As I was browsing through the NOW website (National Organization for Women), I came across this little slide show that was posted; The ABC's and D's of Commercial Images of Women. If you aren't already on board the "Outraged Women's" train, this will put things into perspective for you.
"A" stands for Advertising. Advertising promotes and unrealistically perfect and totally unreachable beauty. They play on women's insecurities of being thin or thick, blemish skin, etc. From perfect teeth to perfect hair; you name it and Advertising plays on it. I believe one of the slides emphasized that advertisers claim "There's not a body part that can't be improved". Women are advertised as constantly sexual, known for their bodies and nothing else. The funny thing is, we are so desensitized and rarely realize the subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, demeaning advertisements.
"B" stands for Boys to Men. Boys are socialized to see women as body parts and sexual play things; rewards for their success (puh-lease). Advertising places women in submissive and sexual roles and positions, "saucy servers", and belittles their value, basing it off their attractiveness. Men are portrayed as strong, dignified, adventurous, and for far more than physical traits.
"C" stands for Celebrity Obsession. Actresses are deemed as public goods, from their physical body parts to their sexuality. Magazines are filled with the "Best Beach Bod's" and "Who's Got Fat" spreads. One magazine even had a four-page Celebrity Breast spread, taking note of celebrity's cleavage. It also focuses on the difference in how male/female actresses are portrayed.
"D" stands for Dangers. The media sends extremely dangerous messages to viewers, especially young, impressionable girls and boys. They absorb this information like a sponge, leading them to a distorted body image, and other harmful and deadly paths.
Don't take these ads lightly. They assist in the determining the way our younger generations will think and see themselves and others.
What do YOU guys think of this?
(Check out the Slide show yourself at http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/presentations/SexStereotypesBeauty/flash-large.html)
(These images were posted on NOW's Offensive Ad's page)
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