Possibilities for Activism

I do not believe in any form of censorship. I believe that education is the way to create a more active citizenry who will take action against such messages in our midst and work for a more equitable political economy.

Speak Out

• Write to the magazines or advertising firms that print sexist and racist images to express your disgust. Write to the companies that have conceived these sexist ads. Most of the images in the collection include information about the companies and sources they came from.
• Write letters to the editor of prominent local newspapers protesting the content and messages of advertising campaigns.
• The collection includes an "analysis" page link. If you would like to submit your comments or analysis of particular images, please send them to webmaster and they will be posted with the image.

Educate

• Learn more about the ways in which our culture perpetuates violence against women and other oppressed groups. Then share this information with your friends, family, co-workers, and professors. Spread the word about the harmful effects of the media's exploitation of women and other subordinate groups.
• Construct a counter-ad campaign. See Adbusters.org, http://adbusters.org/spoofads/printad/, for instructions on making your own parody print ad. Their instructions here are also a good introduction to the structuring of ad messages in general.

Boycott

• Do not purchase the magazines that run sexist and racist ads. Boycott the products and companies that sponsor them. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Back to Sexism and Advertising Exhibits