Yes, Women Are Beautiful

But Enough is Enough!

For about as long as I can remember, women have been an object of sexuality in our media. Yes, I understand that “sex sells,” and yes, people want to make money and promote their product, but at what cost?

When I think about how women are portrayed in the media, I immediately think of the Carl’s Jr. commercials. For as long as I can remember, Carl’s Jr., has used a variety of different beautiful women to launch their specialty burgers. From Paris Hilton to Kim Kardashian and Heidi Klum to Kate Upton, Carl’s Jr. has proven that beautiful women love eating their delicious burgers. The women are often times wearing as little clothing as possible; skimpy little bikinis that cover just enough, yet still leave a little something to the imagination, just a little something. But if we are to be real for a second, I have no idea what burger they are promoting, however, I do remember them dancing in front of a car or walking in a farmer’s market, and various sauces dripping all over their bodies. After watching the commercials, I don’t have a real desire to go out and buy a burger, but I do want to look up who the beautiful model was in the commercial. Who is she, what does she do, what makeup does she wear, where does she buy her clothes? Sadly, I want to be just like her.

I remember growing up, watching commercials on television, and looking at advertisements in the magazines, thinking to myself that’s how I want to be when I grow up. The women always looked so flawless and beautiful, without any wrinkles or fat. They had the perfect bodies; gorgeous faces, flat stomachs, and killer curves. It was as though, these women were perfect, in every way possible.

Sadly, that “perfect woman” is an unrealistic ideal, that unfortunately is not even real herself. With the amount of Photoshop and editing that goes into making the perfect commercial or advertisement, it’s almost impossible to look like these ads. Sadly, the majority of young teens, including myself, strive to attain such ideals, thinking this is what real beauty is.

It’s important to teach the youth, especially young women about the dangers of becoming too focused on attaining “perfection.” Sure looks are important, but they aren’t and shouldn’t be the most important in life. I know it’s cliché, but personality is just as important. It’s also important to know your worth and never underestimate just how beautiful you really are.

Honestly, more than ever these commercials and advertisements have almost nothing to do with the product themselves, however, because of an attractive women our eyes are immediately told to look and stare, wondering if we really need that product in our life. At times, it might not even be a picture of a woman, but rather a certain part of the body, that catches our attention.

I feel like the problem then becomes when we associate something that’s not sexual as something that is. For example, many people are offended when mothers breastfeed in public, however, they fail to recognize that it’s something natural, they are just trying to feed their kid. The only reason why it viewed as a problem, is because we automatically associate a woman’s breast with not food, but rather something explicit and sexual. I used to make my sister cover up when she would decide to feed my niece, however, I soon realized that I needed to change my thinking. Society has molded us into thinking to immediately associate a woman’s body as being sexual, rather than natural. Yes, a woman’s body is beautiful, but when it’s portrayed as something to lust and desire after, then a line needs to be drawn.

Advertisements and commercials need to change the way that they portray women. I feel as women ourselves we should have more respect for ourselves and our bodies, and take control instead of allowing society to exploit them.