Question

According to Kilbourne, is human sexuality itself a taboo subject or problem, or is it an attitude toward sex that is the problem? Describe

Answer 1

According to Kilbourne, it is the attitude toward sex that is the problem. Sexuality is not a taboo as such because, sexuality is shown openly through forms of media such as advertisement.

However, as Kilbourne writes, there are 220 words for a sexually promiscuous woman and only 20 words for a sexually promiscuous man. She describes the language used in advertisements as the language of rape and yet, she says that it has been comfortably ignored by everyone.

She explains that the attitude with which sex is seen in advertisements is pornographic as it dehumanizes and objectifies people. Objectification is more in case of women where they are seen as passive, needy,dependent beings.

This attitude where women are seen as sex object is violent, according to Kilbourne. This violence is not only physical but also psychological whereby every woman tries to be the perfect woman shown in advertisements.