Feminism in an advertisement


Women Representation in Axis Sim Card Advertisement



Project Paper of Cultural Studies of Class E for fulfilling Midterm Test
Advisor: Miftahul Huda, M.Pd.



By: Apriliyanti Shinta Dewi (15320004)









ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT
HUMANITIES FACULTY
MAULANA MALIK IBRAHIM STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY
2017

1. Background of Study
Gender studies become a hot topic along the time. It is proved by there are women who ask equality through demonstration. Several days ago, the world is horrendous by the woman demonstrators. Many women want to make people consider that the women are the victim of blaming. They consider that many people blame them by blaming and considering that the wrong one are women because the women wear the minimum clothes[1]. In this case, women want to have equal condition and demand her right to choose clothes which they want.
   Seeing that condition, gender studies are urgent things to be discussed. Gender studies also concern on patriarchy and feminism. This field will be focus on feminism. However, Mary Wollstonecraft states that the development of rationality on women and demand the equality in education. Then, Clara Zetkin and Rossa Luxemburg state that inequality on gender is caused by culture. Another figure, Margaret Fuller and Anglina Grimke state that women and men are created under equality. So, normally, there is no mistreatment and suppression between them. Allison Jagar states that women should not independent on need, in the form of Material and sexual. In addition, this field will be focus on Margaret Fuller and Anglina Grimke theory of feminism.[2] Their theory believes that women do not limit to work outside the house. They can do all work totally and reproduction does not block her to work. This theory believe that “women are weak” is only stereotype.       
Based on the theory above, the work of human is not only the work that is commonly done inside the house. This case is presented in many advertisements. Especially, axis sim card advertisement. The advertisement show that woman always become secondary character. Women always become an assistant. Women are as inferior. Unfortunately, many people do not care and do not understand about gender studies shown in advertisement. In other hand, they get many influences regularly. Then, the influences will bring the big effect on many people’s mindset. The big effect is people will consider that women are only inferior. Thus will form patriarchy culture. So that, the advertisements should be analysed and the result can be published. Finally, it will make them consider that they are influenced by the advertisement.
Furthermore, Axis sim card advertisement has ever been an object before. However, it is researched on creativity concept in producing the advertisement which uses the theory of creativity for advertisement. Then, it results the characteristics of the advertisement. It is humoristic. The other research related to Axis sim card advertisement is a research which concern on semiotic meaning of the advertisement. The result of the research is the advertisement shows the teenager habit in having advantages from the social media. Another research is talking about the moral value shown in the advertisement. It finds the result that axis sim card advertisement is out of the line of moral. In addition, the research uses the theory of advertisement in analysing the advertisement. Here, the researcher wants to present the different focus on advertisement. The focus is on gender imbalance shown in the advertisement.
2. Research Question
1. How axis sim card advertisement represents gender inequality?
2. How do women do to face gender inequality?   
3. Objectives of the study
This research is designed to fulfilll the objective:
1. To know how axis sim card advertisement represents gender inequality.
2. to know how do women do to face gender inequality.     
4. Scope and Limitation
The researcher will limit the object of the study by only analysing axis sim card   advertisement which is published in 2013 until 2018. Then, the researcher also analyses the selected scene only.
5. Significance of the Study
  This research is theoretically done for making people consider that the advertisement is meaningful. By knowing this meaningful advertisement, people are hoped that they are not easily influenced and believe what the advertisement presents. In addition, practically, this research will bring advantage for academician who will do the same research.
6. Research Methode
   6.1 Research Design
In interpreting axis sim card advertisement, the researcher uses qualitative method because the researcher does not need the number of population and sample. In addition, the appropriate method is to analyse and report the result of research using qualitative research. By using this method, the researcher wants to investigate how the advertisement represent gender.
6.2 Data Source
The data of this research are advertisements of axis sim card advertisement in YouTube version. In this research, the researcher will analyse 9 chosen advertisements that are often published in mass media during 2013 until 2018.
6.3 Data collection
In collecting data, the researcher has to search all of advertisements that are published in mass media. Then, the researcher chooses the advertisements that are consisting on gender studies. The researcher finds 9 advertisements that are related to gender studies.
6.4 Data Analysis
The data of this research are analysed by using theory of showalter, feminism. However, the researcher watches the chosen advertisement. Then, she interprets the meaning of the advertisement and analyses the meaning using the theory.
7. Theoretical Frameweopork
7.1. feminism
   Feminism is a study criticism on ideology that considers that there is inequality between women and men. It is caused by emotional system that influences human life[3]. This theory is aimed for understanding suppression on women in the form of gender, class, and sexuality. This theory analyses the different sexuality is formed in every individual and how to expkaine the experiences of the difference[4].     
7.2.  Margaret Fuller and Anglina Grimke theory of feminism
This theory believes that women do not limit to work outside the house. They can do all work totally and reproduction does not block her to work. This theory believes that “women are weak” is only stereotype[5].      
8. Definition of Key term
8.1. Woman: a female human being
8.2. Representation: the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way or as being of a certain nature.        
8.3. Axis Sim Card : one of a product of XL Axiata. It is cellular operator which is used by many people in Indonesia.
8.4. Advertisement : a notice or announcement in a public medium promoting a product, service, or event or publishing a job vacancy.
         
         Analysis

The picture above is published in 2013. It is an evidence that a man is superior but a woman is inferior. The man is stronger than the woman. So that, man is represented as a hero while the woman only delivers the promotion. In the picture, the man is represented by clenching the left hand. However, the advertisement tells that the man is a hero. The man has super power. When he is eating, the chicken which he eats automatically becomes bigger. It is because his power. Then, when he is walking and the sky is rainy, the rain will be pause by him. In other hand, the woman is represented only inferior who promotes the man. Besides, the position of the man is represented that the man is super power while the woman is marginalized. The position is the woman is little bit on the back side of the man. It means that the main character is the man because he has super power. Although the woman is marginalized, she still promotes the man. It represents that the woman is a patient creature although she is oppressed by the man. This case is opposed by feminist because man and woman as represented as unequal gender.        
This picture is also published in 2013. The picture also represents that the woman is weak but the man is strong. However, in the advertisement, the man is represented as a strong man who lunges the fire when the house is firing. Yet, the woman is represented as a weak that is only surrender. From the representation, the advertisement wants to deliver the value that women is only weak creature but the man is a hero. It is a representation that advertisement makers consider that men are superior because the man is represented has more power while woman is only a creature without power anymore. This is the representation of stereotype that men are stronger than women. This is opposed by feminist because it represents unequal power of gender.

            This picture represents the man has the higher self-regard than woman. However, the advertisement tells that man is a man who can do everything that he wants. The man has many girl-friends. Furthermore, through the expression between the man and the woman, the picture represents that the girl is begging to be the girl-friend of the man. Although the man has many girl-friends, the girl still wants to be his girl-friend. It is a kind of representation that man has more power in the case of love. Then, the woman is only a weak creature that can live by being oppressed by man in the case of love. It is the representation that gender is unequal. The man has more power in the case of love and self-regard while the woman has nothing.  
The picture above is a representation which tells that the man is a superior while the woman is inferior. However, the women are represented as the servant of the man. There are women who massages him, there are also women who are only accompany him. It is a representation that the man can do anything that he wants. He can oppress woman as he wants. Yet, woman is only a weak and stupid one which can be exploited. The man only stands up but the woman should serve him. it is the representation of gender inequality. Normally, both woman and man should work together. There is no oppression between men and women. It is the phenomenon that is opposed by feminist.       
The picture above is representation of gender inequality. The picture represents the man is as a main figure while woman is only additional figure. The man is an announcer while the woman is only the helper who helps the man in announcing. The woman is helping using guitar. It is the evidence that man is superior but woman is inferior. It seems that the level of man is higher than woman’s level. In other hand, the position also form a consideration. The man sits little bit in the front of the woman while woman is little bit at the back side of the man. It means men is superior.  Normally, the gender is equal. There is no superior and inferior. There is no main one and marginalized one. This is the hope of feminist because gender equality must rise.  
The picture above is evidence that axis advertisement presents feminism phenomena. It can be seen by what the man does and what the women do. The man only sits enjoyably but the women have to bring an umbrella, mop, and a box. It is a form of gender inequality because the man only does nothing but the women are asked to serve him. Actually, it is a kind of oppression. Yet, in the advertisement, the women are represented happy. It means although the women are oppressed. They do not know that they are oppressed by the man. The only do what the man asks. It is a reflection that the advertisement wants to deliver that the man is smarter and trickier than the women. So that, the women do everything what the man asks. Normally, both the man and the women should work together and help each other. It will be no oppression. It is the hope of feminist.             
The picture above is a representation of gender inequality. However, the man is represented as a boss while the women is represented as servants. The man only talks and delivers the advertisement but the woman should bring the equipment. In addition, the man only does nothing but the women are asked to bring it for him. Actually, it is a kind of oppression. Yet, in the advertisement, the women are represented happy. It means although the women are oppressed. They do not know that they are oppressed by the man. The only do what the man asks. It is a reflection that the advertisement wants to deliver that the man is smarter and trickier than the women. So that, the women do everything what the man asks. Normally, both the man and the women should work together and help each other. It will be no oppression. It is the hope of feminist.
Analysis above can answer the research question. However, gender inequality that is represented by axis advertisement is:
The man in the advertisement is represented as super power. It is proved by the representation that men are heroes while women are weak creature that becomes an additional creature and the object of the heroes. The first data shows that the man can do everything to change the condition and situation. Then, the woman is only an additional figure who delivers the advertisement. The action of the man shows his hand. It means he is powerful. Yet, the action of the woman that advertising the man, it means the woman does not have power like that. The second data shows that the man is hero of firing but the woman is the object of the hero that is very weak.      
Furthermore, the man is also represented as a man who has higher self-regard. Yet, the women are represented as figures that cadge the love to the man until the man has many girl-friends but the woman still wants to be his girl-friend.
In addition, the advertisement also tells that the men are superior and the women are inferior. The men can do everything that he wants but the women have to obedient to men. The men are represented as figures that always ask the women to do anything for the man. The, the women happily serve the men.
Besides, the researcher also finds how the women face the gender inequality. The women are very happy and they are unconscious that they are oppressed by the men. It means the advertisements represent that the women are stupid and only obedient to the men.     
                
Conclusion
            Axis advertisements are the advertisements that show gender inequality. It is proved by some scenes of the advertisement that represents that man has more power, higher self-regard, and superior. It is different if the advertisements show the women. The women are shown as the weak figures that always do what the men ask. The women are happily serve the man while the men are in enjoy and nothing to do. Besides, the women are also represented as a weak that need the help of the men. The women is only afraid and silent in the firing home but the men is a hero. In addition, the men are also represented as the figures that have high self-regard. It is very different with the women who cadge the love to the men.  


Reference
Blackwell. Wiley (2013). The Literary Theory Handbook. Tate:London. Pg.198.
Dianti, Erza Dyah. Herawati, F. Anita. Implementasi Konsep Kreatif dalam Iklan Televisi Axis. 2014. Journal. Universitas Atma Jaya : Yogyakarta.
Kholil, Muhammad. Feminisme dan Tinjauan Kritis Terhadap Gender dalam Study Islam. 2003. Journal. UIM:Pamekasan.
Muhadjir (2001). Menggugat Budaya Patriarki, Yogyakarta: Kerjasama Ford Foundation dengan Penelitian Kependudukan. 
Storey, John. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Book. 2008. Pearson:UK.
Sulistiyawati, Puri. Analisis Semiotika Makna Pesan pada Iklan Axis Versi “Iritologi-Menatap Masa Depan”.2016. Journal. Andharupa : Puri.
Widyarini. Etika dan Daya Tarik Iklan Provider Seluler Axis. 2012. Journal. La Riba:Yogyakarta.































[2] Kholil, Muhammad. Feminisme dan Tinjauan Kritis Terhadap Gender dalam Study Islam. 2003. Journal. UIM:Pamekasan.
[3] ibid
[4] ibid
[5] ibid

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