Sociological Research Question ... Non-Alembic Content

[lbpesq]

i apologize in advance if anyone deems this inappropriate and have no problem if the mods decide to remove this.  I’m posting this purely out of curiosity.   

As many of you know, I live in the Bay Area of California.  This area is generally recognized as one of the more liberal areas of the country, good or bad.   Having watched a lot of TV over the last 1.5 years, I’ve noticed a fair number of commercials that feature interracial or same gender couples and families.   What I’m wondering is if this is a national trend, or regionally targeted?   Are these same commercials airing nationally, or are the advertisers tailoring their commercials to specific geographical areas?   So I figured I’d ask a bunch of people who live all over the country (and who all seem to share excellent taste in musical instruments).

Bill, tgo

[hammer]

I don’t know the specific adv. to which you refer but we are seeing more commercials of that nature here in the upper Midwest (Minnesota) along with better representation of people with disabilities. Guess businesses have finally realized that in a diverse country one needs to advertise to a diverse citizenry.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I generally avoid anything with commercials, and when I do watch them, I DVR them so I can FF the ads, but yeah - I have noticed that here in north central  Illinois for a number of years now.

As Brian points out, the marketing types probably finally realized that there are more of us than there are of those others, and they should thus make ads that look more like America (or at least more like my friends.......).

Peter (who would extend Bill's query to our friends across the water, as well)

[jacko]

Hi Bill.
To answer Peter's query, it's the same over our side of the pond too. Far more representation of the real world. Clothing ads too have realised that not everyone is stick thin so we're seeing a lot more 'cuddly' women in underwear on TV now.

Graeme

[jazzyvee]

Even down here there is much more diversity in terms of minority groups, gender relationships and disability.
In my observations this has become more prevalent since George Floyd.
There is one advert where two women are conversing over video on their tablets and both are communicating by sign language and the ad uses sub titles.

[paulman]

Same in Northern IL Bill.  Hate to be cynical but if there's market potential corporate will buy in.   If they are doing it because its time to loosen up and recognize people I'm all for that!

Good poll!

[pauldo]

Another Midwestern point of view.
Wisconsin also shows MORE diversity in their marketing schemes compared to what was shown in the past.

I share Roger’s view in regards to the integrity of why this is being recognized.  (Please let me be wrong)

Paul (who believes that somewhere between 1960 and today Capitalism has turned into Corruptionism $$$)

[keith_h]

I can't speak for the entire state as we have several television markets but in the market served by Raleigh based stations I have noticed an increase in multiracial TV commercials over the last few years. Though not as common I have noticed commercials that I presume to be gay couples and/or families. I have also seen a big change in the staffing of our local news teams as well. As the old guard has retired over the last ten years or so the staff has become much more diverse ethnically and racially. For the most part they all better reflect the demographics of the Research Triangle Area which compared to much of the state is quite liberal on social issues. However even in more conservative regions of the viewing area, such as Cumberland County where Fort Bragg is located, multiracial families have become more common and are considered normal by most people.

As to why? I agree with the comments that it has more to do with business than social justice even though many of these companies have robust diversity programs (which to be honest is good business in itself). I still remember meetings with executives 20 years ago where the goal was how to help our customers identify and connect with their customers that had good free cash flow. Free cash flow equated to sales and driving new revenue. This required that we keep up with demographic changes so our recommendations reflected the current demographics of the country. In the end I think the commercials are corporations recognizing that US demographics are changing with a lot of buying power shifting to the groups that are responsible for those changes and they are acknowledging that in their marketing.

[edwin]

I've noticed it for a while, too. It's a good thing because it's how we are. I've also been helping a lot more same gender couples get immigration benefits. Some hope for societal evolution.

[peoplechipper]

same in Canada, more diversity, which is always good...

[hankster]

Definitely more diversity in Canadian advertising than even a few years ago, although in Toronto, where I lived until last year, the local ad placements were quite diverse even 30 years ago. Where I notice the change is in national campaigns where regionally there was less diversity historically. It’s great to see. Both of my kids are persons of colour and I know it makes a difference to them to see themselves reflected in ads, even if it’s just as potential consumers.

[growlypants]

Yea, we see it all here in Hot-lanta, too.  Actually, the more I think about it, diversity *IS* good, and it's about time TV reflected that.

[cozmik_cowboy]

Yea, we see it all here in Hot-lanta, too.  Actually, the more I think about it, diversity *IS* good, and it's about time TV reflected that.

This, and the other responses, are part of why I love this place so much; I also frequent 3 other guitar-oriented fora (was 4 but one died), and on at least 2 of them there would a sizable reaction the other direction.  You folks are my people!

Peter

[the_home]

Bill - My community is close to the opposite of the SF Bay Area. Here in the western Florida panhandle we are much more Alabama than Florida, we're not a big city, we're not rich and elite. This is the Old South in almost every way. We have some bit of progressiveism in technology, a bit less in culture and nearly none in politics. This has been my home for the past 35 years.

But media here shows just what you and others have described, a high level of diversity in peoples and preferences. I credit the prevalence of that in the media for empowering the more progressive and diverse communities here locally to emerge over the more recent years into the larger community and find their (our?) place in the fading ultra-conservative hamlet of Pensacola.

[StefanieJones]

It's the same here in Jersey. I'm always happy to see more representation of how society actually is, than the way it used to be. Hopefully it's not just a money scheme but if so at least it's better than seeing what I used.