How male consumers respond to “enlightened manvertising” campaigns: Gender schema, hostile sexism, and political orientation feed attitudes

The results of a survey of U.S. men (N = 285) indicated that participants’ gender schemas, hostile sexism, political orientation, and support for women’s rights influenced their attitude toward “enlightened manvertising,” which refers to advertising that redefines masculinity by promoting both masculine and feminine traits as elements of contemporary manhood.
Sternadori and Abitol

Management Slant

  • Advertisements featuring caring men have the potential to be effective across a variety of contexts, including for masculinity-affirming products rather than only in the context of personal hygiene products.
  • Enlightened manvertising campaigns seem to resonate with masculine and androgynous men, but not with feminine men.
  • Simply rejecting the “antifemininity norm” of manhood unlikely will have a negative effect, unless it is also accompanied by a perceived attack on masculinity in general.

Introduction

The rise of the #MeToo movement and the overall surge of gender equality activism over the past decade have ushered in an...

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