An examination of gender role portrayals in television commercials in Romania: A gender of nations approach

Abstract

This study examines gender role portrayals in Romanian television commercials. Results reveal both progressive and traditional gender role portrayals for both women and men reflecting a society and economy in a state of transition toward European Union membership. The study also involves a test of the concept of gender of nations using Hofstede's Masculinity Index (MAS). Extending a methodological approach first used by Milner and Collins (1998, 2000) gender role portrayals in Romanian commercials (moderate MAS) were compared with those appearing in Japanese (high MAS) and Swedish (low MAS) commercials. The results, which are consistent with predictions based on the relative MAS scores of the three nations, are discussed along with managerial implications.

Keywords:

• gender role portrayal
• Romanian television commercials
• gender of nations
• Hofstede's Masculinity Index
• economy in transition