With the media becoming the main source from which today's society obtains daily information on products, news and entertainment, it is wise to think critically about the messages it sends us. These companies spend huge sums of money every day to get our attention. The question arises as to whether or not they have the best interest of their customers in mind and leaves the public with no other answer than to look at the advertisements they have produced. Consider the pistachio industry that uses a woman with a whip to attract the attention of onlookers. In reality, is a provocative image enough to sell us a simple bag of pistachios? With advertising decisions like these come negative consequences such as the common practice of objectifying and degrading women, along with influences on girls' cognitive growth. The use of overly suggestive women in advertising has led to emotional and cognitive problems in the youth population. women. In recent decades, the use of sexualization in advertising has become more common. Whether conscious or subconscious, the images and roles depicted send implicit messages to the impressionable minds of children. About 50% of teenage girls in the United States read teen or adult fashion magazines, and a high percentage of these are exposed to commercials and billboards with sexual images (What's the Big Deal). Since many of these advertisements model women to be beautiful with tiny waists, even skin, and large breasts, this becomes the standard for how other women should look, attainable or not. The American Psychological Association conducted research in 2007, which showed that "sexualization" in the media has a negative effect... middle of paper... positions (in various ways) send subconscious messages to all viewers and perpetuate the ideal image of beauty and gender roles. Since this is such a rampant issue spread across various areas of the media, no amount of action will solve the problem. Instead, resistance to these societies, combined with education within the family, is the simplest and most successful way to alter the effects of sexualization. Works Cited “American Psychological Association praises House bill to promote more positive images for girls.” Apa.org. American Psychological Association, March 24, 2010. Web. June 19, 2011. “What's the problem? Facts about girls, media and women.” Mediaandwomen.org. Girls, Women + Media Project, 2007. Web. 19 June 2011. Zurbriggen, Eileen, et al. “Sexualization of girls.” Apa.org. American Psychological Association, 2007. Web. June 19 2011.