Images of women in the media

Permit me to bang on again about images of women in the media. Have a close look at how women's bodies are used in advertising.

While advertising car tyres with naked ladies is now considered old-fashioned, the current images are pretty ropey. Images of men show them bigging it up on the squash court, or smiling in their car, working on a building site and usually you see the face or the whole, clothed body. Women on the other hand are portrayed crawling on the floor in great need of a simmett. Or leaning against a man. Or offered to us in body parts. And mostly scantily clad. Read more here.

Portrayal of women still shows us as being submissive sex objects. Click here for an interesting read on why we should become media literate. It is important, because we are bombarded with these messages about our role in life - be sexy, be thin, be available. Whereas the real women that we are want to be busy, active, independent.

And airbrushed images give an idea of an unattainable perfection - even the stars don't achieve it in real life.

Ads are designed largely by men for men. Look at this ad.
The following blurb comes from a great essay which you can read here. (Assigment Sex Sells from the University of Aberystwyth)

" Not only does the model here, expose much of her upper torso, but her hand provocatively pulls on her clothes and her left hand playing suggestively with her earring. The model is also looking directly into the camera, whichever angle you view it from her eyes are staring straight at you. Please also note how the fragrance name ‘J’adore’ is shaped around the models breast, connotations of love, sexual desire and seduction are prominent here. note how the fragrance name ‘J’adore’ is shaped around the models breast, connotations of love, sexual desire and seduction are prominent here".


www.carolinebrowntherapy.com