Image Quote by Sadiqua Hamdan
““Magazine and television advertisements have me subconsciously believing that a sexy airbrushed image can sell a lot more canned tomatoes than without this image. Who’s to say that a dolled up vagina can’t buy me love? Yet this is what we teach our daughters through these images. It’s the makeup, manicures, pedicures, closet full of clothes, the size of our boobs, the perfection of our skin and shininess of our hair – this is what secures us love. We teach our sons to love women who look a certain way. We teach our men to support this belief system, and it’s constantly reinforced by false advertisements. It’s like that one cheesy but lovable song we can’t stop playing. We may forget about it for a while, but the minute we hear it again, it’s on repeat a few hundred times. “How can we be lovers if we can’t be friends?” you may ask. This is a question for Michael Bolton and whoever wrote the lyrics to it.””
About This Quote
Source Opinion Piece: Body Image and Media, The Guardian, 2020
The quote critiques how advertising shapes unrealistic beauty standards, teaching both genders to value appearance over authentic connection.
In simple terms: Ads push harmful beauty ideals.
Key Takeaway
Challenge media narratives.
Themes
beauty standards
media influence
gender expectations
Mood
critical
empathetic
Type
social
cultural
When to use this quote
- marketing campaigns
- social media
- fashion industry
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
consumerism
self‑esteem
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- What steps can individuals take to resist harmful beauty norms?
- How can media be held accountable for body image?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs is slow and complex.
