I just heard Sue-Mei Thompson's speech at The Women's Foundation (TWF) Luncheon that was held in recognition of International Women's Day. As CEO of TWF, her foundation's mission this year is to change/correct the viewpoints projected by the media that subject young women to the double-standard and unrealistic expectations in society. A documentary project called "She Objects" is in the works along with other TWF educational efforts to reach out to the youth as part of one non-profit group's intervention.
This is a lot like one person trying to change the course of a tidal wave.
The problem is not with the media. They are just the medium of communication.
The problem is not with the advertisers. They are just reflecting what consumers want.
The problem is with society. We literally buy into these messages of what 'beauty' is.
We can deny all we want, but the fact that we are shelling out hundreds of dollars on a moisturizer shows advertisers and the media that they are simply reflecting what we want to see, what we want to be.
Which one came first: The chicken or the egg? The consumer's aspiration or the advertiser that capitalizes on this desire? Perhaps it's the result of constant evolution between the two. An evolution that builds one upon the other, influenced by the social and culturally accepted notions of that time.
This is a lot like one person trying to change the course of a tidal wave.
The problem is not with the media. They are just the medium of communication.
The problem is not with the advertisers. They are just reflecting what consumers want.
The problem is with society. We literally buy into these messages of what 'beauty' is.
We can deny all we want, but the fact that we are shelling out hundreds of dollars on a moisturizer shows advertisers and the media that they are simply reflecting what we want to see, what we want to be.
Which one came first: The chicken or the egg? The consumer's aspiration or the advertiser that capitalizes on this desire? Perhaps it's the result of constant evolution between the two. An evolution that builds one upon the other, influenced by the social and culturally accepted notions of that time.