Exploitation of Women in the Media

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Exploitation of Women in the Media “Most women in today’s media are viewed as sex objects, and most advertisements use this as a way to sell a product and 88% of the students do realize that the presence of a female model grabs the attention of the viewer’s more.” This is an excerpt written by Nana Tapsi from a Nation Journal in an article written specifically on television advertisements exploiting women. I am willing to bet that most to all of women and young girls are affected by unachievably beautiful women shown in all types of media, even if they do not know it. Advertisements, a major type of media, not only try to persuade us to buy a product, but also persuade us to follow the social norm and presence of the individuals, mostly geared towards women, in each advertisement. When women are exposed to advertisements of perfectly beautiful and half dressed women over and over again, it begins to make an impact and they believe that their bodies should look that way (Kumud, Tikshan, and Tapsi 1-4). According to Stephanie Berberick, author of the article, “The Objectification of Women in Mass Media: Female Self-Image in Misogynist Culture,” written in the New York Sociologist, “In addition to the 91% of cosmetic surgeries underwent in the U.S. being performed on women, there is also a similarly disturbing trend of females with eating disorders. The National Eating Disorder Association reports that ten million American women are afflicted with Anorexia or Bulimia Nervosa.” Women have always been exploited in the media, but over the past few years, it seems to have gotten even worse. The numbers of plastic surgeries and cases of eating disorders have increased, and it is not a coincidence that the intensity of exploitation of women has increased as well. Women are being told how to act, when to wear make-up and how their bodies should look. How are women being
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