SHEC to discuss gendered marketing

Upcoming meeting to focus on perceptions of gender roles

Isaac Wert

At the upcoming Sexual Health Education Club (SHEC) meeting Dec. 1, the club will discuss gendered marketing and gender roles, according to junior co-president Philip Djerf.

Djerf said he defines gendered marketing as how the same products are advertised differently when appealing to men or women.

“For example, Degree makes two different deodorants, one for men and one for women. At the end of the day, both products serve the same purpose, but the company makes two separate products,” Djerf said.

According to junior co-president Izzi Gilbert Burke, the meeting will begin as a discussion.

“(The meeting) is going to be an open discussion, and then we have a video, (which) can also lead to gender roles and how that affects sexual relationships,” Gilbert Burke said.

Gilbert Burke said she was not subjected to gendered marketing as a child, but was affected by the terminology which comes from it.

“I was quite a ‘tomboy’ when I was younger, but I also think there’s a problem with me being called a tomboy,” said Gilbert Burke. “It should be normal for girls to play sports and to wear (basketball shorts).”

Freshman Samantha Wolk, a member of SHEC, said she thinks gender marketing is harmful to young children’s perceptions of gender roles and is an important discussion topic.

screen-shot-2016-11-29-at-12-44-04-pm“I think it’s important to talk about gender marketing because (advertisements) tend to exclude certain groups and perpetuate ideas (about gender roles),” Wolk said.

According to Djerf, the club is open to new members, and students are always welcome to attend upcoming meetings. The upcoming meeting will take place at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 in room B112.