These Men Ogled at Women – Until They Caught a Glimpse of Themselves

It's hard for women to explain the feeling of being objectified by the opposite sex. Whether it's at a bus stop, at the grocery store, or inside your own office, feeling someone's unsolicited stare is among the least comfortable sensations in the world. Although ogling is often glamorized in beer commercials (and pretty much any other advertisement targeted at men), it's nice to see an accurate portrayal of this. Yes, staring at a woman's breasts may seem cool and hip in a Corona commercial, but being on the receiving end of someone's leering does not feel so peachy.

If you're not convinced, take a look for yourself.

The video, created by the Whistling Woods International film school, was released on December 29, exactly one year after the horrific gang rape on a moving bus in India that sparked global outrage. The objectification of women is not a problem limited to India, and neither is rape. But it's one peg in the ladder of female oppression. Research shows that being exposed to the objectification of women correlates to higher tolerance for sexual harassment and rape myths. No wonder many people still believe rape is legitimate if "she was asking for it." When objectification is tolerated, other forms of violence against women become legitimate too. This is not to say that men cannot express lust or desire the opposite sex, but when the same gender is always the focus of this kind of attention, it creates undeniable harm. 

What kind of harm? The type that occurs after women and men see the beer commercial above. How can men be taught to respect women when they are flooded with images like these? 

Let's send a different kind of message. Let's be realistic about what objectification actually feels like, and talk about the collective damage it imparts on us. 

For more on gender, violence, and pop culture, follow Elizabeth Plank on Twitter and Facebook.