Every time I see an ad with a female model advertising something, I can't help but notice the way she's been displayed.

I mean, look at this one:

http://medianet.news.com.au/adv.research/c...n-klein-lge.jpg

Or this one:

http://www.hi-design.ru/brand/Calvin%20Kle...es/klein_00.jpg

I think that's just wrong. I keep seeing younger and younger models being sexualised. And it's not sending a very good message to teenagers, is it?

Is this disturbing only to me? Or do people find it "cool"? What is it that I don't understand?

Do you find that these ads are ok?

Discuss.

Taylor``

i used to find it entertaining [because im a guy] but now its like very commercial and its really starting to bug me and also im watching all these 6th grade girls in my area turn into total sluts. I think its effecting the people around us more then we think.


---Mike

yeah, there's deffinately something wrong with that.
i remember there was this one sit-com (forgot which one it was though) where the model was supposed to come out of the shower with nothing but a tiny towel wrapped around her. when she asked what she was advertising, the director pointed to the jeans in the background. what has this world come to?
seriously, it teaches girls that slutty is sexy.

It may be disturbing, but you have to admit, it is appealing. Otherwise, the advertisers wouldn't be using sex in their ads to attract us.

And there's not much that can be done to change it.

The objectification of women and sex has been a terrible development. I have a strong feeling that without these ads or the TV shows and movies they show nowadays with unecessary amounts of sexuality, there wouldn't be 16 year old girls on this forum asking about boners, talking about which type of penis they like more, and how many times they have gone down on their male friends.

you have a point there

I most certainly have to agree with Trau.

But you have to look at the facts. I used to be part of a marketing team for a technology company and even we used young females and their sexual appeal to sell our mechandise. The truth is that its not only the media's fault, its everyones. Why should an ad agency suddenly stop making sexually explicit ads when they are getting sucha great response for the product advertised. Frankly, an ad with a sexy young lady playing with her Handheld would get a better response then a beautiful young woman playing with hers.

Do I think that sexually explict ads targeted towards young teens are wrong in the sense that they curropt our children? Yes.

Do I belive that it should be stopped? Yes.

Do I think its realistic to have it stop? No.

Do I think its possible to stop them from doing it or even take it a little easy? Only if you chop off every D**k out there, and I am not letting you do that.

Yeah, you all have points there. I guess society's the one that's f**ked up. We want to sell products, even if it means f**king up any kinds of morals! Fantastic, isn't it?

It's just sad that not many people realize this.. If they did, it could possibly be changed. And Trau is 100% right.

But I feel it's way too late for that already.

Taylor``

I have to say that some women from the 60s and 70s are partly to blame for this current situation with their attitudes of "sexual liberation". Yeah, right, ladies, you're sex objects more than ever. Thanks for telling the world all your worth is in your crotch and chest.

^ I think you are taking it a little too far. Those women werent trying to be sex objects but rather change the opinion of the society. Women, just like men, have the right to be sexual beings, that was the point that those women in the late 60s and 70s were trying to make.

I wasn't speaking to their intentions but their results.

Sex sells.
End of story.
Tacky or not, it still makes us want to buy it.

It's not just tacky, it's harmful.

How is it harmful?

...the perpetuation of the sexual objectification of women?

It may be degrading, but as stated above, we did kind of ask for it with the whole "free women" thing.

I dont know, I dont really mind it. Hey if they look good doing it why not?

That's exactly what I'm talking about. 14/15-year-olds find it okay to look like a sex toy to men.

And you wonder why they think that we have "sexy" bodies and empty brains.

Taylor``

But this brings into the debate of whether or not media influences culture or culture leds to changes in media.

some people find it okay because it's in the media so much. others think because the media draws it influences from society, it's based on how society actually acts.

maybe media just reflects how society really is. or our society is based on how it is perceived to be by the media.

i think it's a mix of both. since the women's liberation movement, women have been more sexually active and more openminded about. fashion also drives it. i mean, if women found the clothes degrading or unappealing, designers wouldn't make any money. the attitude and the readiness women themselves invest in 'sexual' things (i.e, extremely revealing clothes) just makes the media use it to appeal back to them.

i don't mind as long as it's not too outrageous. those 13 year old sluts are just stupid and becoming more sexually active along with the rest of their generation.

A LOT

If the women don't want to be degraded, the don't have to take their clothes off to be seen as a sex object.
Theres a billion jobs out there besides modeling, that pay alot more.
Get an education.
Get a better job.
It's their own fault their being degraded.

^
... Are you viewing them negatively because of their job?

Beauty is a form of art that takes time and effort.

It’s a hard job to look really "beautiful", "amusing", and "artistic". You dont think so ?


They are people who spend alot of time for fashion, shoes, makeup, clothes, and using the riight products to enchance their looks.

They have to be really good at body angles, turning, positions, and be brave.


Who doesn’t want to look pretty?

We’re all different, we have taste, likes, and etc. i think everyone should respect that.


-----

A pretty good example of positive advertising clothes would be old navy. it gives me the .. "woohoo" feeling ... and sometimes .. "God, that's f**king annoying ...,”

At least, they did a pretty good job targeting the clothes.


---

i do agreed that the company should "tune" it down. It's way too much. I don’t think it's necessary to look that dramatically appealing. It's hurting alot of people by ... just looking at models.

It takes time and money? Yeah. But some people have natural beauty. That you cannot get out of a bottle, from a doctor, or from Armani.

IMO, There’s a fine line between beauty and art. With people, I mean. Art is beauty. However, some people, who can take the most amazing photograph in the world, are not that beautiful. Maybe to the common person they are. But we all already know what goes into that. Take Paris Hilton.

A little nose job
Some Blonde hair extensions
Maybe a few less calories?

Fine, she can do what she pleases, so can everyone else. But what happened to the days of oh, let’s say, the 50's? Marilyn Monroe was a curvy size 10. Now I don't know about you, but I'm between a 10 and a 12. She was also, I believe only about 5'9. That was considered beautiful. And she was. She had hips, breasts, and a BODY. Not a skeleton figure ghosting down a runway. These days, to become a model, you have to be ATLEAST 5'9 for girls and the SMALLEST size they will give you for runway is a six. Now, to get me and any average meat on the bones girl into a six, you need some Crisco and some lipo.
Yes, their job is to look beautiful. However, I think, the real reason why sex sells, is because over time we have lost what is beautiful, we have lost being able to be comfortable in our own skin. Loving our bodies for what they are, not what Dr. 90210 can make them. Not like these girls on these runways, and in these ads. Girls look up to them and say, "I want to look like that". And it ends up being the next case of Anorexia in Rehab. Honestly, I do not look up to the modeling world. I think it’s a hateful place full of drugs and mini skirts. Sex selling isn't a good image.



From a press release by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery-

"AACS continues to emphasize caution for teens wanting cosmetic surgery
As the mass media continues to bombard today's youth with images of airbrushed, unrealistic beauty, more and more teens are looking for a solution to those "growing pains" through cosmetic surgery. Through such outlets as "reality" television and the numerous teen publications, America's teenagers are seeking not only procedures such as breast augmentation or liposuction, but typical "baby-boomer" procedures such as injectables for wrinkle prevention."

That’s insane. This is something I heard on the news last year. Most girls were asking for breast implants for their high school graduations. Why? Why can't we be happy with our own bodies? Are they that bad!? You should be happy you’re not deformed. Furthermore, if you’re worried about a guy "not liking you" 'cause you got a few extra pounds, not all guys are like that. Some don't care. If you find a good boyfriend, they will love your body, all 150 pounds of it, and that extra slice of pizza.

My question is why are our minds so filled with trash these days?

I don't find it right, or cool. But if people want to become models then to get paid and to keep their living or how they want to come about it, they do what their told.

I usually just ignore the media. I don't go look at models or something odd like that. If they want to have a job like that, then good for them.

Exactly what I was going to say. Advertising is for the purpose of selling their clothes. If it's provocative, so be it. Unless it's degrading or contains something vulgar, I think risque advertisement is fine. And often very, very beautiful.

What we're talking about here is exactly about ads being degrading AND somewhat vulgar.