Originally Posted by Galedeep

The media has been using sex and sexualized images to sell sell sell for almost as long as most media has been around. I don't really agree with the term "brainwashing," because unless you are born and raised a complete shut-in, it's pretty quickly established that the real world isn't at all the way it is depicted in the media.

Sexualized images in the media does likely have some consequences, most people know that there was a lot of controversy over it causing eating disorders in young people who say the images portrayed in advertisments and on television and in movies as the "ideal" figure; but more often than not these days you see quite a number of ads marketing the idea of "real" and "natural" beauty and such. Still not perfect, but better than the past.

But still, "brainwashing" isn't the term I'd use.