Advertising and Consumer Rights

Why Companies Advertise

• Companies advertise to inform consumers about their products and persuade them to buy.
• Advertisements aim to attract attention and, in most cases, sell a product.

Types of Advertising

• Advertisements can be found on TV and radio, in newspapers and magazines, on the Internet, and in the street.

Consumer Rights

• As a consumer, you have the right to:
  • Safety: protection from buying harmful products
  • Choice: access to a variety of products and services
  • Consumer education: knowledge and skills to make informed decisions
  • Information: knowledge about product quality, quantity, and price
  • Being heard: having opinions listened to and respected
  • Refund: the right to a refund in case of unfair trade

Responsible Consumption

• Advertising can lead to overconsumption, but being a responsible consumer means buying only what's needed.
• Benefits of responsible consumption include:
  • Energy and resource conservation (e.g., water)
• Ways to be a more responsible consumer:
  • Buy local, seasonal fruit and vegetables
  • Stick to your shopping list and choose products with minimal packaging
  • Recycle and reuse products
  • Buy second-hand products when possible

Gender Equality

• Gender equality refers to the equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of women and men, girls and boys.

Gender Stereotypes

• A stereotype is an idea or belief based on tradition, social influence, ideas, art, or appearance.
• Stereotyping can affect someone's feelings or attitudes and lead to unfair behavior or action.
• Knowing the facts helps avoid believing in stereotypes.

Gender Equality in Spain

• In the mid-20th century, a woman's main social function was being a mother, and they needed their husband's approval to work, own property, or travel.
• Today, women in Spain have the right to work, own property, travel, get an education, vote in elections, and be elected as prime minister.
• Globalization has provided many employment opportunities for women.
• However, gender inequality still exists, with women earning 9.5% less money than men in Spain in 2020 (gender pay gap).

Progress toward Gender Equality in Spain

• According to Eurostat, 49.5% of people working in science and engineering in Spain were women in 2020.
• In May 2022, the Spanish parliament approved the "Only yes means yes" (Solo sí es sí) law, guaranteeing sexual freedom and combating gender abuse.

Learn about the purpose and types of advertising, and how they affect consumer rights.