Blog 15: Killing Us Softly 3

After viewing Jean Kilbourne's video about the advertising industry exploiting women to sell their products, I was left feeling mad, sad, disturbed, and disgusted. I have always felt that a lot of advertising seemed wrong, but I had never analyzed it like Kilbourne. It is very clear to me now that the internal tug of war feelings I had when I was a teenager were a partial result from the constant exposure to this advertising. This type of advertising is like subliminal messages, especially for pre-teens and teenagers. I remember trying to figure out how I was supposed to be as a woman and was very confused about how I was supposed to be innocent, but sexy at the same time. As a teenager and even into my early 20's I was feeling compelled to purchase beauty products in order to meet the image standards. I was left frustrated with results that did not get me what the ads promised.

I think that advertisers do have a moral responsibility to society for creating the problems resulting from the ads objectifying women. They should be concerned for their friends and family who are women. At the very least, they can be indirectly affected by those outside of their circle. I hope they know the negative affects the ads are having on America, but I know that greed almost always supersedes moral obligation.

I do believe that advertising is getting slightly better. Maybe as a result of more women rising in the ranks of ad companies. Or maybe the ad companies are just trying to appeal to a broader audience by including normal looking women in ads also. Today, I am more likely to try products that have normal looking women in them, but in the end I know the ad companies will do anything just to sell a product, whether or not it really does what it promises to do.

Now that I am empowered with this information I can pass it on to my two daughters in hopes that they can make better decisions for their life and happiness.