"... It creates a climate in which there is widespread violence against women."

[redqueen]

"I'm not at all saying that an ad like this directly causes violence, it's not that simple, but turning a human being into a thing is almost always the first step toward justifying violence against that person."

Jean Kilbourne

I'm sure most of us are aware of Jean Kilbourne's Killing us Softly documentaries, but for those who aren't, here's a clip. I post this in the hope that it generates an enlightening and interesting discussion.

[SouthernLiberal]

1. It's all in the little things

I still remember looking at a high-end catalog in the 1980's. The time is important, because for one brief moment in fashion, business dress for both men and women included a button-down shirt. Pretty much the same shirt for both men and women, even to the point where the women's version made no allowance for a bust.

The men's shirt pages showed a sizing chart, which I suppose was necessary, because there were 42 different sizes. These were combinations of neck and sleeve sizes, of course.

The women's shirts, all but identical to the men's shirts, came in four sizes - small, medium large and extra large.

I suppose if they had slapped me in the face, it might have been a wee bit clearer that they really did not want my business.

[tammywammy]

2. I've seen this before

It's a great lecture. Unfortunately what did stand out to me was the first photo she uses of Ana Carolina Reston (the Brazilian model that died from anorexia) is photoshopped. I remember seeing it years ago in an email chain or possibly here on DU, I don't remember exactly. Other than that, her points are right on target. The issue with magazine/advertising perfection growing, more men are having eating disorders as well due to the nature of men in advertising.

[seabeyond]

3. i love this woman. this is the best. and noted what tammywammy said. thanks. nt

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. "turning a human being into a thing is almost always the first step in justifying violence

against that person"

The military has long known this, dehumanization of the enemy is built in to the drills, marching songs, everything. Ultra machismo, including degradation of women is also a part of the military.

The KKK, the Nazis, every totalitarian government, every terrorist organization, every force for power and control over another group has known this and acted on it.

But in terms of the result of such dehumanization on women, even those who understand the process and stand for the rights of the oppressed have a hard time understanding that women ARE commodified, that it comprises a dehumanization and that the result is staring us in the face, in terms of increased violence against women.

[CrispyQ]

5. It's much more insidious with women

because they are not actually advocating violence when they portray a woman as a bottle of beer. In fact, I'd wager most people would say it's pretty benign to make a woman look like a bottle of beer. They don't see how that could lead to violence. It's not like war/the KKK/the Nazis, where they actually advocate the destruction of a group. "It's a beer bottle after all." I doubt a lot of women see a problem with it either, until they are educated by lectures like this & forums like this & documentaries like Miss Representation.

This was an excellent vid.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. right; it's insidious because it's not a clear call to violence

It's kind of an open ended experiment, you could say, in dehumanization without calling for a specific response to Women as a group.
But there is a clear result. Making the connection between dehumanization and attitudes toward women is what women's studies do, but that awareness has a rough time permeating the larger culture.