Killing Us Softly

After I watched the video "Killing Us Softly," I looked at the clothes I have on and at the ones hanging in my closet. I do not see myself as being the type of woman who has to have brand names, expensive clothes, or every item that is advertised in magazines or on TV. I have been taught that as long as I look nice, my clothes fit well and are clean I am fine. I know there have been times when I have asked my parents for a certain brand of clothing and sometimes they would buy it for me. Now that I buy my own clothes I seek out the best bargains and spend my money wisely. I admit that I do enjoy looking “good” but there are other ways to do this without paying the high prices for designer clothing. Advertising helps me to see what is popular but does not influence me to run out and buy the objects being revealed. I am able to resist most items being advertised because my parents have taught me how.

I really enjoyed watching the video and I have to admit that it taught me to now look at advertising differently. Being a young woman, I do subscribe to several girl magazines that are filled with lots of advertisements for different types of products and clothes. These ads do show what advertisers want society to see as the “ideal” woman, one who is perfect in every way. But, as we look at these ads we have to remember that these models were created. Their flaws were edited out and fixed by a computer. Their pimples and even their winkles magically disappear. It is sad to see how these advertisements are portraying women as sex symbols, and are sending the wrong message to society. I believe that it is up to the individual to realize that these ads are only showing women who are thin, beautiful, and sexy looking, not the average women.

Advertisers are in the business of making money and they do not care about any messages they are portraying that hurt women. Their ads tell women how they should look, how they should dress, and most importantly they tell women that their physical appearance is all that matters. This is not true but unfortunately ads can plant this idea into the minds of women and can cause harmful results. It is necessary to sell products such as vacuum cleaners, toilet paper, or even cars using sexy women or sexy images?

I feel that it is never beneficial for women and girls to subscribe to this “ideal” image of female beauty, the image put forth by advertisers. This image can be self-destructive by causing women to develop devastating habits like eating disorders. Focusing on being the “perfect” and “ideal” woman is giving in to the advertisers. Women need to stand up for themselves and show advertisers that they are wrong. Women can show this by not buying their products; by letting the advertisers know that advertising in this way is cheap and demeaning. There is nothing wrong with looking healthy and youthful but does it have to be portrayed by using sex and sexy images.