Della Bella 1

Victor Della Bella

Mrs. Sheila Fielding
WRTC 103-0007
26 February 2018
PSA Analysis
I created the PSA with the intention of depicting the myth of the gender wage gap. The

image of a man and woman comes from Wikipedia. The PSA’s persuades viewers that the

gender wage gap does not exist. The PSA is meant to appeal to those who believe the gender

wage gap does not exist. The focal point is the visual of a man and woman standing next to each

other. The bright colored lettering within the ad draws the viewer in and catches his/her

attention.

To continue, bright contrasting colors appear in the PSA help to draw the viewer in. A

white background, with red, orange, pink blue and black wording allows the viewer to be drawn

into the image and its message. Two figures, one of a man and one a woman, allow the viewer

to see although men and women are different, yet still equal. The line between them depicts that

although they are different, they are still the same; as shown by the equal pay rates seen in the

PSA. The ad evokes a sense of realism. The gender wage gap is not a real issue. Viewers

should realize that not everything he/she sees or hears is accurate. The PSA would be considered

conservative, right, republican, etc. due to the lack of support towards the gender wage gap. The

ad addresses the concern that women are paid less than men for the same work.

Finally, the one to one ratio of dollars men make to dollars women make persuades the

viewer. The viewer’s impression should be the gender wage gap is ludacris; that it does not

exist. Rhetorical appeals are used in the PSA to convey the audience. Ethos can be seen in the

PSA as it was sponsored by International Economic Development Council; a non-profit

 Della Bella 2

organization. “The Gender Wage Gap is a Myth”, the article which this PSA is based on, being

written by a credible author. The article states, “Diana Furchtgott-Roth is a contributing editor

at RealClearMarkets.com, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and a columnist for the

Washington Examiner” (Paragraph 1). The credibility of the author adds to the credibility of the

PSA. The author states, “But when myths try to teach us something demonstrably false—such as

women earning less than men for the same work—we are all the poorer. It is time to discard false

myths about women” (Paragraph 25). Logos can be seen as the one to one ratio of dollars men

make compared women make. As discussed in the rhetorical analysis, the author disproved the

gender wage gap. Hence, the image of men and women being paid equally is shown. Pathos can

be shown through the text that states, “Don’t Kid Yourself… The Gender Wage Gap is a Myth.”

This statement is meant to draw the viewers attention, and make them think critically about the

topic. Many ads about the gender wage gap support the cause; not go against it. The PSA aims

to catch the viewer off guard; by surprise. The viewer is persuaded using the three appeals,

strong visual, and attention-grabbing statement. The use of logos and ethos demonstrate to the

viewer that the gender wage gap is a myth. The use of bright colors, such also helps to catch the

viewers attention.
 Della Bella 3

Works Cited

Furchtgott-Roth, Diana. "The Gender Wage Gap Is a Myth." The Wage Gap, edited by Noël

Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in

Context, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010529236/OVIC?u=viva_jmu&xid=0d

97102. Accessed 8 Feb. 2018.

“Sex Segregation.” Wikepedia, Wikepedia Foundation, 18 Feb. 2018,

en.wikepedia.org/wiki/Sex_segregation.