I loved the article for this week, “All of Your Insecurities Wrapped Up in A 30 Second Spot”. When I was in Sociology of Women, Men, and Gender we discussed advertising quite a bit and it totally fascinated. That was over a year ago and I still have a critical eye when I see ads. I’m constantly looking at print ads and commercials with almost a feminist point of view. I wouldn’t classify myself as being a feminist, but there are so many images that disturb me as a female. In the article, the book Reviving Ophelia is mentioned and i LOVE that book. I read it years ago, but it still resonates with me. It’s excellent. I recommend it to all!!
One of the quotes mentioned from the book is “Women are portrayed as expensive toys, as the ultimate recreation.” I love that!!! This one little sentence is just so accurate about the portrayal of women. In everything from music videos to print ads to commericals on TV, women are constantly hypersexualized and “dumbed down”. Even commericals for toilet paper or stomach medicine are sexualized – and women are almost always the target. It’s ridiculous! It really shouldn’t come as a surprise to people that girls have low self esteem and struggle with self image.
So obviously I agree that there are negative images and messages sent out to the masses through advertising, but sometimes it can go too far. Friedrich mentions in her article that women wearing white in ads symbolizes innocence and purity. Which on some level, white does represent. But I don’t necessarily agree that everytime a woman in an ad is wearing white, that the company is trying to sell the ideals of virginity and purity to the masses. A good majority of ads contain sexual undertones, but I think sometimes we are being unrealistic in chalking up everything little thing to sexual innuendo.
biohelixx said,
March 14, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I so agree with you. I find that quote “Women are portrayed as expensive toys, as the ultimate recreation,” absolutely disgusting. It’s not that I don’t agree with it, but I find it disgusting nevertheless. What is the world coming to, I ask you!?!
Great post.
iliketomakelists said,
March 20, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I agree that women are not portrayed appropriately in ads of any sort. And this isn’t just today, it has been occurring for decades. And not just within ads. I was watching a music video from the late 60s and the band members were all men, and they literally had women just standing around them. The women did not move at all during the music video (much different from today’s music videos where they move a little too much sometimes). But it just made me think that it has been happening for a long time – the objectification of women. I don’t consider myself a feminist, but when I saw the music video I automatically thought of the women in the video being portrayed as simply objects.
I don’t just think that women are the target though. Men may not be hypersexualized in ads, but I do think that they are as misrepresented as women are. Paul had said how men are made to feel inadequate if they are not tall, dark, handsome, and built. Although the expectations are different, they are still there for men as well.
The media needs to realise that it is okay to put someone real in their ads, that human beings have faults, and that THAT is what we will relate to, rather than a skinny blonde model who is airbrushed and anorexic.
iliketogroceryshop said,
March 20, 2007 at 4:58 pm
I also am deeply disturbed by how women are generally portrayed in advertisements, and I think I can speak for pretty much every single woman out there. In relation to your post and what your quote definitely captures is that advertising is a main contributor to the objectification of women and no doubt plays a significantly evil role in the self image of women everywhere. Also, just like the omnipotent iliketomakelists says, it definitely isn’t just women. Men are also targeted by advertisements, but in a more subtle way. But either way it’s sex that advertisers are trying to sell and while it may benefit them, it is damaging the self esteem of men and women and warping the values of our entire culture. It almost seems as if everything revolves around sex and what it is to be sexy. It’s kind of sad to think about for too long so i’ll move on to another post ahah. But I enjoyed yours.
iliketogroceryshop
free falling said,
March 21, 2007 at 10:32 am
I do not appreciate what the media has done. They have portrayed women as objects since I can remember. Why is this acceptable? I find that there are more ads that are inappropriate in the way that the women are seen. There are minute advertisements that are tasteful; however I find that more often than not, I am disgusted by the way ads make women look.
sabrina05 said,
March 21, 2007 at 10:39 am
I also loved the article this week and as a woman who has taken Women Studies in the past I am also always looking at ads with a critical eye. I love the quote you included about women being portrayed as the ultimate recreation, I never thought of is that way but it seems pretty accurate. Anyways I just wanted to say good post and I think that I might pick up that book you recommended.
bananatree said,
March 21, 2007 at 1:53 pm
If you’ve ever seen a “Realdoll” you will be able to see your own blog post come to live! It’s a very strange, and futuristic outlook on gender, sex and relationships.