Our pal Mack sent us this link to the movie clip, "Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising's Image of Women" created by Jean Kilborne. All I have to say is wow! The clip is 34 minutes long but it is totally worth watching. Jean is speaking at a University class about how women are portrayed in print and tv advertising.
When you're flipping through a magazine and zipping through commercials on Tivo, you see the ads but most times don't get it much thought. But when you start to examine what is really out there and put it all together, the imagery and messages about how women should be, look, and act in our culture is not at all empowering.
As an example, Jean points out how women are told in one way or another to "keep quiet." That somehow our voices do not matter as much as men's, and that good girls "keep their mouth shut." Examples of this "keep quiet" messaging is seen in ads where the model has something covering her mouth like a hand, scarf, or turtle neck sweater. Or, the model has her finger over her mouth in the "Shhhhhh" position. I sat here and thought about that, and could recall at least 3 ads immediately where I saw the model in a "silent" position. Ye gads!
Jean Kilborne has done other movies related to the imagery of women in advertising, and speaks quite frequently at college campuses. Close to Back in Skinny Jeans' heart, Jean did a movie about the obsession with thinness called, "Slim Hopes Advertising & the Obsession with Thinness" I'm trying to get my hands on the clip, and will let you know what I think once I see the movie.
For now, you must watch Killing Us Softly 3.
