The story of Eve in the Book of Genesis bears many similarities with young girl’s today and the pressures of the media. Eve’s encounter with the serpent in the Garden of Eden can bring insight to the struggles of every female that today’s consumer culture often promises to bring. Weak-willed, a temptress, and the cause of mankind’s mortality, history has painted a rather negative image of Eve. Today, females are portrayed in the same manner on TV, movies, ads, billboards, fairy tales, music videos, and magazines.
Just as the serpent persuasively tempted Eve, advertisements cunningly tap into females’ insecurities and vulnerabilities. Advertisements have worked in ways that convince females that they are hardly ever enough. It persuades women to constantly have new wants. Advertising performs in ways similar to the tree of knowledge. By revealing an ideal setting of divine bliss, a prosperous life is suggested to come with the product that you buy whether it be skin care goods, perfume, etc.
As Eve was banished from the Garden of Eden, she was left with the words that her “desire shall be for her husband” and he shall rule over her. In many cultures, one of women’s most important aspirations in life was to be suitable for a man who would provide for her. In Africa, a girl is made to gain weight to improve her chances of marrying as an overweight wife is the ultimate status symbol sending signs of wealth and reflecting fidelity. Many fairy tales carry a pattern in which the male character becomes the hero. He grants joy and happiness to the female character’s life as they “live happily ever after.” They typically show what great lengths a female would go to to be worthy of a man.
Unfortunately, the story of Eve has led to the misconception of women and the misleading ideals of what a woman should be. One must be aware of the past and the reality of the present for things to change.
To understand women, one must come to terms with Eve.