Killing Us Softly

"Killing Us Softly" is a documentary presentation of gender representation in the media by Jean Kilbourne. Although this topic is generally discussed to death, this documentary is so well done. Kilbourne discusses the objectification of both men and women in the media through very specific advertisements she finds on television and in magazines. Her approach is unique because she shows exactly how advertising depicts constant power struggles in society.She does this by showing how womens bodies are literally portrayed as objects, and how society reacts to and interprets these messages. This objectification contributes to violence towards women because men begin to view women as objects and not human beings. Not only does Kilbourne talk about objectification, but she also talks of the gender roles in society of both men and women. She explains how advertisements contribute to how both men and women are supposed to be presented in society. Men are put in this macho strong image. When men don't live up to this image they are criticized and insulted by being compared to women ( being called a pussy, bitch etc). Kilbourne shows how women are constantly depicted as submissive and meek. We see constant images of women with their mouths covered in some way, or being always dominated by the make role in some way. Even when the women is in front in advertising, if there is a male in the picture he will have control in some way. She also shows how this control is reflected in race and class. The white women is constantly overshadowing a black women or black male.
Some of the images Kilbourne shows are very shocking, even though if you saw them in a magazine you wouldn't have thought twice about it. She pin points very obvious clues to how the media displays gender and race, and how in return we respond and conform to it.