The 'Manly' Products

Many hygiene products target women and men using different colors, slogans, etc. For example, most men's soaps are in darkly colored bottles, and often times meant for the whole body rather than just the face or just the hair. Women's hygienic products however are oftentimes brightly colored with floral scents and meant only for the face or specifically for the hair. Companies are targeting men and women using very different methods, though the product is basically the same thing. Thus the companies are supporting the stereotypes that divide men and women.

A woman uses floral, vanilla, or some other light and subtle scent for their soaps and lotions. Men however have products like sandalwood and other sharper scents. Men and women's deodorants are the same ingredients, yet they are advertised as being completely different. Mens deodorant is in a darkly colored bottle, and there are only 'manly' scents. Women's comes in a wide variety of bright colors and shades of white, and all the scents are 'feminine'. Though these products are all exactly the same their advertised so differently, which divides the genders into two distinct sections. You have your 'girly' colors and smells, then the 'manly' rugged appearance and scent. Even products like tissues are advertised in different ways based on the target gender. 

By using these different advertising techniques and dividing the genders, these companies are supporting the stereotypes that women must have a subtle and floral smell while a man must have a 'in your face scented product'. It is considered strange if a women bought a 'manly' product, why would they get a product that is clearly designed for a man? However there is of course no problem with a man or woman getting a deodorant that smells feminine or masculine. The advertisers have placed these limitations on the consumer, because of their masculine vs. feminine products they support the stereotypes that have existed for too long. A man does not have to have a 'masculine' scent, if he wants deodorant that smells like flowers then he shouldn't have to be buying the 'feminine' product, he is just buying the deodorant that smells floral. 

In conclusion, rather than specifically targeting a certain gender when advertising products, companies should reach out to all parties and defy the stereotypes that have existed amongst the genders for too long, it doesn't have to be pink and sparkly to get women to buy it,  and it doesn't have to be black and grey for a man to buy it.