Which of these ten sexist ads do you think is the worst? Why?

Question

Here's About-Face's link to their Gallery of Offenders, the Top Ten Current Most Sexist Ads:
http://www.about-face.org/goo/newten/6/index.shtml

Answer 1

Four bothers me the worse because of the suggestion of kicking a woman in the rear. It's potentially damaging to the male psyche. It's the sort of subliminal messaging that can induce violence or sexual abuse.

Six bothers me second worse because it encourages under-aged females to engage in sexuality and place excessive values in accessories. What are the accessories for? The ad suggests that it is a good way to get a man's attention.

Two reduces woman to a single body part while creating more pressure on a woman to have a certain body image at all costs. Even if it means getting unhealthy implants.

Number one is kind of hard to take seriously because it is so
disgusting. Those two look like the sleazy young executive and the whore of babylon.

Answer 2

The designers of that website need to lose the halloween theme...that orange and black is realllly intense. I think the ads are disgusting in some cases, sad in others; I think some of them are very artistic--I like the anorexic looking girl in the first one. The one that interests me most is the lady in red. Lying in a gutter somewhere, presumably raped and murdered. The headline cries: "if animals were shown this way people would be up in arms. Why is it acceptable to show women dead for fashion?" Indeed. Why is it acceptable to show people dead for entertainment?

Why is the graphic dissection of the (dead) human brain and body so common in the media? I get four channels and they seem to rotate between CSI Miami/New York; Law and Order (and all of its variations) and Criminal Minds. That's between the news--which isn't much different. I listen to these shows on occasion, and they are so disturbing. The screaming, the graphic reconstruction of horrible crimes, the images of autopsies--it's all so much. But death and murder sell those shows because that's what the public (apparently) wants.

Do I think they're sexist? I think in the case of that particular image, they're just an extension of a general preoccupation with violent death. This image is sexist because of the inferences of rape and murder. But she's remains beautiful. Would a man be posed in that way to sell a product?

Answer 3

Number 4 seems to me to pretty explicitly sexualize violence and to involve dehumanizing imagery.

Some of the other analyses were bosh and the ads were guilty more of stupidity and tastelessness than sexism.

EDIT

I am dismayed that so many men are saying none of the ads are sexist and that no other women mentioned 4. Using a branding iron on a woman's naked behind as she's posed sexually (and doesn't seem to mind?) This is BLATANTLY sexualizing violence and the branding (as one would cattle) is CLEARLY dehumanizing.

As I said, some of the others are vulgar, stupid, downright asinine, but 4 is just WRONG!

EDIT

Sorry. Tera did mention 4.

Answer 4

I hate ads that promote size 0 women. Many of the girls today look less healthy than the prisoners at Auschwitz. These ads have been having a devastating effect on the psyche of young girls everywhere. What happened to the days when a size 4-6 was skinny but healthy? Now those girls are "fat" by today's standards. It is sick.

Answer 5

Hey we live in a Capitalist society, Sex sells. Advertisers, have studied and educated themselves as to what gets the attention of the demographic they are trying to sell to. The ads get the attention of the right people and the company makes the money that's how it goes, its not the media that's making women an object its society's acceptance of these ads, that make women an object.

Answer 6

Definitely number 8 — ads that insult a woman's effort to assert herself almost infallibly get the "worst" rating from me.

Answer 7

I have to say, the worst (they were all bad!) were #2, 4, and 5...4 and 5 being the very worst...very disturbing. Objectification of women mixed with violence is the last thing we need to see, the last thing we need to encourage. (It's what rapists and serial killers do!) I can't believe the level of irresponsible, harmful advertising!

Thank you for posting these. Hopefully it will get people to think!

Answer 8

There's nothing sexist about any advert because this is in the eyes of the beholder. This girl obviously does this for a living and no doubt does quiet well. This is her job to present this image. Its called advertising. Look it made you notice!

You looking at any man in any way you choose could be described as being sexist.
This is a concept view.
Then there is the advertising view.
When a women is attracted to a man in any way this could be described as a sexist approach.
Just because something is more revealing doesn't always mean its sexist.
It may be a demeaning representation of a woman or a man.
But certainly not sexist.
If you see a man topless in an advert is that sexist to you as well? Or a man advertising underwear just in briefs?
A woman or a man in a bikini at the beach?

Answer 9

#1, 2,and 6 were most offensive. I have noticed that women are usually scantily clad in ads while men are well dressed. The perfect portrayal of the sex objects.

Answer 10

I think the one with the dead woman is the worst. It's really sickening - how on Earth could they think that ad is something anyone wants to see? Ugh. They're all pretty bad, really. And thanks for the cool link. :-)