Readers Response Two

In "Two ways a man can hurt a woman", the author, Kilbourne discuses the effect of advertising and the media on women. In general, the essay appears as an introduction to themes probably discussed later in the book, and serves to inflame the reader's conscience. I assume the later, because the tragically nebulous nature of the author's writing obscures her purpose.

Kilbourne bemoans the victimization of women through the media through sexist arguments. “Wouldn't it be wonderful if, realizing the importance of relationships in all of our lives, we could seek to learn relational skills from women and to help men develop these strengths in themselves?” (Kilbourne 578). To which I should reply, Pardon my gender ma'am, I didn't realize that I needed an emotional education from a woman.

Kilbourne goes further to describe the objectification of both male and female bodies, but she's quick to point out that feminine objectification is worse. Kilbourne describes it as a form of cultural abuse. To me, this position is morally indefensible. I feel that the word abuse is much too strong to attach to advertisements depicting unattainable bodies. Additionally, those advertisements she describes as pornographic seem to be a matter of taste. If we police material on the basis that some persons may find it pornographic, don't we limit advertisers ability to practice free speech? She describes the advertisements as enabling sexual abuse, but she does not describe a link between advertisements and media and abusive behavior. Perhaps she does so later in the book, but in this passage, that association seems like an illogical leap. Ultimately, all abuse is wrong, and we as a society need resolution. However, to suggest such an association is irresponsible at best. Perhaps I would have found suggestions for improvement to be appropriate, given the nature of her argument.

Kilbourne also describes a link between addiction and abuse, although the link is unsubstantiated with academic citation. One can assume that she includes her “cultural abuse” as one of the forms of abuse. A crucial byproduct of power is responsibility. To upraise exposure to advertisements as abuse seems to lessen the responsibility of the observer for their actions upon exposure. We can agree that the reasons advertisers promote their products in the way that they do is because they are successful. If we suggest that people who purchase these products do so outside their control, we lessen their responsibility and power.

In effect, Kilbourne's arguments pertaining to advertising and their effect on women are ill-based. The points she raises about the magnitude and pervasiveness of violence are potent, but the connections she draws with regard to advertisements do not follow. If these connections are formed more fully in the book to which this passage belongs, that would change my critique. But that begs the question, why would such a passage be included in a collection of writings such as this textbook? This passage is challenging, and it questions things I held as self evident. While captivating, it fails in the art of persuasion.