Heteronormativity In Advertisements {type) To Use As A Writing Model

The magazine covers of women usually show them as delicate, softly touching their faces or the objects that they may be holding. They are also sometimes depicted in sexual contexts, such as touching or covering their breasts. Furthermore, they may be seen as closer to the floor or bending a knee, as if about to flee instead of face any harm that may come their way. This also shows instability to an extent, which may be also seen when they stand on one leg. The head may also be held up, while men would lower it, in a sign of intimidation, power and being grounded to the world.
These differences are especially noticeable when the two sexes are in the same cover. Usually, men are higher on the plane than women, looking into the camera and holding the female in a secure manner. On the other hand, the women are delicately touching themselves, basically falling on the male, and usually looking off into the sky. The frequency of these images both manifests and reinforces the heteronormativity present in society. It gives people stereotypes to form their own gender, yet placing everybody that is not a heterosexual male considerably inferior to the rest.
Even though advertisements may sometimes break these misogynist codes, it is only to make a statement. The mere fact that they can break a code means that it has been established. It is only through the changing or weakening of the gender that one may interpret this. For example, a man touching his face or his sexual parts in a delicate manner is seen as girly, non-masculine or not heterosexual. Although it would be possible to expand the definition of masculinity, this would be a very slow and weak process.