You've Come a Long Way, Baby

How many of you remember the slogan "You've come a long way, baby"?  I still remember hearing the jingle on TV, back when ads for cigarettes were allowed on television.  It's for VIrginia Slims cigarettes, and I don't know if it's still being used, but the fact that I still remember it must mean it was an effective slogan.

 I was perusing some old magazines over the weekend, and was so amused by the old ads.  Women truly have come a long way, even since the 1960's and 70's.  The roles of men and women were so inflexible years ago, to suggest that a man would vacuum the house, change a diaper or clean a toilet was unheard of.  Print ads reflected the strict male-female roles, and women in the ads had similarities in how they were depicted:  wearing a dress, heels, and usually a strand of pearls, even when doing housework.  From what I've read about the subject, post World War II America was needing to keep men employed and keep women in the home.  Housework and raising a family was a woman's job, and she was expected to get excited about new appliances and look glamorous at the same time.  I have plenty of evidence to prove the point.  Most of these ads are from the 1950's and 60's:

This woman looks ecstatic about her Tupperware.  Notice the pearls....

This poor gal is worried that her toilet isn't clean enough for company.  Pearls again:

 

 

 

Wow, this woman got a mixer for Christmas, and her husband is a hero!

 

When we get into the bedroom, women were viewed as germ-filled creatures who, if not careful, would ruin their marriage if they didn't know the right secrets:

 

 

 

This poor young wife had to leave home on a stormy night because she was clueless.....

Luckily, a helpful woman she met at the bus stop turned her on to Lysol douche:

 

Here's our friend in pearls again, excited about a new kitchen:

 

Women were expected to wear these strange, cone-shaped bras for a completely unnatural looking figure:

 

 

This gal looks pretty excited about her Air-Way Sanitizor!

This last ad really takes the cake!  A female trophy head.  The perfect gift for the male chauvenist pig of years gone by....

 

Yes, I'd say we've all come a long way, both men and women!

Mitzi

Comments

[wini]

Hi Mitzi, I think I would fail as a 50s housewife and would probably be a spinster if I lived in that era. I'm not excited by household appliances and that bra looks uncomfortable! And I find the Trophy head quite objectionable! I'm so glad that times have changed!

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Wini,

Sometimes I wonder if the 50s housewives really wore high heels and pearls while doing housework, or if that was just a male advertisers dream.....

Thanks for stopping by today!

Mitzi

[Tamara @ Etcetorize]

oh my goodness! What were those silly Mad Men thinking?!?! The Lysol disinfectant ad really take the cake though. Things might not be perfect still, but I'm glad I don't have to be bombarded with these types of ads today~

[Mitzi Curi]

Hi Tamara,

Thanks for stopping by....Im glad you were amused by the old ads!

Mitzi