Response to Blog #2 by Stephanie

I think that Kilbourne’s basic thesis is that the media and advertisements are creating an image of what is beautiful in our society that is just downright unrealistic. These unreachable goals for beauty create public health problems such as an obsession with thinness and violence against women because the media objectifies them. Kilbourne’s message is for us to recognize these issues and take a stand against them.
I believe that the media does have a responsibility for creating these unrealistic goals and ridiculous expectations of beauty. The images that they continue to fill adds, T.V., and movies with give society the idea that those images are what it beautiful and nothing else. People can’t help but feel the pressure to try to achieve these ridiculous images. If the media would start portraying more normal and realistic images via their advertisements and characters, less people feel this horrible pressure and less people would live their lives with such low self-esteem.
As women and consumers we can push back by, first of all, maintaining a positive body image. If we take care of ourselves solely to stay healthy and make OURSELVES happy, we can be influential on other women who are trying to attain unrealistic images. Also, we can push back by boycotting brands and products of companies that are repeat offenders in objectifying humans and portraying them in unrealistic ways.
I wouldn’t say that turning a person into a thing is the first step toward violence in every case, but in some cases yes. Psychological studies of murderers and physical abusers have shown that in many cases their motive for their actions is to assert their power over and individual and therefore, make themselves more powerful. Objectification of humans can contribute to them being able to feel more powerful over another person. Men and women who view their spouses and simply “eye candy” or “trophy wives” are more likely to be violent toward them because they do not view them as humans.