In my opinion, I agree with the article “Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt”. According to this article, ads and violence are two ways a woman will get hurt; the article further indicates correlations in these two articles. At some point in the article, it states “the woman is rewarded for her sexuality by the man’s wealth, as in an ad for cigarette boats in which the woman says, while lying in a man’s embrace clearly after sex,” “Does this mean I get a ride in your Cigarette (459 – 476). Jean Kilbuorne talks much of degrading acts against women in this article. He further criticizes the child pornography ads from Calvin Klein. In his opinion, which I support, he says such ads only show the audience how the media misuse children’s purity and the bodies of women (459 – 476).
Additionally, ads should not be used to the extent that they lose respect for the women and children. For instance, the Nike ad shows respect for women by showing a woman diving with all her might to make a save. In this latter ad, women are viewed to have dignity, strength, endurance, independence, sportiness and endurance. This ad proves that the pornographic pictures painted on women are false.
Finally, despite the belief by advertisers, that using sex in adverts would make the products appealing and sell should be controlled to observe dignity. The ads that portray women just as things that can be acquired conquered and left behind are losing their respect for women, who should also be target audience by these advertisers.
In conclusion, the article is a true reflection of an advocacy tool for gender discrimination against women. However, it should be noted that the viewers’ opinions about such ads depends on perception. While some people view these ads anti social and require regulation. Other people see nothing wrong in these ads.
I agree with you since you also view the ads as violent and discriminative against women. I also like the fact that you recognize that men are not the only audience when you mention about the excerpt on car advertisement. Finally, I am impressed that you also wished these ads were regulated.
Work cited:
Killbourne, Jean. Can’t Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel; “Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt”. – A Critical Review. 1999, Web November 7, 2010
