Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt

According to Kilbourne, it is dangerous to depict men and women as sex objects because it, “dehumanizes and objectifies people, especially women, and because it fetishizes products--which dooms us to disappointment since products never can fulfill our sexual desires or meet our emotional needs.” (417) Now more than ever we are being bombarded with commercials for all the latest products, and not always done in the most appropriate manner. Kilbourne believed that the objectification of women was more troubling because there was a link with violence. She talked about how there is no danger for most men, but objectified women are always at risk. Many of these advertisements do not directly cause violence, but contribute to it. Kilbourne believed that advertisements are dangerous for women because it makes it much easier for men to feel justified when causing harm to women. She implied that women are generally depicted as weaker than men; therefore they were more susceptible to violence such as rape or abuse.

I agree with Kilbourne in that it is not uncommon anymore of find sex tied into advertisements and these advertisements are often seen on a daily basis. Advertising often gives us the notion that we can essentially recreate ourselves by purchasing the right product. The irony of Kilbourne’s idea is that these advertisements might appeal to the male consumer, but it also appeals to the female consumer making her believe that the ideal woman looks and acts in the ways that a man would want her.