Sex Sells
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It is hard to disagree with the notion that women are used as objects to sell everything. I opened up one magazine, Cosmopolitan, and had women in barely anything trying to sell me some product that Im pretty sure they themselves dont use. Sex sells. The ad I found most compelling, was the one for “unforgivable women”. It is for a new fragrance by rapper P.Diddy or also known as Sean John. The ad shows Sean on top of a women caressing her as she is repressed, and not looking towards the camera. According to the Film Killing us Softly by Jean Kilbourne, adds are meant to silence women, where as boys are shown as active, and women are always shown as being passive. This ad confirms that statement, the man is taking control, as where as the girl is being shown in a passive situation. This ad also suggesting, that women can be taken advantage of with no repercussions. Basically saying, rape is sexy and desirable. This leads to a huge problem. It lowers girls self esteem, and causes problems that are unavoidable. I couldnt agree more with Jean Kilbourne, She is right on the money when she is talking about all the ways that women are repressed and shown as being passive.
In the media especially in advertisements, women are taught they have to be a specific shape, size, color, they have to act a certain way. The only way to end this is to show that women are more than just objects and that they are able to be active, and the role reversal is possible.