Women

The female body in advertisements objectifies women, contributing to their derealization. Advertisements bring women to never feel good enough or “pretty” enough. This is due to the unrealistic standards that are made for the public eye. Advertisements also use images that contain violence to justify the act and to generate an idea that women are merely objects to society.

Judith Butler asserts in Precarious Life, that there is a lack of mindfulness of vulnerability, leading to the derealization of violence. Butler essentially explains that if something has become unreal and protrudes in the state of vulnerability, it is then when violence is forced upon someone. Many acts of violence are done in a disagreement, a reason that establishes itself as an opinion differing from other persons.

As Butler informs, many individuals are “marked by unwanted violence against their bodies in the name of a normative notion of the human, a normative notion of what the body of a human must be.” (Butler 33). This idea correlates with how violence is seen as acceptable in the world of advertisement.

Advertisements have a long history of portraying women as lesser than men and or as highly sexual beings. Sometimes advertisements even glorify violence against women. As Kilbourne informs, “In this country we are exposed to approximately 1,500 ads every single day, this makes it extremely prevalent to us” (Kilbourne Killing Us Softly). This number was true over a decade ago, we can imagine this has grown immensely since then, and will continue to grow and appear in our day to day lives.

In Jean Kilbourne’s article “Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt”: Advertising and Violence, she claims “Sex in advertising is more about disconnection and distance than connection and closeness. It is also more often about power than passion, about violence than violins. The main goal is usually power over another either by the physical dominance or preferred status of men or what is seen as the exploitive power of female beauty and female sexuality” (Kilbourne 489). In sexualizing these human beings and creating such image of them, both in the literal sense and idea, they are then portrayed as objects. Sexualizing models and exposing their skin regularly, makes their vulnerability a normality to our eyes.

As a frequent viewer of these ads, I am under the impression that I have become numb to them, I do not put too much focus into them, most of the time I just sigh and wait for them to be over. However, even though I find myself waiting for them to be over I and everyone else who views such ads, in theory, are contributing to the works of these ads. We are consumers, we are the ones still going out and buying items from these brands, thus supporting their business and essentially promoting the approaches they take in publication as being acceptable.

This is a serious problem because if we normalize these kinds of ads we contribute to the dehumanization of people. We allow it to occur and do not speak up about it, we think it is okay to glorify women as objects. This leading the next generation to believe there is no other way to view such women.

As Martin Luther King said in his speech from the pulpit on courage “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” (Martin Luther King Jr. March 8, 1965). The fact that this issue is still a problem in today is appalling. As Kilbourne proclaims “In 1979, I made my first film, Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women. In 1987 I remade it as Still Killing Us Softly, and then again in 2000 as Killing Us Softly 3. And now here we are a decade or so into the new millennium. Killing Us Softly 4.” (Kilbourne Killing Us Softly 4). Instead of these issues improving they are unfortunately, worse.

My friend Gillian Dittmer is a professional model, she has been featured in many online clothes shopping websites and even featured in New York Fashion Week. She believes that all different colors, shapes, and sizes of women are beautiful.

Gillian once disclosed to me after I claimed that I thought her no-makeup picture was remarkable, that it had been “edited several times over”, creating unrealistic ideals. She also told me that sometimes the makeup artists will view her as a mannequin, they will say whatever they want without thinking about how it affects the model’s feelings. Gillian mentioned once that a makeup artist told her right as they met each other that Gillian had “terrible skin and it doesn’t make sense that you could be a model”. This results in her feeling like an object to the world. Gillian has become dehumanized by others throughout her life in the industry, it is these acts of casual violence that leave individuals to feel worthless, a doll to be played with.

As Butler asserts in Precarious Life, “If violence is done against those who are unreal, then, from the perspective of violence, it fails to injure or negate those lives since those lives are already negated” (Butler 33). Butler talks about how vulnerability and how it effects individuals and how people can be viewed as unreal for someone who is violent. If a human is unreal than in their mind it is fine to harm them.

Is the fact that these models are treated as unreal make them objects in these advertisers’ eyes? If they are seen as this they have created this derealization to our society. Kilbourne claims that “Turning a human being into a thing is almost always the first step towards justifying violence against that person.’ (Kilbourne). Kilbourne expresses how it is disturbing to believe that people can see others as unreal, as all human beings are real and should never be anything less. Establishing a thought like this creates a distance between people, a loss of connection.

This lack of connection that we find within ads is based off the objectification of women. If you create an advertisement that convinces people that being sexual beings or objects with each other there is a disconnection. Because how can we connect to something that is “unreal” to us, objects. As Kilbourne informs that “The violent images in ads contribute to the state of terror. And objectification and disconnection create a climate in which there is widespread and increasing violence” (Kilbourne). Kilbourne makes the point that if we are equals that are connected and real it is impossible to have violence when you empathize. While on the other hand if perceived as a thing or object, it becomes easier to abuse in the eyes of a human.

In Killing Us Softly 4, Kilbourne claims that “Women’s bodies are constantly turned into objects” (Kilbourne Killing Us Softly 4). Despite women existing as objectis in advertisements is apparent to Kilbourne but has a derealization to the public eye, this inspired her documentary on this issue. Kilbourne finds herself making several films after this first one, this must only mean that we still have these issues in our society today. It does not seem to stop, it is only more carefully placed.

So, this question that continues to linger is what can we do? And what do we need to do it? Becoming aware of this issue is the first step in the process of improvement. Educating ourselves on the subject matter or problem at hand helps us to vocalize what is at stake here.

Kilbourne is a perfect example of someone who is knowledgeable about the subject as she has been researching and preaching her beliefs for years. We should strive to become a part of citizen activism to let our voices be heard, building the numbers.

Discussion on the matter and growth in discussion or spreading the word allows us to get our message to many people. The more people who receive this message the greater response or realization of the issue will be made. Media literacy will also help in getting the word spread accurately and effectively.

To help people see that we have become consumers of these brands and advertisements and that it is valid in our lives, proving that change must happen.

Works Cited

Butler, Judith. Precarious Life: the Powers of Mourning and Violence. Verso, 2006.
Kilbourne, Jean, director. Still Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women. Kinetic, Inc., 1987-2016.
Patrick, Diane. “Martin Luther King, Jr.” F. Watts, Martin Luther King, Jr., 1990. 

Gender equality has been a complex concept since cavemen and cavewomen came to existence. Throughout time people have questioned and analyzed the “role” you’re given when you’re identified as an XY or a XX in the womb; from designated colors, blue for boys and pink for girls the gender you are born with determines most things in the day to day life for people. Through a series of Ted Talks and articles the ideology of gender roles is questioned and whether of toxic masculinity or toxic femininity is the root of this issue.

Lost in the Kitchen written by Dave Barry, provides the visualization for many couples of a Thanksgiving dinner; with the insight of the insignificance of a man in a kitchen versus a woman’s’ importance in one. The man’s role is to relax and the duties of such a sacred holiday be passed along to the women to maintain with their significant others pleasures in mind. The diction within is to say “…who are not afraid to stay home full time and get coated with baby vomit while their wives work as test pilots”(1) using words to relate to the everyday chauvinistic man that staying home is a choice for men, a career choice for men, along with the, indication that “vomit” refers to a uniform.

This mindset is seen again but throughout ‘Mind over Muscle,’ by David Brooks (2005),which assess the data from the past 30 years to depict the reasoningings behind a womens excelling academic performance over a mans and how society has adapted from a man’s world to a women’s The use of logos allows the author to catch a wider and broader audience and create credibility with the audience; As Brooks states statistics from the Department of Education and the Pell Institute identifying that women have intellectually excelled and this moves over to their everyday life after schooling.

Brooks whole point was the make the inequality between the expectations of men and women evident, and ironically men have been neglected to focus on the more progressive gender; women. The use of sources and a knowledgeable tone throughout targets those who believe that men and women should claim an equal amount of resources to succeed and no one should be left out.

The philosophy of this is that men and women are not equally and should not be treated as two equal beings but instead recognize their differences and produce adaptable resources for them to take advantage of. Although very parallel articles they both have a clear idea of what men and women should be subjected to. Who sets the standards for men and women or is it a natural instinct to abide by gender roles which have been implanted in our daily lives for centuries?

Every horror movie I have seen has the biggest cliché of a woman who cant run without falling down. They make women seem extremely stupid and klutzy that they cannot run across a field without falling over. Horror films portray women as hypersexual damsels in distress. In “ Friday the 13th” all of the young women are shown without much clothing and making stereotypical female mistakes such as falling, depending on a male for safety and making the mistake to go towards the scary noise. In comedy we find a lot of dumb women and “slutty” women. In “Mean Girls” Karen Smith is shown as a dumb blonde. Karen says things such as “There’s a 30% chance that it’s already raining!” And thinks its okay to make out with her hot cousin.

I remember when this movie came out I thought it was hilarious and really enjoyed watching Karen. It made it seem like it was totally okay that she was stupid, because at least she was funny and beautiful. I found that whenever I acted stupid people though it was also funny. In many movies young women especially blondes are shown as ditzy and I have defiantly seen people reflect that stereotype on me because I am also blonde.

Women are characterized as weak, easily frightened and hysterical in many movies and TV shows. When women are seen as  fearless and overpowering they are generally characterized as a bitch or a villain. Women in TV seem to either be pretty or smart, successful in family or workplace but hardly being able to accomplish both. Women characters seem to be very dependent on men, and make being single look bad and if a character is single there must be something wrong with them.

Media gives women and men a very unrealistic vision on what women should be like, that they need to look absolutely perfect all the time- even after they just got out of bed.. I would think that because the world is half women that the TV company’s would make shows that target women positively, but obviously they don’t have to because women must be okay with what is out now. I think that especially shows targeted towards preteens and teens should show a very positive light towards women and not throw around these expectations. Disney Channel and programs like this defiantly play a huge role in influencing teens because they look up to these characters. If these characters are displaying bad traits or unreasonable expectations the kids will still grow up believing them.

American teenagers spend an average of almost 11 hours absorbing media in just one day. What is shown inevitably affects the way teenagers are seen by others and themselves. Because media is so relevant today you would expect more people to stand up against certain programs and company’s and that there would be a difference in how women are portrayed. Unfortunately it is hard to find a show or movie that gives women a strong and positive representation. I now notice little things in movies and TV that I find surprisingly sexist and offensive that earlier I may not have just because it is so common in media. Shows and movies are making a huge impact on how people live because they are always trying to live up to the standards that media starts. By not changing these ideas we will continue to grow up always comparing ourselves to the media, which can be both unhealthy and unrealistic.

Miss Representation is a company trying to raise awareness of these actions and they are fighting misrepresentation of women by boycotting certain programs and spreading the word out. If more people stand up against this we may be able to find new shows that give are a positive influence on all ages and to all sexes that don’t put down a certain sex or set up certain standards.

Many poems have been written about the lives of woman and struggle of love they went through. Two of them are To His Coy Mistress written by Andrew Marvell and Robert Brownings My Last Duchess. There are some similarities, as well as differences in their attitude toward women. To His Coy Mistress values women and their love they give, while My Last Duchess totally degrades the role of women in society.

To His Coy Mistress is an invitation to love, while My Last Duchess degrades them. In Marvells poem, he expresses his love by saying, Lady, you deserve this state, Nor would I love at lower rate (Lines 19-20). This shows that he do and give anything for her love. He explains that she deserves much more than she is given even though she is coy, and his love for her would always be there. Browning, on the other hand says his mistress has A heart…to soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked wateer she looked on (Lines 22-24, My…). Here he disrespects the feelings of a woman saying that it doesnt matter what they get from their lovers because they will like anything that is given to them, saying there all materialistic.

The speaker in To His Coy Mistress is speaking to his love while the speaker in My Last Duchess is speaking to another male. Andrew Marvell tells his love, I would Love you ten years before the Flood (Lines 7-8). This tells the reader on how long he will love her. Browning tells the man whom he is speaking with that His fair daughters self…is my object. Nay, well go together down, sir (Lines 52-53). He says it as if he owns the women by his use of the word my. He also calls her an object and tells the man that they will never be put down, meaning men, in the same level as women.

The tone of To His Coy Mistress is urgent and persuasive while the tone of My Last Duchess is more arrogant and rude. In his poem, Marvell states that if the woman would refuse his love, it would still grow vaster than empires (Lines 11-12). Then still his love for her is everlasting. His strong tone shows the reader that he will not give up from loving this woman. Brownings tone is more arrogant and proud. He chooses never to stoop (Lines 43) to her level. He brings about a sense of crudeness towards women by making them below men. Which maybe was how things were in his time. When women had no rights and werent given equal opinions.

To His Coy Mistress was the showing of affection and an invitation to love. Marvell absolutely could not live without the woman he was in love with and just wanted to please her and be with her. Although, as Marvell placed women so high on the platform in his poem, Brownings My Last Duchess shows feelings of women crudeness and worthlessness.

During the American Revolution the majority of women took part in the army with many roles, very few stayed home to work around the house. These women played a very important role and were known as “camp followers”. As a “camp follower” you wouldn’t be paid much and got about half the amount of food that men got. Not all women were camp followers somehad more courage then others and served in the army disgusted as men, but very few did this.

Most women during the American Revolution played an important role in both the American and British armies. At the time of the American Revolution most women went into the army as a “camp follower” but for the women that didn’t life was different. Some women would stay home with the children and clean and cook around the house. They would help with making clothing because at this time women had to make clothing for the family because they were not getting cloth imported.

Also the first sewing machine was invented during the American Revolution by a women, it ran by using water. For the most part women tried to help out as camp followers as much as they could. Mary Ludwig Hays was as a “camp follower” and she became known as “Molly Pitcher” during the war because she was responsible for bringing water to the troops. Her husband John was in the army as a member of the Pennsylvania Artillery. Margret Cochran Corbin was also a camp follower she followed her husband and other men in the army and learned how to do the things the men could do. Margret learned how to load a cannon and fire it and later helped out in a battle.

She was very badly wounded when she did this and left the war to go live in Philadelphia. She later died and was buried under the name “Captain Molly”, because most people looked at her as a hero and a role model. Another important woman that was not known as a camp follower was Deborah Sampson. The unique thing about her was that she impersonated a man so she could join the American army as a soldier. She did this because she felt she could do better then work on her family farm.

Deborah first enlisted under the name Timothy Thayer, but soon after they found out who she really was. The next time she enlisted under the name Robert Shurtleff. After a few battles she fought in she became very ill and her identity was discovered again by the physician that was taking care of her. Two other women that also took a role of men were Rachel Martin and Grace Martin. They were two sisters that did not like how women and children were being treated at this time and wanted to end what was going on. They dressed up like men in there spouses clothes to try to stop the way men treated women.

Most women during the American Revolution played an important role in both the American and British armies. As you can see women did serve an important part during the American Revolution and really stepped up and took part in things that maybe they normally wouldn’t. Such as dressing up like a man and serving in the war or even learning from the men who fought how to load and fire a cannon. In conclusion women helped during the American Revolution in a very big and important part.

Amelia Earth was an important fugue who achieved read success and paved the way for women who came along after her, Amelia Mary Earth was born on July 24, 1897, In Atchison, Kansas (Amelia). Amelia was a tomboy when she was young, she loved playing outdoors and going on adventures. Amelia was a very spirited girl, and she didn’t accept the explanation that girls Just shouldn’t do things simply because they were girls. Amelia collected bugs, Jumped off roofs and kept a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about successful women in predominantly male-oriented fields such as management, engineering and law (Parr).

Amelia was no ordinary child, she knew something had o change in America from early on, her stubborn character to do whatever she wished would help usher in a new age for women around the world. Amelia was more than Just a woman who flew a airplane, her modern lifestyle inspired many to follow suit. She served as a nurse during World War l, which was still a controversial Job for women at the time (Amelia). Amelia had many interests and attended Colombia University signing up for a medical major. She took classes In engine repair. Not smiled upon at the time, and classes in French poetry and even taught herself to play the banjo (Rich).

Amelia liked to push the envelope and wasn’t afraid of controversy or being different. Although she left Colombia after one year, her year there played a huge role in her development as a modern woman. Many adore the way she did not follow the crowd but followed her dreams and achieved great things In many areas of her life. Amelia fell In love with the Idea of flying after leaving Colombia. She chose to be taught by Neat snood, one of the first woman aviators of the time, to teach her to fly (Rich). Like in everything else Amelia learned quickly and surpassed all expectations.

She broke many records during her lifetime. In 1932, she became the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean solo, the only person to fly it twice, it was the longest nonstop distance flown by a woman, and the flight set a record for crossing the Atlantic In the shortest time (Amelia). When Amelia returned to New York after her famous flight, she was honored by a ticker tape parade. President Roosevelt presented her with the Special Gold Medal from the National Geographic Society. The United States Congress awarded her with the Distinguished Flying Cross, she became he first woman to earn the award (Parr).

Amelia’s flights showed America that a woman can do everything a man can do and even better. Amelia Earth spent most of her lifetime establishing the permanent role of women In aviation. However, her Influence ps far beyond her accomplishments In follow their dreams no matter what obstacles stood in their way. Her ability to balance her life and career makes her one of the first modern American women. Amelia Earth may have won the Woman of the Year during her lifetime but she could arguably be the Woman of the Century.

This also includes any female emotions they might encounter such as pain, sorrow and frustration leading them to surrender. In Exile of the Son’s of Gillis, Dermis’s destiny was already determined while she was in the womb. She was raised apart from everyone else and isolated from the world. After she was born all of her power was taken in the hands of society. She was fully under the control of Connector, as he announced “This Woman I’ll keep to myself'(131). As only being seen as an object the types of men she was Introduced to would never eve her, but would take control of her and battle for her ownership.

The full year she was taken under Schooner’s control she never gave one smile, she had no strength to eat or sleep, or even Lift her head from her knees. At this time, Dredger was taken full advantage of the most by being degraded and raped repetitively by Connector and Eagan. Despite the men that Derider has been through, no one captured her feelings as much as Noises. This is where Derider had taken it upon herself to have Noises convince Connector allow them to escape together.

Since Cinchonas made no exceptions, Derider urged Noises to return home where she would remain unprotected. In order for this physical and mental pain she was experiencing to stop, she was left nothing more but to kill herself. One of her last words spoken was, “Break my heart no more today, In a short while I’ll be no more, Grief is heavier than the sea, If you were but wise, Connector”(136). Due to not having any control In this situation she rebelled against them proving her ultimate power over her body, mind and spilt.

When Dredger committed seclude, she knew that by taking her own life she would never be dominated by Connector and Eagan, the two men she hated the most. Similar themes are encountered in The Wife’s Lament. The main character is also feeling the same emotions as Derider in the Exile of the Sons of Gillis. In the beginning, this poem it describes the wife’s resentment she has towards her husband who left her feeling empty and alone in the world. This can be compared to Derider were both of these women do not know how to react to their different tuitions or able to move on from it.

Also, they both are longing for a love that they will never have. Since her life was revolved around the well being of her Lord, once he is gone she feels helpless in this unfamiliar and hostile world. Her misery Is expressed when she recites, “There I weep my exile, the many burdens. Therefore I can never set my cares at rest, nor still all this life’s longing, which Is my lot”(1 14). This quote overlooks all her sorrows being left In the dark and deserted, that she will never overcome her suffering pain of separation.

She was left with no control under ten solution Ana let to accept near loneliness. Her last tongue was auto near husband and convinced herself that he too was suffering. “Whether my friend has all the world’s Joy his bidding or whether, outlawed from his homeland, he sits covered with storm frost beneath a rocky cliff – my weary – minded friend, drenched in some dreary hall – he suffers great anguish”(114). Overall, this poem is mainly focuses on the speaker’s grief suffering through her state of hopelessness.

Today, women are till experiencing the issues of degrading and being looked at as an object. Each of the women in The Exile of the Son’s of Gillis and The Wife’s Lament showing the corruption that degrading had caused. This is where they both took action and tried to escape their feeling of constant misery. They had no control or power in any situations leading them to their feelings of pain, sorrow and frustration. Leading us to have higher hopes for the future that will always be taken into consideration in positions of leadership and appreciated for what they stand for.