Naked Sydney AD Jenny Tang: Gender bias in advertising – are we on the right track?
Influencer: While there has been significant progress, adland still has a few skeletons lying about, writes Naked Sydney’s Jenny Tang (left).
Advertising holds a mirror up to society. By looking at ads from different eras, you can gain a sense of what the cultural climate was like at the time and see how things have evolved.
From housebound Stepford Wives of the ’50s, sex kittens of the seventies to the empowered gritty woman we see today, ads are constantly shifting the view about a woman’s role in society.
In the workplace, equal pay and anti-discrimination laws have paved the way for a generation of women to make their foray in their chosen industries.
As a child of the ’80s, born to working class immigrant parents and raised by television, I am a product of a culture and society that has been shaped and influenced by the women’s rights movement. That’s roughly five generations worth of women fighting for gender equality – an entire century worth of ‘nasty women’. CONTINUE READING ON LBB…
17 Comments
With no disrespect to Jenny who has written a rather fine article. I’m a bit sick and tired of seeing write ups from junior females on this issue who have just entered advertising. Why not ask some of the girls who’ve been in the game for years? We’re not dealing with anything because everywhere I’ve worked does this – they hide us older crew who it has and still is really effecting under the carpet and ask a Junior to speak on the issue so the agency saves face. Such bull, rubbish. There still is huge sexism and harassment going on in creative and no one is doing jack about it accept at a surface shallow level (which I guess is what advertising is full of – sigh, sad face).
Jenny if you’re going to write about diversity publicly, do so correctly!
Sexual harassment by ‘white male luminaries’ needs to be corrected to “white STRAIGHT males’. It’s a mistake made too often by people.
Good stuff Jenny! Well written, thank you for sharing your experience.
Believe me there are also predatory white GAY males.The only difference is the gender of their prey.I know from personal experience in the 80’s as a young designer in a big North Sydney agency.
What you are saying implies that speaking up is a priviledge only for senior members of the creative community. Good you Jenny for speaking your mind. It’s one regret you will not have when you look back over you career when you get older.
Each time I read another lament about diversity, I don’t see anything about the actual nature of how an Advertising business works. It’s about making money from creativity. A huge gamble to base any business on. If you turn up with a mighty folio, regardless of gender, you will get work. Unless someone turns up else with the perfect match to the Agency’s client base. Regardless of gender. There is no straight white male arrogantly clicking through brilliant work and smirking “No work for you! Wrong gender.” What generally happens a worried client manager and creative team anxiously scan through hundreds of applications looking for talent who will a) help keep the clients b) help bring in new work c)help keep the damm agency afloat. It’s about time there was a bit of realistic discussion about the heavyweight risk problem of such a fragile premise. By aiming to cover this point, a young Award talent might not feel gender threatened, but focus on asking if they match the financial needs. It’s always going to be “Show me the money!” Anything else is just bad behaviour, never to be tolerated. But show me anyone who turns away a money maker and I’ll show you an empty coffee maker and office.
Few would argue with the right of equality of opportunity.
Equality of outcome is the problematic view.
I like this article…it speaks the truth. I have a case that I have been meaning to write in details so I can share my experience to others. I am a female Asian, migrated to Australia and eventually I wanted to find a job that I love doing. I am an advertising art-based that became a CD in the Asia Pacific. I have been in the industry for more than 15 years and I climb my way up there. I may not be award winning but I believe I am very strategic and did well with my career. Came to Australia, my first barrier was – you will not be accepted unless you have an award. Second being female for a lead role is not really favourable as the industry is dominated by males according to a trade press article I read. Lastly I am an Asian who does not have a residency at that time became very hard. Where do I put my shoes? I just learn to accept that I will never have a chance to step my feet in the industry I love for that barriers as my reasons.
@Melanie. Well done for moves. But if you go by the standard of how can your employment be profitable to an agency or studio, bias may not be the major issue. The competition in the small world of Australian advertising is huge and fierce. Not having residency makes your employment risky. Whoever said awards are necessary ihas missed the point. Of course they help. But not a guarantee. I believe if your folio
works for an agency’s clients, you will be hired. But it’s a stretch to blame the mythical white male rules and turns down a good profitable folio.
Some of the most eloquent and structured comments – from both sides – seen on this vapid blog for quite some time. Good reading for once, thank you!
This was a well written and fair article you wrote Jenny. Your point of view is one that isn’t commonly seen in the mainstream media, we need to hear more stories about women like you, it’s good to hear perspective from women from both ends of the spectrum to get a more balanced view. Keep writing more!
Really interesting article Jenny! Don’t stop writing!!
Great article Jenny, really loved it!
This is a great article Jenny, LOVED It. This is a topic that should always never stop and be had forever, if we want to have equality
Really good article Jenny! Hope to see more stuff from you
Yeah agreed, its a long road ahead for females, but I think things are getting better
Good job Jenny, it’s well written
Some good points you raise there Jenny! Always enjoy a good article about diversity
We definitely need to keep raising equality issues otherwise things will never change