The Truth Behind the Billboards
We first saw this video some time ago while speaking at a conference in Canada, and I have to say we’ve never forgotten it. It communicates a revealing and powerful message, providing a rare glimpse past the magazine covers and billboards of seemingly perfect women…to the small army of hair, makeup, lighting, and photoshop professionals who make those images possible. In other words ladies, those images aren’t REAL! Check it out!
What do you think? Are you shocked? Do you feel a little bit set free or encouraged? Or perhaps a little angry? We want to hear your thoughts!
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So what’s the point in even having a real person to start with? If they can do all that with computers, why not start with a computer image?
Hello! I was very happy to find this today, because a couple things I came across in the 24 hrs prior, had me thinking about the objectification of women in our culture.
I watched an episode of Dating in the Dark online last night to see what it was all about. What happened to one particular woman stood out to me. She came on the show saying she’s been told she’s “cute,” but not that she’s “sexy,” as if you can be one but not the other. This made me sad, because many women in our culture can relate to her insecurity, but she was perfectly gorgeous! If God created you to have sex, you are sexy! When what she looked like was finally revealed to the guy she felt she had connected really well with, suddenly he had a “dilemma” because of her looks. He ranked her a 7 out of 10. But she was gorgeous! She’ll probably remember that the rest of her life. (I won’t tell you what I wanted to do with his ranking system!)
THEN, earlier today I came across a confession of an engaged guy on a Christian forum, admitting that while he finds his fiance “pretty,” he struggles with comparing her to other women and focusing on all the ways he wishes he could change her appearance. Many mature Christians responded wisely and gently to him, understanding that this kind of “entitlement” mindset is what our sex-obsessed culture produces, and he was being honest and seeking help. I, however, was incensed! Twice in less than 24 hrs, I had come across situations in which women were being objectified, compared to other women, and made to feel bad about themselves. I wanted to tell the guy that I hope he doesn’t marry her, because I wish so much better than that for her, whoever she is.
So to respond to your question…obviously, I am angry! Our sex-obsessed culture produces men who objectify women, and women who feel insecure about themselves…then compromise themselves and compete (turn against one another) to win the love and attention of men with “entitlement” issues. All of it is ridiculous, and all of it is based on LIES, as this video clearly pointed out.
I am not a feminist, but I do feel angry about the way women are objectified in our culture. I think that women are made to feel insecure about themselves for the most petty or nonexistent reasons, and then men complain about our issues with insecurity and say they want a “confident” woman. All I have to say to that is…if you contributed to the problem (by watching porn, or whatever), then you shouldn’t complain about the consequences. It’s a big mess. I think it can be compared to the age-old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg. I don’t know if men objectified women first, or if women volunteered to be objectified first…but either way, this is a sad mess.
I want out! Thank God through Jesus we can find healing and hope!
[...] love this video. It’s on YouTube, but I found it on the blog of the wonderful woman who changed my marriage even though we never met; Shannon Ethridge. [...]