“Two Ways a Woman can get Hurt: Advertising and Violence”, is an interesting article. While interesting, I think it was a little drawn out. I think I read the same thing over and over again. With each new example given, the same points were made. I agree with the author, Jean Kilbourne and their point of view on the negative impact certain types of advertising have on both women and adolescent females.
The media plays a large part in everybody’s life. We are exposed to a wide variety of advertisements every day. Unfortunately, people act based on their thoughts and emotions. If an idea or desire can be placed in someone’s mind, then an action along those thoughts or ideas is close to follow.
Most of these advertisements involve women in to some degree. It is no secret in the world of advertising that sex sells. It is no wonder why women are usually displayed in as little clothing as possible, and in a variety of suggestive poses. You can’t walk passed the magazine displays at the local grocery store with out seeing something on covers of the magazines related to sex, or the exploitation of women.
Nearly every photograph on the front covers, contain an image of a physically fit man, woman, or both. It almost a guarantee there will be an article relating to weight loss, or a way to obtain the perfect body. It is no wonder we live in society were women feel inferior if they don’t look like the women posed on the front pages of all the popular magazines.
Many of the examples given in the article and those seen today, do portray women as being submissive. It is easy to see why so many fall victim to violent acts. I have seen on numerous occasions the affects of alcohol in a relationship. Alcohol has been a factor in nearly every domestic violence incident I have been called on to deal with. A combination of alcohol, a society portraying women as the weaker sex, and a man willing to exploit his supposed advantage usually leads to catastrophe.
In an advertisement, everything is running off of a script of one form or another. When these images appropriate or not are viewed repeatedly, it is natural to assume those who view them will want to turn them into reality. It is no wonder so many crimes are committed. If an in depth study were done on sexual crimes, I bet it would show that something in the media of the day sparked the idea in the perpetrator’s mind.
The author does a good job at bringing to light the difference in public opinion when it comes to the images broadcast to the masses. The manufacturing and advertising world isn’t about to start loosing money just so they can treat women as equals. It will take the voice of the consumers to bring a change in advertising.
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