Final answer:
Advertisements in the 1920s targeted middle-class consumers and reflected societal norms and gender roles to influence buying behavior. The content and imagery often reinforced gender stereotypes, which could be ameliorated by redesigning ads with diverse and positive representations of both males and females. Advertisements impacted consumer behavior by selling lifestyles and aspirations, and this impact remains significant in modern media.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around analyzing the nature of advertisements and their broader implications during the 1920s, particularly focusing on how these ads reflect societal attitudes towards gender, consumption, and persuasion. The targeted audience for these advertisements is predominantly the middle-class consumer, as seen by the link between advertising mediums like magazines and radio with the consumers. Ads from the 1920s often capitalized on societal norms, emphasizing the roles and expectations of women and men in promoting products and lifestyles. The fact that these messages are disseminated through mass media such as magazines and radio means they had a significant influence on public opinion and individual self-perception. When redesigning an ad to provide more healthy signals about gender, one might focus on altering images that reinforce negative stereotypes and content that suggests restrictive or unhealthy attitudes toward body image.
From the provided context, it is clear that advertising has been a powerful force in shaping consumer behavior and societal values. By selling lifestyles, aspirations, and convenience through credit and the allure of 'new and improved' products, companies in the 1920s were able to influence the masses. This also touches upon how the medium of advertisements, whether through print or radio, communicated different messages to men and women, potentially leading to enhanced gender stereotypes. The redesigning of an ad could involve replacing stereotypical images of women with a more diverse range of female representations and creating content that supports a holistic and positive message about body image and self-worth for both genders.