Sexualized Women
More and more often women are being presented as sex objects or sex toys. While such images and portrayals were formerly deemed pornographic, they are now considered "commonplace." The consequences, however, are that women and girls "learn to sexualize themselves, to see themselves as sexual objects" (Kilbourne 2010). Not only that, but "all of these sexual images are not designed to sell us on sex, they're designed to sell us on shopping," and therefore a woman's sexuality has lost credibility even in her own personal life (Kilbourne 2010).
While this ad is meant to announce that an American Apparel store is now open for business, it is simultaneously implying that this woman is also open and available for sex, a subject which as nothing to do with clothing.
This ad is meant to sell men's accessories, but in fact portrays a naked woman as the carrier and show-stand for the products. Notice that while the ad is attempting to sell shoes, her own feet are bare.
In the case of this ad it is almost impossible to decipher what it is advertising, for all you can see are breasts. The only visible link between the text and the image is the number 8 and the fact that there are eight individual breasts.
This ad is attempting to sell cologne for men by placing the cologne bottle in various positions on a naked woman's body. The cologne itself has nothing to do with the female anatomy, and yet the bottle placed between this woman's breasts and precariously covering her vagina was thought to be an effective advertisement by this marketing committee.
This ad is not only sexual, but it also portrays a woman as an object, for as Jean Kilbourne put it, "she has morphed into Gucci" (Kilbourne 2010). Therefore, this man is not only kneeling in worship of her vagina and pubic hair, but he is also worshipping the brand.