Background: A common visual technique utilized in music videos, movies and advertising, is the use of women’s legs as framing devices for a scene or shot. An example from the documentary Dreamworlds II is a framing shot of a woman’s legs in the video Dirty Diana. In addition to the use of the legs, the woman’s vagina is emphasized by a light that shines through her legs. In the world of advertising we note many examples of objectification that rely on the use of legs as framing.

Focus on the Ads: Note that all of the ads use women's legs as a compositional element of the ad.

Why? How to Read Reaction to Ads Controversy Constructions Male Gaze Male Sex Violence Against Men Male Ads Male is Culture Phallic Male Fantasy Homophobia Male Normalization Man as Hero Men in Control Roles Normalization Exotics Women of Color Exotics Surreal Exotics General Difficult Femininity Dolls Naggers Body = Tool Nymphomania Male Objects No Subject Body Parts Becoming Objects Sex Objects Contorted No Product Connection More Body Parts Dehumanization Women as Stupid Women Consumers Women = Nature Only the Body Political Violent Women Faux Power Wet Women Reductionism Body as Landscape Captured Legs as Framing Violence Against Women Women and Fear Death Relationships Sexual Violence Competition Faux Lesbianism Linguistic Violence Constructions of Marriage U.S. Values Global Ads Social Class Ads Kids and Ads Ageism Video Games Advertisers Response Man Show Maxim Side by Side Mock Ads Progressive Ads New Constructions Social Change Bibliography Links Action Hall of Shame

Image 1	Image 2	Image 3	Image 4	Image 5
Image 6	Image 7	Image 8	Image 9	Image 10
Image 11	Image 12	Image 13	Image 14	Image 15
Image 16	Image 17	Image 18	Home