sarah's journal -...and the Horse You Rode in On: I love the campaign. I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to run out and buy their firming cream, but I love that someone is finally designing advertising with women I can relate to, rather than women who look so inhuman that I'd never buy the product anyway because the models call serious doubt into my mind that their product is actually designed for my species.
Well, apparently Richard Roeper doesn't agree. Nor does Lucio Guerrero, also of the Sun-Times. Or CBS Chicago's Entertainment reporter.
Jaquandor, Lynn, and Wendy have already weighed in (no pun intended) on the matter. And they all make wonderfully valid points. Some of which I may be repeating, because now it's my turn.
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sars express: I stumbled across an article on the Washington Post written by Robin Givhan (Sorry, Dove: Bigger Isn't Necessarily Better) about Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty".
What a load of shit.
Let's see some real health. Thinness alone means nothing. Eat healthy, non-processed foods. Hit the gym and do some cardio. Lift. I can't emphasize the last one enough. Let's see some muscle, so you can do something about the rapist in the parking lot. Strive to become a doctor, lawyer, scientist, or athlete, so you can contribute to our society.
Are these standards unrealistic? Absolutely. Are people who achieve them statistically aberrant? Yes. Median income in this country is $24K/year; doctors, lawyers, and executives are as statistically improbable as the "prettiest girl in town".
There's nothing wrong with having a Superman and Wonder Woman as a role model. And there's nothing wrong with destroying the self-esteem of those who can't live up. It's called motivation. As long as the role models are actually healthy and inherently valuable, society is on the right track. huh.
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Erin’s PRblog » Dove :: Redefining “Real Beauty”: I have been intrigued with the Dove campaign from the get-go for many of the same reasons others have mentioned — it’s a new and original approach. It was the topic of one of my final projects last semester, so I’ve researched it extensively and also kept an eye on the campaign’s impact. Yes, it seems to have potential to serve as a phenomenal marketing campaign (the sales should be pouring in), but I can’t help but be impressed by the positive message it’s sending. As for me, I have made a complete switch to Dove. Everything from shampoo to eye cream to body wash … it’s all Dove, now. I’m doing it more for political reasons -) rather than the fact that it appeals to me as a woman. I want to support that shift to a more healthy ideal, so that by the time I have a daughter, she’ll have healthier images to aspire to.
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I See Invisible People >> 6 Chicks Sums It Up : I’m officially changing my position on the Dove Real Beauty advertising campaign. As positive as I thought the initial launch was–shots of women of all ages and many sizes with no product push–the ads that have followed that first “public service announcement” style spot have been striking a progressively dischordant note with me.