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In an advertisement published in Vogue Paris in February 2009, Steven Klein photographs fashion model Lara Stone in a manner that brought much controversy to the world about women and violence. In the photograph, a fashionably clad woman in lingerie is forcibly held down by a naked man, while a police officer poses suggestively on her legs and points a gun in her face. This advertisement seems excessively violent for a fashion magazine that young girls and the majority of the mainstream world idolize. By condoning and making the type of violence that is popular in fashion magazines ‘cool’, people begin to recreate the scenes in these photographs in real life because they are constantly exposed to it. Furthermore, this constant exposure to violence …show more content…
With so much exposure to this type of media, it is easy to become desensitised to it. With America becoming numb to the violence in these advertising tactics, domestic violence is an increasing problem as brutality against women has become trivialized. Jean Kilbourne 's “‘Two Ways a Woman can get Hurt”: Advertising and Violence’ argues that violence in advertising profoundly affects people in a skewed physiological manner, leading to violence against women. Kilbourne insists that “...violent images contributes to the state of terror...” felt by women who feel victimized by men who “...objectify and are disconnected...” from the women they mistreat (431). She furthers her argument by dictating that “....turning a human being into…an object, is almost always the first step towards justifying violence against that person” (431). So much of the media that America consumes is centered on dehumanizing women into an object of male enjoyment. It is difficult to have empathy toward a material object. Because of this objectification, men feel less guilty when enacting brutality upon women. Violence becomes downplayed because it is seen everywhere - in advertising and media - and this has contributed significantly to the cases of domestic violence in America. America has become numb to violence against women in advertising, leading to an alarming increasing domestic violence in this
Jean Kilbourne’s “Two Way a Woman Can Get Hurt: Advertising and Violence” is a section of a book titled: “Deadly Persuasion: Why Women and Girls Must Fight the Addictive Power of Advertising” that was originally published in 1999. It is about the images of women that advertisements illustrate. The central claim or thesis of the document is that: “advertising helps to create a climate in which certain attitudes and values flourish and it plays a role in shaping people’s ideas” (paraphrase). The author wants people by all genders and young children to acknowledge a right attitude towards what is shown in the advertisements so that the standards of behavior will not be influenced. As a result, it enables the negative contribution from the advertisements to be limited or eliminated.
In a brilliant update of the Killing Us Softly series, Jean Kilbourne explains the dangers of advertisements and how they objectify women. Advertisements intelligently portray women in a sexual and distorted way in order to attract the consumers’ attention. Media sets a standard on how young women view themselves and puts them at risk for developing an eating disorder. Kilbourne’s research has led her to educate those who have fallen victim to achieving the “ideal beauty” that has evolved in today’s society.
The documentary Killing Us Softly 4 discusses and examines the role of women in advertisements and the effects of the ads throughout history. The film begins by inspecting a variety of old ads. The speaker, Jean Kilbourne, then discusses and dissects each ad describing the messages of the advertisements and the subliminal meanings they evoke. The commercials from the past and now differ in some respects but they still suggest the same messages. These messages include but are not limited to the following: women are sexual objects, physical appearance is everything, and women are naturally inferior then men. Kilbourne discusses that because individuals are surrounded by media and advertisements everywhere they go, that these messages become real attitudes and mindsets in men and women. Women believe they must achieve a level of beauty similar to models they see in magazines and television commercials. On the other hand, men expect real women to have the same characteristics and look as beautiful as the women pictured in ads. However, even though women may diet and exercise, the reality...
In Rereading America excerpts by Jean Kilbourne’s “Two ways a Woman Can Get Hurt”: Advertising and Violence” and Joan Morgan entitled “From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos,” both authors focus on gender inequality in America. In doing so they are trying to explain to the audience about the status of women in the men dominated society. Both articles discuss the violence and exploitation of women and demonstrate the power of media and the entertainment world based on our attitudes that influence our behavior as men and women. Both selections also make readers think about the current status of women in the society and the media’s role in a way of effective gender roles among society. Kilbourne and Morgan provide the different examples in their own ways to support their selections and ensure to make their essay successfully persuasive by demonstrating their point of view, while still reaching the same conclusions. Kilbourne takes a calm approach to explain to the readers how the objectification of women in advertisements constitutes a form of cultural abuse, while Morgan adopt a very aggressive way to express her point of view. Comparing Morgan’s tone with Kilbourne, Morgan’s aggressive approach might leave readers disinterested to read her selection.
Kilbourne, Jean. “‘Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt’: Advertising and Violence.” From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader. 2nd ed. Eds. Stuart Green and April Lidinsky. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin’s, 2012. 459-480. Print.
Thus, we can assume that the audience itself, the members who believe in the content of ads and its sincerity, as well as, people who agree with the portrait of the women that is being created are the only prisoners in this particular situation. “To them, I said, the truth would be literally nothing but the shadows of the images” (Plato 868). On the other hand, according to the Jean Kilbourne, author of “Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt” what is not mention to the public is the fact, that many women from the very young age during the process of finding out the truth and being blinded by the “light” are fighting with depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders and sexual harassment. “I contend that all girls growing up in this culture are sexually abused – abused by the pornographic images of female sexuality that surround them from birth, abused by all the violence against woman and girls, and abused by the constant harassment and threat of violence” (Kilbourne
During the 1980s and 1900s, domestic violence was one of the most unreported crimes that involve females and males getting hurt and dying. Kicking, choking, killing, and saying brutal or despise words that could hurt the victims physically or emotionally are considered domestic violence. In fact, many victims are afraid to seek for help. According to “The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC), women account for approximately 85 percent of all intimate partner violence, with women aged 20-24 at greater risk” (Batten, par.16). Most pregnant women are at risk as well. “But underlying approach is still one that assumes the perpetrators are men and the victims are woman” (Haugen, par. 1). Moreover, both males and females believe that domestic violence is a solution to their issues.
One of Americas’ most common global issues is domestic violence, a crime that is considered physical or aggressive behavior at home and typically through a spouse. According to HelpGuide.org ‘’Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is overlooked, excused, or denied (paragraph 1). Which I agree a hundred percent , due to I have witnessed it happening within my family, and majority of the time the victim is usually in denial that they are being physically and emotionally abused. Domestic violence should be justified the same no matter how big or small the issue is, because most of the time the problem is only going to get bigger. Domestic violence should have zero tolerance, no one should express their “love” through
This further confirmed that more women fall victim to domestic violence at the hands of male attackers than any other cases of domestic violence. Yet the targeted audience was men, this advertisement was run during the super bowl where the primary audience is men. Along with men being the primary attackers in cases of domestic and sexual assault. They wanted them to see the pain behind their actions as well as provide them a way to become advocates against domestic and sexual
“My journey to hell and back begin twelve years ago when I met what I thought would be the man of my dreams. In the beginning it was all good but as time went on he became someone I didn’t know. My children and I were physically abused and I had to find a way out.” Jane experienced what no person should have to endure which is Domestic Violence. Domestic Violence is commonly known as violent or aggressive behavior in the home involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner. Experiencing domestic violence can cause long term effects on young Americans. Having more programs to help these women get out of these situations and building their self-esteem will help to lessen domestic violence cases.
What would you have done if an important woman in your life couldn't have her voice be heard? Would you help fight for her rights? Would you be okay that her voice wasn't heard, and continued on with your life? Would you be against her having any rights that you would try to maintain the imbalance in society instead? Women in the 1840s had no rights. They could not vote, own property, receive an education or participate in any professions such as a doctor, lawyer, or politician. It was time that they finally took a stand when in 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first national women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. It would take about 72 years for the United States to
“I love you. I can love you like nobody else could. If I can’t have you, nobody can have you”
Advertisers have many subtle ways of presenting advertisements to sell products, but many of these advertisements may go way beyond the selling of products. Advertisements with regard to violet sexual scenes may actually be sending subliminal messages that violence is okay. Looking at these advertisements it is not hard to see that there is a deeper meaning behind them then to just sell a product. With Sexual and violent Advertisement we may even be able to make the statement that rape, sexual assault and violence is alive and thriving in our society. Many Americans and Europeans are being desensitized by the vast of amount of violent advertisements. Advertisements that convey startling portrayals of women being assaulted, killed or even abused in today’s ads have brought an altogether new meaning to the violence against women through advertising.
Women have fought through torture, blood, sweat, and tears to help women stand strong in our
Imagine this, you're walking down the street in your favorite outfit feeling as confident as ever and then, suddenly, you're hollered by a man beside you or from across the street telling you how hot or fine you look. You no longer feel comfortable in what you're wearing because of his demeaning compliment. Obviously, you spend the day thinking of the unpleasant encounter you had and you think about heading back home to change. Men, boys should not make comments about women or girls on the street because it can vary as sexual harassment, it can make women self conscious of themselves and women can be offended by these comments.