Sex is one of the most controversial and enticing topics in the media today. No wonder it has become a dominant marketing strategy: It appeals to a basic human interest in sex and uses it to persuade the public. Sex, as a marketing tool, has become extremely pervasive in the United States today. An individual living in America will definitely be exposed to this marketing tool. The music industries, television commercials, magazines and other advertising media have succumbed to this marketing technique. The fact that companies use people's natural interest in sex to sell their products is shocking. The way advertisers use sex appeal to sell their products reflects poorly and undermines the morals of our society. Throughout history, sex has been used to sell products. In 1871, the Pearl Tobacco brand used the image of naked women to sell their product. The exposure of sex in marketing slowly transformed, and “at the beginning of World War II, pin-up girls began to introduce sex into mainstream advertising” (“Sex as a Marketing Tool”). Twenty-one years after World War II, “Swedish bombshell Gunilla Knustson told men to 'Take it off, Take it all off' in a commercial for Noxzema shaving cream” (Reichert, “History of Sex…” ). Double entendres, such as “Take it off, Take it all off” sparked interest and started appearing more and more. With the introduction of television in 1946, sex in marketing was able to find a massive new outlet. Sex has been a part of marketing for a long time, but only recently has it become overly used. It is now causing an invisible burden on society. In the past the media has always straddled the line between just enough sex appeal and too much, but only… middle of paper… confused about the importance of sex and what it means to love another. person later in life; because of the advertisements they once saw that promoted immediate pleasure as something of value (similar to the effects of porn). This could lead to a lifetime of risky behavior and defaults. The article goes on to state that “41% of parents said they had seen programs or advertisements on TV, before 9pm, that they considered unsuitable or inappropriate for children, due to their sexual content” (Wintour). These parents understand that it is inappropriate to expose children to indiscriminate sexual content at an early age. A child should know their own anatomy before seeing two fully grown adults exchanging sexual gestures. Sex in marketing needs to be better controlled so that children can mature, know and appreciate the positive value of sex.