Ads Quote by Naomi Wolf
“The last thing the consumer index wants men and women to do is to figure out how to love one another: The $1.5 trillion retail-sales industry depends on sexual estrangement between men and women, and is fueled by sexual dissatisfaction. Ads do not sell sex--that would be counterproductive, if it meant that heterosexual women and men turned to one another and were gratified. What they sell is sexual discontent.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Beauty Myth, 1990
The retail industry profits from keeping people sexually dissatisfied, discouraging genuine intimacy.
In simple terms: Retail sells sexual frustration.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic connection over consumerist narratives.
Themes
consumerism
sexuality
media
relationship dynamics
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
critical
When to use this quote
- marketing strategy
- relationship counseling
- media literacy
- personal relationships
- social activism
Key Concepts
Capitalism
psychology of desire
Questions to Reflect On
- How does advertising shape our sexual expectations?
- What alternatives to consumer‑driven desire exist?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑rooted consumer habits is difficult.
![“The most recent incarnation of [Bob] Dylan has been the traveling journeyman/ charlatan who sings roots music, snarls dark lyrics that make "All Along the Watchtower" sound like a Disney tune, hosts an old-school radio show, and turns up in some unusual places, like ads for Chrysler and Victoria's…” quote by Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/734/jay-michaelson-15590_ads_the-most-recent-incarnation-of-bob-dylan_17700.jpg)
