Exploring American Histories: Printed Page 662

Document 21.1

General Electric Refrigerator Advertisement, 1928

The 1920s boom in the production of household goods posed a challenge for business marketers and advertisers. They had to convince consumers that items once regarded as luxuries were now necessities that would improve their lives. Many of these advertisements were directed at women who, as housewives, managed the family budget and made the purchases. The General Electric Company played a leading role in winning women over to buying their products.

Explore

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Private Collection / © The Advertising Archives / Bridgeman Images
  • Question

    Why do women need “first aid” in the kitchen?

  • Question

    What do the items in the refrigerator reveal about food and consumer expectations in the 1920s?

  • Question

    How does this ad use the authority of science to persuade consumers?

Put It in Context

Question

What does this ad convey about the role of women in the 1920s?