By looking at various drug groups, classified by their function, there are consistent messages implied the advertisements of specific drugs. I conducted miniature “case-studies” using Google Images to observe the subjects of Antidepressants and cholesterol-lowering medication advertisements. I searched Google for images of “antidepressant ads.” In the first 38 photos, there were: 26 images centered on a sole female subject, 4 with a male and female, and 3 with only a man. In those 38 images, 18 different antidepressant products were represented. Combining this finding with the class discussion, it seems as if women are portrayed as unhappy, or sick. They are the main target of these campaigns. The stress and busyness of motherhood or womanhood presents the groundwork for depression according to these ads.
Beyond this, I wondered if a parallel conclusion could be reach regard men and a particular drug group. I found that drugs functioning to lower cholesterol painted a similarly negative portrait of men. Googling “Lipitor Ads,” I found in the first 22 pictures, 18 advertisements focused on only a male subject. When searching “Vytorin Ads,” 7 of the first 12 pictures contained images with only male subjects. These advertisements portrays males as unhealthy with poor diets and a lack of exercise which are prime causes of high cholesterol. Both men and women are targeted by specific drug products due to societal constructs and expectations.