Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women

Killing Us Softly focuses on images of women in advertising and the effects they may have on women’s self-image. First appearing in 1979 and revised several times to reflect changes in the social climate, the film explores gender stereotypes and the objectification of women’s bodies.

The documentary takes a critical tone towards the advertising industry and is drawn from a lecture by Jean Kilbourne. Kilbourne argues that low self-esteem in women can be directly linked to the objectification and unrealistic portrayals of women in advertising. Killing Us Softly also explores the idea that there is a thin line between advertising and pornography, as well as the impact such imagery may have on future generations within a patriarchal and sexist society.