How does the media affect our perception of sexuality?

There are many different pressures in our world today that are different from years ago. Everyday we are bombarded with ideas on the way we should look, talk, wear and everything in between. With TV and the internet there are many different advertisements that we see on a daily basis. People of all different ages see these advertisements and it most definitely affects our perception of sexuality.

This is an advertisement for Hollister, a store that many young teenagers love. Here, there is one girl and two boys and they are wearing little to no clothing. This ad is probably in the store, on their website, and on their shopping bags. This ad is giving the idea, if you wear clothes like this, then then you too will be with two good looking boys. This completely affects our perception of sexuality and gives young teenagers the wrong impression. Everyday we see ads just like this one and many people do not even realize it because it has become "normal" for us.

This advertisement is for Burberry perfume. You can't really see in this picture, but the woman is not wearing pants. This has nothing to do with the perfume that they are selling. Just like the movie, America the Beautiful, said the perfume ads are the most sexual. When I look at this ad, I do not think of perfume. Many men see this and think it is attractive. Women will then buy the product because of their perceptions. This is a vicious cycle of sexual connotations in our advertising world because with each new risque ad, there is a company or business that wants to "one up" the other. I never thought about how advertisements are altering our perception of sexuality, but now I do. Younger teenagers will subconsciously think that this behavior is "cool" and that is not a message we want to be sending. Through all of the different ads in the media, our perception of sexuality is completely affected.