Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt

“Turning a human being into a thing, an object, is almost always the first step toward justifying violence against that person (428).” When a person is depicted as a sex object, it becomes easier for a viewer to see this person as less than a person. If a man or woman becomes just another thing to own, they will not be treated kindly. Most people do not treat things with care, for things have no feelings. The objectification of women is extremely troubling because “there is a world of difference between the objectification of men and that of women. The most important difference is that there is no danger for most men, whereas objectified women are always at risk (430).” Although sexist to a degree, women are physically weaker than men and are more susceptible to violence. Women are beaten and abused every day, and so when a magazine ad shows a woman about to be shot, the ad seems to downplay the atrocity of violence against women. The treatment of men as sex objects is not fair either, but “men are not likely to be raped, harassed, or beaten (430).” The objectification of women is troubling and disturbing, made more so by the statistics about date rape and domestic violence Kilbourne lists. I found the ad on page 425 to be especially shocking, the one with the woman being attacked by three men. I know no one who would be inspired to purchase a pair of jeans after seeing an ad glorifying a potential rape scene. I think it’s horrible that companies, like Calvin Klein, are pleased when they receive negative publicity for a disgusting ad.