Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising's Image of Women

http://www.mediaed.org

Jean Kilbourne's pioneering work helped develop and popularize the study of gender representation in advertising. Her award-winning Killing us Softly films have influenced millions of college and high school students across two generations and on an international scale. In this important new film, Kilbourne reviews if and how the image of women in advertising has changed over the last 20 years.

With wit and warmth, Kilbourne uses over 160 ads and TV commercials to critique advertising's image of women. By fostering creative and productive dialogue, she invites viewers to look at familiar images in a new way, that moves and empowers them to take action.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Helzivsymph]

Alphabet blocks, dishwashers, circular saws, windshield wipers, Kevlar, globes, engine mufflers, elevated railways, fire escapes, life rafts, medical syringes, rotary engines, submarine lamps and telescopes, electric hot water heaters, Apgar tests... JUST TO NAME A FEW...all invented by women.

Lets face it, the only thing that you have ever done for this world is embarrass yourself. Go back under your bridge, troll.

[worries]

It's usually men who are creating their standards for themselves. Look at all these comic book heroes, always unrealistically muscular, tall, dark. That's not necessarily what a woman may like want for her man. I personally e.g., appreciate some imperfections, I find them beautiful.

[Maverician]

By the same token, it is women who judge other women the hardest (would you disagree?). I could say the same about finding imperfections beautiful (which is true, but I don't find any one physical characteristic, as far as I can tell, absolutely necessary), but if I also like modern media-style beauty, I am seemingly often demonised as being a part of the machine and part of the "oppression and rape culture".

[Tori H]

I agree completely

[Tori H]

The women that do that are all loving the attention and hoping for a fat contract or to get noticed by some guy with big dollars.The damage they cause wouldn't even cross their mind or in the remote chance that they get it, they do it anyway. It all comes down to what motivates their choice. Self promotion at any cost or a desire to advance the female gender as a whole which means refusal to participate in media that sexualizes us?

[Tori H]

Why would any thinking woman willingly participate in a part of western society that "craps" on them? How dense can you be? There are lots of segments that don't so seek them out. it's quite simple.

[Tori H]

You can't be a victim if you willingly put yourself out there for the money and visibility while ignoring the high cost to our gender as a whole.If our gender is victimized it's by it's own members that sell out. I know many that would never fall for it. They understand the damage it does.

[Tori H]

Sorry I disagree. I would like to believe women are not that mindless and helpless. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see when an ad is degrading and exploitive, It doesn't matter what you're fed by society. If your eyes work you can see right in front of your face that the women are half naked or slithering around on the floor or sucking on their finger with a "Come and screw me" expression on their faces. Plenty of women see it, and wouldn't do it. Those that do it like the attention.

[lydia3746]

uhhhhhh because obviously women are willing participants in a western world that craps on women and emotionally oppresses men

If someone is oppressed, marginalized it is very hard to ignore media messages. These messages drill into women/men at a young age when they can't defend themselves. Don't blame the victims blame the media.