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Skin Deep
Posted under Mothering, Soapbox, Women's Issues by Recovering Straight GirlYou may have seen these print ads from Dove,
Which I think are brilliant. But today, (on Today,) I saw an interview with two representatives from Dove talking about the company’s new, Campaign for Real Beauty. The campaign focuses on educating women and girls about the onslaught of self-esteem killing ads of which we see everyday of our lives and how those ads mold our young girls. The video Onslaught is so powerful and I can honestly tell you that tears came to my eyes while watching it. The other video, Evolution, shows a model who comes in for a photo shoot, and how much “work” it takes (including photo-shopping,) to get her to look like she does on the billboard. At the end of the video, it says, “No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.” Here is a picture from the video, but you must see it for yourself,
I was very inspired by this website, the content, and the videos. I have always tried to not make negative comments about my body in front of my children but I know I slip sometimes.
I admit, I would love to have a tummy tuck and I know this makes me a bit shallow. I know that my body is a road-map of my life and that it looks the way it does because of what I have done with it. But still, I can’t help but wish I had a tummy that was flat, boobs that were firm and perky and no dimples on my ass. I also realize that no amounts of exercise will give me those things. Three pregnancies, three cesarean births and many, many, many years of breastfeeding have done my body in.
It’s torturous what it does to me sometimes.
This really made me think. About self-esteem, about women in our society, and about myself and my wife and our girls. I want them to grow up feeling good about themselves and how they look. I want HG and I to feel good about our changing bodies. I want all women to know that whatever their size and their appearance, they are beautiful and it’s who we are inside that matters.
I hope you will take a moment to look at these video’s. I’d love to know what you think.
And I think, I’ll be buying Dove products from now on, because I like the message. (And no, Dove did not ask me to plug them…)
Ciao y’all.
I loved these dove ads the very first time I saw them! I’m so grateful to know someone is thinking about what all the crap (as opposed to lemons) on t.v. is doing to our children…hell, to ME. I am soooooooo with you on the tummy tuck thing.
I love these adds as well, i remember all the talk when they first came out. I too buy dove for this reason. I am also guilty of the tummy tuck,if my insurance would cover it i would do it tomorrow!
I saw that video a few months ago, and I thought its message was quite power. I also love those ads.
I don’t think however, that the self-esteem problem will ever change. When you think about it, even though we can intellectualize about beauty being only skin deep and all, the reality it that we are progarammed at the basest level to attract the best mate who will produce the most fit offspring and who compete for the best resourses for their offspring. So, while the parameters for beauty may be ever changing, there will always be parameters. I believe it is inescapable.
I love what you are saying.
Zoe brings a valid point - but I don’t think its entirely bad to be concerned with how we look. Because the healthier we are the better we will look. What is damaging is trying to look like something unnatural. Such as those models. They don’t look the way they do from a healthy diet and exercise.
Its just like waxing an old car. It still has dings and dents…but looks well cared for, loved.
I also believe that the most important thing we can teach our children is respect.
Respect for themselves and respect for others.
Everything else will follow.
o… and I think the ole lady up there - is hot.
The video with all the shit flashing nearly made me car sick earlier today. I love the other one though.
I like the message that Dove is sending, but honestly, I don’t want to look at old naked people.
Syd, Syd, Syd.
I’ve always loved the ads..I think it’s too bad that more ads don’t have this same philosophy. We have far too many waifs out there being paid to tell us what is fashionable or beautiful..and most of us–who are real..have all types of bodies/shapes etc. ..
One good company promoting a positive and realistic image vs. a sea of “ultimate” beauty. I am afraid that they won’t win. It’s sad, it’s unfortunate, but I’m afraid it’s going to come down to what sells. Those of us who believe in Dove’s messages should certainly support the company. That being said, whoever does their ad campaign is a freakin’ genius.
By nature, we are drawn to symmetry. Our biology attracts us to those who are healthiest, as those are the people who made the best mates. I am a big fan of natural and accepting who I am and how I look. But I’m still going to take care of myself the best way that I can, e.g. a healthy diet and exercise. Would I have plastic surgery? Hell no! I’ll stick to working with what I’ve already got.
I’m with Weese, the woman in the ad is a bit of alright, and so are a lot of the other women too.
Excellent, RSG.
Love ya!
It’s interesting how our perceptions change as we get older. 10 years ago I would have looked at that picture at the top of this post and thought “eew, naked old people, no thank you!”
But now at age 41, as the years and gravity have begun to have their way on my body and my wife’s body (who’s 48 and still frickin’ gorgeous, btw) I see the woman above and think “mmm, that’s hot!”
Excellent post, RSG.
Screw that. I’m going to keep on buying Irish Spring and waiting for those hot Irish faeries to show up in my shower!
[…] Read this great post here […]
What MJ said.
Of course some people call me a freak because I think Judi Dench is hot, go figure
When I taught college level English composition I tried to get my students to do research papers on the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty a few times. Each time they eventually decided not to, and wrote crappy research papers on more benign things. But I love this “new” concept–that women are held to a strange and unattainable standard of beauty. It’s unfortunate that it’s seen as sort of a revolutionary thought . . . .
I love her gray hair. Gorgeous. I think women with life lines are beautiful. I also think the woman looks better in the before pictures!
Thanks for putting these ads, and your thoughts about them, up for our viewing pleasure.
I have always thought our faces look more interesting with each passing year. As I am now both crone and mother I can only hope my son feels the same way!
beauty is as a culture says it is. just look at what is considered beautiful in various cultures around the world, and throughout history….but more importantly, what we consider beautiful is a reflection of what we value, and who we value…
i applaud the dove campaign. it is brilliant from a marketing standpoint, but more importantly, it is soul affirming in the “breath of fresh air” kind of way…
My 25 year old son is a great fan of the Dove ads, while my (nearly 22) year old daughter is not. I like the ads and the messages promoting positive self-image/esteem.
Loved the ads and also think the older woman is very attracttive. I am a big fan of Dove products and they don’t pay me to say that either!
Great message.
wow. i saw this the other day, and never got to read it, but i had an idea where your post was going ~ i have seen that photo shoot ad before, and it was stunning, but in a totally SAD way.
i remember seeing the girl some in, and thinking, damn, WHAT A CUTIE PIE!!! and totally thinking if i saw her on the street, no makeup, hair just plain like in the pre-photo-shoot pics, she would totally turn my head.
and then the transformation. and the makeup and stuff wasnt so shocking as was the *editing* and that made me sad. because crap - she was totally beautiful and adorable and lovely. all on her own, without stretching her neck and making her mouth and eyes bigger and all that bullshit. it made me insanely angry.
on the plastic surgery front - i have a slightly different issue - as i am post-weight loss surgery, and i have not just a poochy belly, but a Grade 3 to a Grade 4 Panniculus (google it.) the hanging skin completely covers my coochie area, and naked pics would be totally modest. it kills my back and the skin maintenance just so i dont have breakdown, irritation and infections is fucking exhausting.
but it also makes me feel ugly, undesirable and unacceptable. and yet. i just ended things with a woman who i was sort of dating [long story, she was a crappy gf and potential RSG] and when we were talking, she was telling me hot totally sexy i was and how hot she was for me, and all i could tell my best friend was “shit. we better watch out when i DO have my reconstructive surgery, i will be beating them off with a stick. if me and my hanging belly-skin and flat hanging boobs are HAWT now…” it was a really eye-opening thing. and actually made me feel quite different in my skin. but it is hard not to buy into the bullshit that we all see on a daily basis.
i am sorry i am rambling… think i may blog about this on my blog! HAHA
Terrific post. I don’t mind the “choices” (to wax or not, pedicure or not, pluck or not) but I do mind the implication that if you don’t, you are inferior, bad, ugly, etc. etc. What is most important is that we are kind to OURSELVES and that we don’t take other people’s opinions too seriously. I don’t blame Syd for not wanting to see anyone my age naked (let alone considering that we might be sexually active!), but I hope when she IS my age, she’ll be happy with HER naked self… (and that she’ll have the sex life she wants).
And I’m 100% with you on the SCHIP brouhaha.
Wow, what an amazing campaign that is…finally!!! Someone out there is going to stand up for women.
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