Blog 7: Miss Representation

This documentary was basically about all the different ways media is hurting the image and self-esteem of women. Coming from the perspective of someone going into the marketing and advertising industry, the images and videos shown are so very familiar.  Sex sells. Is it right? Not even in the slightest.  But that’s the strategy that plays into many advertising campaigns.  Playing on people’s insecurities is something the advertising industry has been doing for a while.  There are numerous adverts dating way back that play women off as “dumb” (see the Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Ford Skyliner commercial).

. 

Once again, it isn’t something I agree with.  One of the ways to stop media from portraying women poorly, is to stop buying the media.  Stop watching it. Stop buying the magazines. Stop buying the products that were promoted by sexualized and unrealistic portrayals of women.  Another way to combat this terrible picture that has been painted by media is through parenting.  The woman narrating was talking about how she worries about bringing up her baby girl in this media.  As parents, we need to teach our children that what the media projects is wrong.  We need to teach them that their self-worth is not defined by a magazine/actress/model.  They need to know that they are beautiful and powerful no matter what size they are.  I hope that one day we can put an end to this harmful media and use advertising to empower individuals rather than play on their insecurities. 

As a side note, there are companies trying to combat the negative images of women. Also, there is the HeForShe campaign which promotes gender equality (http://www.heforshe.org/).

Here’s the Dove evolution campaign: 

Always #LikeAGirl campaign: