Alaga ni Mommy: A Content Analysis of Select Video Advertisements of Baby and Childcare Products to Gauge Gendered Depiction of Parenthood
Dayielle Menchie C Fidel
Discipline: media studies
Abstract:
In the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranked
19th out of 146 countries. However, delving into the world of media yields a different look on
gender equality. Advertisements on baby and childcare products still place the burden of domestic
and care work, especially childrearing, solely on the shoulders of women. To examine this status
quo, research was conducted to investigate select television commercial advertisements from
2019 to 2023 and to gauge the dominant themes in the videos using qualitative content analysis.
To be more specific, a multi-level analysis was employed that explored the themes on a latent
and manifest level. It was greatly apparent that Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives have
yet to breach the field of advertising as there were gendered depictions on parenthood in the
television commercials on baby and childcare products. Conventional and traditional parenthood
was still reflected in the advertisements as these lacked the presence of a father or a paternal
figure in an active childrearing role. Moreover, the gendered stereotype on women as the sole
caretakers of children were capitalized on as all the advertisements clearly targeted mothers due
to the notion that they are the ones involved in using the baby and childcare product being
advertised. Given these, there is a great need for organizations that monitor advertising agencies
to be tapped by the government in a bid to further GAD advocacy and to reshape the way
parenthood is depicted.
References:
- American Psychological Association. (2009). Parents and Caregivers Are Essential to Children’s Healthy Development. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/parents-caregiversceg13. (2020). Latest Philippine TV Commercial 2020 vol 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LyGMgyrS58
- DRPS One Channel. (2021a). Plemex For Kids TVC 2019-2021 30s with Baste Granfon [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gLYHGVp8Bw
- DRPS One Channel. (2021b). Appebon Kid TVC 2020-2021 15s (Version 2) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZG1R4kCIoA
- DRPS One Channel. (2021c). Restime Drops TVC 2020-2021 15s with Melai Cantiveros(Version 2) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dHYMxoEFhU
- DRPS One Channel. (2022). Similac Gain School DVC Q4 2020-Q2 2021 15s (Philippines, Version 2) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCYomRIiFHI
- DRPS One Channel. (2023a). EQ Pants TV Ad 2023 15s (Philippines) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4bmS3ndntg
- DRPS One Channel. (2023b). Erceflora Kiddie TV Ad 2023 15s (Philippines, TV Networks Version) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVCGH4DNF_M
- DRPS One Channel. (2023c). Nutrilin TV Ad Q2 2023 30s (Philippines) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50zfxv5c-rU
- DRPS One Channel. (2023d). Similac Gain School TV Ad Q2 2023 15s (Philippines) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vePDRKwrYtQ
- DRPS One Channel. (2023e). Tiki-Tiki TV Ad 2023 15s with Melai Cantiveros and Jolina Magdangal-Escueta (Phils., On-Air Ver) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLMQlP5YykY
- DRPS One Channel. (2023f). United Home Kiddilets TV Ad 2023 15s (Philippines) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2GRceHqUUU
- EQ Baby Diapers. (202). EQ Plus [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3eoSkCQW-E
- Geena Davis Institute. (2022). This Is Us? How TV Does and Doesn’t Get Men’s Caregiving.
- Geena Davis Institute. https://seejane.org/research-informs-empowers/this-is-us-how-tv-does-and-doesnt-get-mens-care giving/
- Grau, S. L. & Zotos, Y. C. (2016) Gender stereotypes in advertising: a review of current research, International Journal of Advertising, 35:5, 761-770, DOI: 10.1080/02650487.2016.1203556
- Investing in Women. (2020). Are brands keeping up with pandemic-driven shifts in gender roles? https://investinginwomen.asia/posts/brands-keeping-up-pandemic-driven-shifts-gender-roles/
- Jones, T., Cunningham, P. H., & Gallagher, K. (2010). Violence in advertising: A Multilayered Content Analysis. Journal of Advertising, 39(4), 11–36. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25780657
- Kassarjian, H. H. (1977). Content Analysis in Consumer Research. Journal of Consumer Research, 4(1), 8–18. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2488631
- Maree, T. (2010). Content analysis of roles portrayed by women in advertisements in selected South African media. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/295653025_Content_analysis_of_roles_portrayed_by_ women_in_advertisements_in_selected_South_African_media
- Menon, U. (1982). Women and Household Labour. Social Scientist, 10(7), 30–42. https://doi.org/10.2307/3516936
- Oxfam Pilipinas. (2022). Survey: Filipinos still believe gender stereotypes on breadwinning, unpaid care work but positive changes seen. Oxfam Philippines. https://philippines.oxfam.org/latest/press-release/survey-filipinos-still-believe-gender-stereotypes-breadwinning-unpaid-care-work
- Paragas, F., Rapanot, C. E., Mangalus, M., Hoggng, C. F., & Agonos, M. J. (2022). Gender in Philippine advertisements: Portrayal patterns and platform differences immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic. Plaridel, 19(1), 180-203. https://doi.org/10.52518/2022.19.1-04prmha
- Philippine Commission on Women. (n.d.). Beijing Platform for Action.
- Philippine Commission on Women. (2009). Republic Act 9710: The Magna Carta of Women. https://pcw.gov.ph/magna-carta-of-women/
- Philippine Statistics Authority. (2020). Philippine Statistics Authority. https://psa.gov.ph/press-releases/id/163686
- Prieler, M., & Centeno, D. (2013). Gender Representation in Philippine Television Advertisements. Sex Roles, 69(5–6), 276–288. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-013-0301-4
- Quinto, R., Vargas, D., & Estigoy, M. A. (2022). A Content Analysis on the Portrayal of Women on Detergent Commercials In the Philippines from 2000-2020. Social Science Research Network. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4196564
- Rajagopal, I. and Gales, J. (2002). It’s the Image That Is Imperfect: Advertising and Its Impact on Women. Economic and Political Weekly, 37(32), 3333–3337. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4412464
- Sales, A. J. G., Leuterio, G. D., Lopez, L. J. S., Matinao, C. D. G., Naces, L. C., & Ramos, A. D. (2022). Advertisements and sexism in the philippines. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 3(9), 1664–1672. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.03.09.07
- Shrum, L. J. (2017). Cultivation Theory: Effects and Underlying Processes. The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118783764.wbieme0040
- TEAMBBLSHARPPCI. (2021). New Nestogen 3 For 1 to 3 Years Old Philippines TVC 2021 15S [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vc-jPqZuLE
- Team Lutong Bahay. (2020). 2019 Best Philippine Commercial Part 1 200 TV Ads in 1 hour video 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1f5PLsso8
- Wang, S. (2018). Empowering women through advertising: a content analysis on “femvertising” campaigns. OpenSIUC. https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/2318/.
- World Economic Forum. (2022). Global Gender Gap Report 2022. https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2022/in-full