Letter to the Editor: Advertising Offensive to Women

Dear Editor,

During my daily scrolls through social media, I have come to realize the extent of women objectification in the media – especially in advertisements. It has been estimated in a recent CBS article that the average American sees approximately 5,000 advertisements per day, and of these advertisements, one of two portray women as sex objects. This incredibly high number of sexual graphics seen by the average American citizen is causing an enormous impact on girls, women and the youth of our society.

Magazines tend to send mixed messages regarding gender ideals and body image – which affects the way women view themselves.The sexualization of women is related to the development of eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression and overall negative feelings regarding themselves as a whole. Advertisements have given our society an unrealistic portrayal of the meaning “beautiful,” and if these standards are not met women feel as though they are not good enough.

I recently stumbled across a campaign that really spoke to me known as #womennotobjects, that I would like to make known to you and the students of this University. The movement was made by a group of women whose goal is to “end objectification in advertising” and to “teach girls that their worth is not their weight, their looks or their body parts, but who they are, what they have to say, and what they can do.” I believe that every female at this school should hear this message.

Drew Greene

Class of 2018