Kilbourne Summary

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Cindy Montoya
Mr. Daher
English 5A
24 October, 2014
Kilbourne Summary
In the essay,
Two Ways A Woman Can Get Hurt
, Jean Kilbourne strongly explains how certain advertisements can harm women. She states that men and especially women are misrepresented as sex symbols in the media. Furthermore, women are characterized as subordinate as to men. For instance, she says, “The woman is rewarded for her sexuality by the man’s wealth.” Media advertising has chosen to appeal to either women or men specifically for a long time. In one ad she explains how a tie company advertises ties by seeing them laid in a messed up bed, as if indicating that this brand of tie will help you get laid. This also sends out a mixed message to men that a tie will actually help them score with women. In another advertisement, a man is standing over a woman while the women is saying, “no” but laughing or possibly screaming. Jean explains how men do not take “no” for an answer; an idea that she believes is the cause for many rapes.
In Europe, advertisements show men attacking women, supposedly because she is wearing a specific pair of jeans. Other acts of violence towards women are used. They even get to the point where women look purposely submissive and sexually inviting. Such tactics are still used today, even going so far as to encourage young women to tease and act obedient. Kilbourne points out that when these advertisements are displaying violence towards women, it will soon become more socially acceptable in our modern day society. In addition, advertisements that

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encourage women and young girls to act in a teasing manner further promotes sexual harassment and violence when resisted.
I agree with Jean Kilbourne's opinion that these types of ads can harm us more than they can help us. I also agree with her argument about how most men can't take no for an answer, and it almost looks like in some of the ads that the woman is saying no, but it can also mean that she is leading them on. This gives a false message to young men about women’s true intentions. I also like how she explains that women can be very judgmental and even cruel when it comes to another woman's sexual behavior. This is true because I think that most girls like to see themselves as good girls and that can be reassuring. In our mind, we think if we maintain the
"good girl" image, we will be safe and respected.
I believe it’s important and is our responsibility as citizens to scrutinize and reflect on marketing and advertising. We should bring light to the real messages we are giving to the public and to our children. We need to be educated and aware of exactly what advertising is creating to accomplish in our society.