30 seconds:
My mom never bought JIF. WTF! Then again, I guess that was a good thing considering all the not so yummy stuff they add to it. This sheet is compliments of thenakedlabel.com:
Lunchables- Make your kids lunch show off-able.
KIX- Kid tested Mother Approved- If you give your kids sugar cereal for breakfast, you had might as well kill them now. You’re a Bad Mother. (Though I must add, it is interesting to find that at the General Mills Website, they have whole separate sites for all of their sugary, cartoon character promoted cereals. But not Kix…)
And of course the Friendly’s, Mcdonalds, etc. that are always talking about treating your child. Treating them to what exactly? A heart attack? Gee, thanks dad.
I’ve talked to many parents about consumerism and keeping up with all of their children’s needs and desires. A few don’t think they are effected by it. Their kids, ironically enough, are the ones with the Iphones and Uggs. Others, say that especially in today’s economy, its been harder than ever to keep up with everything their child wants.
Varied Players:
Kids of course. They see the ads and over time, may start to think ” hey how come my mom never takes me to McDonalds?”
Parents- always looking out for their children. Trying to give them whats best. Trying to live up to other parents.
Addressing the issue- I think there are a few ways of addressing the issue. This isnt too indepth yet, but perhaps going forward with the commercial free kids tv, though it still leaves the parent as a target. More ads that promote actual good parenting techniques rather than via product might be an idea…
Or commercial free tv altogether?
Maybe not having kids at all?
Who knows?
-Heather
It’s so true. Parents are of course affected by advertisements as much as children. They want there children to have nice things but it of course comes down to financial stability. You can’t spend more than you can afford. That puts an incredible amount of stress on a parent.
-Andrea
By: slutbag on March 2, 2010
at 1:34 am
Almost every parent wants to give their child more than they had growing up. The line between giving children access to opportunities in education or other areas compared to spoiling them can often be thin. This is how children develop an attitude of entitlement, that they don’t have to work for anything, but will instead have things handed to them. Corporations play on the emotions of parents who feel obligated to provide for their children. It is difficult to discern the difference between need and want in such a climate.
- Stephanie
By: slutbag on March 2, 2010
at 1:51 am
Awesome examples of the ‘Guilt Trip”, and I like the way you set up the page. It is very true that ads play on our youths minds by making them guilt there parents into buying them what they want. The examples you gave really resonated with me as a child, especially the lunchables. My parents never bought them for me, and I always wanted them. I constantly bugged them until FINALLY they would give in and get the for me for my field trips! haha good job!
-Andrew C.
By: slutbag on March 2, 2010
at 7:05 pm
hahaha!!! im sorry i have to comment first on andrews comment- i NEVER got lunchables either!!!!! my mom wanted me to loose weight and they were too expensive, and then ONCE I got a lunchable and it was FOR A FIELDTRIP!! so having that said I think you touched upon a few delicate subjects, its absolutely parents influence. Especially when parents compete with EACH OTHER to show off what they can buy their kids and how great their children are.
Lea G.
By: slutbag on March 3, 2010
at 9:00 pm
Andy, Lea- I only got them for field trips too. Man those Pizza ones were good!
By: slutbag on March 9, 2010
at 2:14 am