Indya Hutchins
Mrs. Holliday
F.E.W. 7
30 October 2018
Creative title
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart ’” (English standard version 1 Samuel 16:7). Humankind likes labels because once they do classify people in a category, they aren’t threatening to them anymore. God doesn’t focus on our outside appearance, but rather what’s on the inside. This scripture discloses that our beauty should not originate from external adornment, for example, elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes which points us out. Rather, it should be that of our internal identity. Society often focuses on what we can see on the outside, but God sees straight to the heart.
The roles women play in the media are demeaning, demoralizing, and are dehumanizing. Specifically, Victoria secret advertisements by showcasing women of a thin and flawless nature in under garments. They are often portrayed as sexual objects, that are used for display or dummies. Women are constantly encouraged to achieve the look of a thin, tall, long-legged, no lines of wrinkles, no scars, pores, or blemishes and often feel ashamed and guilty if they fail. Unfortunately, women’s images in most advertisements are artificial that establish an impossible standard of physical perfection for women. In a print ad by Victoria Secret, a group of ethnically diverse women pose flirtingly for the camera in lingerie. The women have long and healthy hair, and suggestive facial expressions. Overall, the women have something in common, and they are all about 5’10, unnaturally skinny. In a like manner, Victoria secret’s print ad, has a woman with long hair, makeup, and poses with a suggestive look on her face in lingerie. She looks to be serious but flirty. In both advertisements, women are bombarded with pressure and the feel of insecurity about their bodies in hope they will spend money in products that will supposedly make them happier and more beautiful. These models depict an unrealistic standard of how women should view themselves, by being unnaturally thin and perfect. Print advertisements make unnatural thinness seem ordinary and acceptable. In transforming the unachievable, perfect body into something that really exists. Women in society can begin to think they cannot be perfect unless they look like this and that looking like this makes you a woman. The ideal, perfect thinness does not exist because it is ‘manufactured’ and refined by creative computer technologies. Media’s judgemental stereotypes can negatively affect women’s image of themselves leaving them to believe they are good enough to meet their standards.
Because of media’s condescending messages towards women, it leaves women feeling invaluable, used, and unrealistic. Media portrays women as sexy objects to be used wrongly by men. BMW’s advertisement women are being compared to premium used cars meaning that they only provide pleasure. It implies that this might not be the first man a woman has slept with, but it’s still worth taking it for a drive. The advertisement is showing a shirtless blonde woman that is looking at the viewer with a seductive look. She is laying on her back in a with her hands and looking into the camera with a suggestive look and her hair cascading around her face. This is telling women that men will suspect that they’re not pure and can use them as a tool…. Similarly, in Redtape’s print ad there are 4 women built with the perfect body of a small waist with protruding hips. These women are posing in angles to present to the man a better view of their assets in hopes of being chosen. Their position suggests to the readers that women are something that is just to be looked at. The women are located in an old-fashioned vending machine suggesting that females are something that can be bought. This ad depicts men as dominant and heroic. In the ad 3 out of 4 of the women’s eyes are focused on the man seeming to beg for his attention and company. This is how media portrays the thoughts of women wanting men to verify their life.
In spite of the fact that society today encourages harmful stereotypes and beliefs, the Bible nurtures an uplifting and alternative custom. In a biblical point of view, a godly woman should be virtuous. For example, in Proverbs 31 declares, “She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong[…] she makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.[…] Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue,” (English Standard Version, Proverbs 31:17,22,25-26). King Lemuel recounts advice from his mother of to not fall for women who are vain, because beauty can be deceitful. His mother speaks of an illustration befitting of a woman that he should seek. This woman described makes sure her appearance reflects her position as an influence in the community. In a like manner, women should be perceived as modest and pure likewise God provides instruction on the role of women in Christian worship. Paul illustrates in the writing of 1 Timothy by encouraging Timothy to lead his church in prayer: “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness with good works,” (English Standard Version, 1 Timothy 2: 9-10). In this passage Paul mentions the importance of prayer and how women dress and care for their hair. All should dress appropriately for worship of God and not focus on the motives. Therefore, whoever puts too much energy into their hairstyles suggest that their emphasis is on themselves, rather than on worshipping God. When worshipping the lord it is not meant to be a time to dress to impress. The main focus should be on Him. Women should not focus on their external appearance, but to exert effort into good works, be modest and an example of a godly woman.
The media is our source for our information. Therefore, the media holds power over us because it conveys messages about our society and what is accepted. We are exposed to proactive images that misconcept beauty and objectify women. These 2 ad’s are supposed to be promoting the things their brand specializes in rather they do the opposite by displaying things off topic. The effects of this are low self esteem that can trigger feelings of failure, disgust, and worthlessness. Furthermore, women begin to evaluate themselves based on what others think and their appearance. The consistent portrayal of women as sexual objects underestimates the ability of women to succeed in life and triggers feelings of shame.