America faces today is the debate of sex in advertising. Sex in advertisement is a major problem in the United States. It is in almost every advertisement we see. Some people don’t seem to notice because they have grown use to it while others Just turn their cheek the other way. Sex in advertising is sometimes referred to as sex appeal or sex ads. Sex ads are defined as any type of advertising that shows pictures of partially nude or wording that relates to the body in a sexual way, usually portraying women. Term Paper on Advertising.
Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) This would not be such a problem but there are so many of these provocative ads. “How many? ” you ask. Well the average American is exposed to 3,000 ads every single day. (Marks, 1999) 1 of every 3. 8 commercials incorporates some type of attractiveness-based message. (Brown, 1996) Sex sells by capturing the consumers attention. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) Advertisers will do whatever it takes to make people see their ads. Networks frequently use “sex as bait” to increase their ratings. Brown, 1996) The problems associated with sex in advertising are overlooked. One ad designer said, “It is suppose to be funny. People should not take it so seriously and literally. It is Just advertising. ” (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) But the problem goes farther than that. Advertising impacts everyone since we learn about society through it. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) Flashy advertisement catch the eyes of young children who are not ready for these types of mature ads. Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) These ads proclaim that they are “Just trying to get consumers attention”, but some ads can effect the way children think. A generation ago these ads about being “sexy’ were targeted at 1 5 10th year-olds, but now they are aiming them at 8 to 10 year-old girls. (Harris, 2001) When little girls see these ads they think that that is how they are suppose to look, dress, or think. Girls nowadays think it’s aroma to dress like little women. Harris, 2001) The children of America are seeing more sex in advertisement than ever. Even some PIG-13 movies show flashes of female nudity. (Harris, 2001) These movies and TV shows even sometimes influence their viewers. 75% of teenage girls who had sex said they did so because TV made it seem normal, like beyond was doing, or it was “cool”. (Harris, 2001) By age 19, 77% of girls and 85% of boys have had sex. (Harris, 2001) Most kids experience intercourse between the ages of 15 and 17. (Harris, 2001) All of this is the outcome of sex in advertising and sex in the media.
Over the past few years, protests over the deception of women in ads have grown. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) In sex ads, women are Just objects and men can so whatever they want to them. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) This starts effecting women both mentally and physically. Women in society start believing they aren’t good enough which results in a lower self-esteem and it could eventually lead to male domination. (Term Paper on Advertising.
Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) Reduction of sex ads will help stop the problem because women, children, and the rest of society wouldn’t be affected by so many of the offensive ads. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) Some people think banning sex ads is violating their freedom of speech, but there are laws that limit this freedom such as the FCC. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is an independent United States government agency.
The FCC is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Advertising is suppose to get peoples attention but it should get their attention in a normal, creative way, and not with an offensive imitation model that does not represent normal people. (Term Paper on Advertising. Essays, Research Papers on Sex In Advertising. ) In conclusion, sex in advertising is a major problem and should be taken seriously because sex in advertising is not Just advertising, it is a part of our society.