The Dove Girls...

tight-eyes · 12-29-2005, 10:26 PM

So Dove (a line of beauty products, for those that don't know) has launched a new campaign that's been stirring up some controversy. They're attempting to widen the gap of what we consider beautiful by moving away from the typical advertisement images of models (rail thin, air-brushed, digitally enhanced, basically impossible/unnattainable for the average person to live up to), and instead promoting a more realistic standard.

Below I'm posting a piece I found about the campaign on a women's clothing site... I want to see what you ladies think of the new campaign...

The Dove Girls: You Decide

Dove has an arresting new ad campaign for its new line of firming lotions, and unless you just crawled out of a cage, you've seen the "Dove Girls" everywhere - in magazines, at bus stops, on buses, on billboards, you name it. These "real women" (according to Dove, the women featured in the ads were discovered all across the U.S. and the photos are not retouched) are stripped down to their plain white skivvies and proudly showing off their size 4 to size 12 bodies, in all their glory. The idea is that stick-thin models don't need firming lotions, so it isn't fair to put pictures of them in ads for the product.

More than an ad campaign, however, Dove is calling The Dove Girls part of its "Campaign for Real Beauty." In a press release, it states stark figures about the way women are portrayed in the media: "Models weigh an average of 23 percent less than the average woman. Twenty years ago, models weighed an average of 8 perent less." The company has started the "Dove Self-Esteem Fund" for young girls and is collecting photographs of real women for its "Million Faces Album," which aims to show a "new, wider definition of beauty."

So what do you think about the Dove Girls? Is it refreshing to see "real women" being celebrated as beautiful? Do you think the whole campaign is just a little too politically correct? Do you think its hypocritical for Dove to say that these real woman are beautiful...but they still need their firming lotion? Has this campaign encouraged you to be more accepting of your own body?

quick question of my own: do you think the campaign will be effective?

alright... your thoughts..?

Chokolate · 12-30-2005, 01:47 PM

I think the ads reflect what real women look like. We are not all Tiara Banks, Cindy Crawford's or Gazelle's...ppl have flaws and the typical ad covers them up to make you think this product is going to make you just as perfect as the pictures. When you strip the razor thin models from their make up and airbrushing they are just as flawed, if not more, as the ppl that are buying the products. I think it will draw shapey women because we feel we are being represented in a good light.

urban_tactics · 12-30-2005, 02:52 PM

its funny, cuz listenin to them talk on oprah the other day.....they seem to sound JUST as fake as the models do.....

Jack Iraq · 12-30-2005, 08:04 PM

^I didn't see them on Oprah but that's a good point you made there. Being 'big' doesn't make you a better person. It's like women see stick-thin models and immediately hate them for being skinny. Where's the logic in that?

BoDi · 12-31-2005, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban_tactics

its funny, cuz listenin to them talk on oprah the other day.....they seem to sound JUST as fake as the models do.....

ha..true

skandelous_lala · 12-31-2005, 07:14 AM

This Dove campaign has actually been around for a while now..I'd say a good year if not longer. They still have it going so I'd say it's been somewhat effective.

I've seen a few of the Dove commercials for this campaign and I love them. They have really skinny girls....heavier girls.... really pale girls...really dark girls...pregnant girls... ect, ect. And all the girls look beautiful b/c they look confident with themselves. It reminds you that beauty is not just one set defiinition...such as 5'11", 110 lbs, whatever...

I don't think Dove is trying to "policitally correct". Cuz 99% of companies still advertise with their airbrushed tiny models that make a lot of women feel like they aren't shit. But it doesn't seem like they are trying to take a "holier than thou" route..it just seems like they decided, hey let's try something different and it seems to be working. Plus I can never really remember Dove advertising with supermodels or anything like that.

I don't think it's hyprocritical...I mean anybody who has tried a firming body lotion knows that it doesn't really do shit lol If you're buying body lotion anyways it already means you're looking to fix a problem..skin that is too dry..need some exfoliation ect. They don't seem to be saying to me..buy this product b/c you need it.

Excepting of my own body? I've always had issues with my own body and I have sourta accepted the fact that I always will. The only thing I like by watching this campaign is that it reminds you that confidence and loving yourself is sexy.

Nam Dekan · 12-31-2005, 04:29 PM

I dislike it...How come midgets are not represented?

MiSt_Of_CoNfUsIoN · 01-02-2006, 12:26 AM

I like the idea of the campaign, but I think its going to take a long time for people to turn around their thinking. I think it is a bit hypocritical for them to say " this is REAL beauty" but then kick in the " try this firming lotion" like saying ya its real beauty, but that just isn't enough.. so buy our product. They should've tried it out with a different type of lotion, but.. then again if they did that then it would kinda be pointless to have the "real women" in their skivvies. Its hard, but I'm glad they took a step out on that ledge..

What I find most interesting about this is that they started their campaign for real beauty way before they put "real sized" women in their ad they were putting in older women. Women aged 50+ and showing them without make up and with gray hair, just natural "real" beauty.. Funny how no one said a thing about it then. . . .

wyn 23 QB · 01-02-2006, 04:31 AM

i dunno its fresh to see some girls that still look good and isn the typical model girl

some of these girls are def attractive,

~S*T*A*R*M~ · 01-03-2006, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tight-eyes

So what do you think about the Dove Girls? Is it refreshing to see "real women" being celebrated as beautiful? Do you think the whole campaign is just a little too politically correct? Do you think its hypocritical for Dove to say that these real woman are beautiful...but they still need their firming lotion? Has this campaign encouraged you to be more accepting of your own body?[/i][/color]

quick question of my own: do you think the campaign will be effective?

I think it's a FANTASTIC marketing campaign! Who doesn't like feel good ads? And which woman isn't going to want a product that makes it okay to accept herself? It's virtually flawless advertising campaign (especially their use of white coloring). So, do I think it will be effective? Yes, where the bottom line is concerned. As far as it being effective in changing the concept of beauty, I think it will make a very miniscule dent, if any at all.. but then again that's what ads do.. they change your thinking. I hardly think the main point of this Campaign for Real Beauty is to make women feel good about themselves. It's to make women feel good about themselves and buy their product to complete the process.

Marketing aside, I really like the concept behind it. I think they're putting out a healthy idea for women to latch onto. No, this campaign hasn't made me any more accepting of my own body and I haven't bought any of their products, either. It's just nice to see the commercials on TV, but I haven't caught the Dove-bug just yet..

Nanijah · 01-03-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nam Dekan

I dislike it...How come midgets are not represented?

lmao.

I have to agree with most of the women here. I think it's great! I loved the one commerical I saw with average sized women. You don't see it often enough.

tight-eyes · 01-04-2006, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chokolate

[color=DeepSkyBlue]I think the ads reflect what real women look like. We are not all Tiara Banks, Cindy Crawford's or Gazelle's...ppl have flaws and the typical ad covers them up to make you think this product is going to make you just as perfect as the pictures. When you strip the razor thin models from their make up and airbrushing they are just as flawed, if not more, as the ppl that are buying the products.

I completely agree with you... as far as super models are concerned, some of them - Tyra included - often speak up about the "illusion of the camera"... when talking about a digitally re-touched photo of herself on her talk show one day, Tyra said - "I don't even look like that!"... meaning that not even she looked like the image created in her likeness. She talks about having cellulite, stretch marks, a big forehead, and other physical imperfections that she feels insecure about... I admire her for that... it makes her seem more human.

tight-eyes · 01-04-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by urban_tactics

its funny, cuz listenin to them talk on oprah the other day.....they seem to sound JUST as fake as the models do.....

how so..?

tight-eyes · 01-04-2006, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skandelous_lala

I don't think it's hyprocritical...I mean anybody who has tried a firming body lotion knows that it doesn't really do shit lol If you're buying body lotion anyways it already means you're looking to fix a problem..skin that is too dry..need some exfoliation ect. They don't seem to be saying to me..buy this product b/c you need it.

I see what you're saying...but I also see how it an be construed as hypocritical - on the one hand they're advocating for women to accept their bodies and themselves, but on the other hand they're telling them that their natural bodies aren't okay and that they need to "firm" their skin up. Its a bit of a double-edged sword... all-in-all, I don't think Dove gives two shits about women or their competitors' continued perpetuation of a skewed body image... they're trying to sell a product and playing on female insecurities.

tight-eyes · 01-04-2006, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiSt_Of_CoNfUsIoN

I like the idea of the campaign, but I think its going to take a long time for people to turn around their thinking. I think it is a bit hypocritical for them to say " this is REAL beauty" but then kick in the " try this firming lotion" like saying ya its real beauty, but that just isn't enough.. so buy our product. They should've tried it out with a different type of lotion, but.. then again if they did that then it would kinda be pointless to have the "real women" in their skivvies. Its hard, but I'm glad they took a step out on that ledge..

agree 100%

Quote:

What I find most interesting about this is that they started their campaign for real beauty way before they put "real sized" women in their ad they were putting in older women. Women aged 50+ and showing them without make up and with gray hair, just natural "real" beauty.. Funny how no one said a thing about it then. . . .

hmmmmm... that is interesting... I never saw that... I think its more acceptable for older women to be "imperfect", to be expected in a way... but even that standard is changing... with plastic surgery becoming more and more then norm, women are expected to look as youthful as they can for as long as they can... I had to analyze an ad for Oil of Olay's "anti-aging anti-blemish" skin moisturizer for my Mass Comm class, and it tripped me out... shit, wrinkles and pimples are NATURAL... why is it so necessary for us to completely try to eradicate any signs of aging or imperfet skin..? and who said wrinkles were a defect that needed correcting in the first place..?anyway, I'm rambling... but I feel you.

tight-eyes · 01-04-2006, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~S*T*A*R*M~

As far as it being effective in changing the concept of beauty, I think it will make a very miniscule dent, if any at all..

unfortunately, I agree... but, hey, it is a step in the right direction, right..?

Quote:

but then again that's what ads do.. they change your thinking. I hardly think the main point of this Campaign for Real Beauty is to make women feel good about themselves. It's to make women feel good about themselves and buy their product to complete the process.

exactly! the bottom lin is that they're trying to promote a product... women feeling better about themselves is just a means to their end. but, like I said, it is a step in the right direction.

Quote:

Marketing aside, I really like the concept behind it. I think they're putting out a healthy idea for women to latch onto. No, this campaign hasn't made me any more accepting of my own body and I haven't bought any of their products, either. It's just nice to see the commercials on TV, but I haven't caught the Dove-bug just yet..

I've been using their beauty bar since I was a teenager its really gentle and I have sensitive skin... but I haven't trid any of their other products and this ad does nothing to persuade me to do so... lol @ skin firming cream - yeah right!

12-29-2005, 10:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
tight-eyes Such a F*cking Lady! Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: the burbs Posts: 20,385	The Dove Girls... So Dove (a line of beauty products, for those that don't know) has launched a new campaign that's been stirring up some controversy. They're attempting to widen the gap of what we consider beautiful by moving away from the typical advertisement images of models (rail thin, air-brushed, digitally enhanced, basically impossible/unnattainable for the average person to live up to), and instead promoting a more realistic standard. Below I'm posting a piece I found about the campaign on a women's clothing site... I want to see what you ladies think of the new campaign... The Dove Girls: You Decide Dove has an arresting new ad campaign for its new line of firming lotions, and unless you just crawled out of a cage, you've seen the "Dove Girls" everywhere - in magazines, at bus stops, on buses, on billboards, you name it. These "real women" (according to Dove, the women featured in the ads were discovered all across the U.S. and the photos are not retouched) are stripped down to their plain white skivvies and proudly showing off their size 4 to size 12 bodies, in all their glory. The idea is that stick-thin models don't need firming lotions, so it isn't fair to put pictures of them in ads for the product. More than an ad campaign, however, Dove is calling The Dove Girls part of its "Campaign for Real Beauty." In a press release, it states stark figures about the way women are portrayed in the media: "Models weigh an average of 23 percent less than the average woman. Twenty years ago, models weighed an average of 8 perent less." The company has started the "Dove Self-Esteem Fund" for young girls and is collecting photographs of real women for its "Million Faces Album," which aims to show a "new, wider definition of beauty." So what do you think about the Dove Girls? Is it refreshing to see "real women" being celebrated as beautiful? Do you think the whole campaign is just a little too politically correct? Do you think its hypocritical for Dove to say that these real woman are beautiful...but they still need their firming lotion? Has this campaign encouraged you to be more accepting of your own body? quick question of my own: do you think the campaign will be effective? alright... your thoughts..?

12-30-2005, 01:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chokolate Melts N Ya Mouth Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: La Vergne Tn Posts: 24,216	I think the ads reflect what real women look like. We are not all Tiara Banks, Cindy Crawford's or Gazelle's...ppl have flaws and the typical ad covers them up to make you think this product is going to make you just as perfect as the pictures. When you strip the razor thin models from their make up and airbrushing they are just as flawed, if not more, as the ppl that are buying the products. I think it will draw shapey women because we feel we are being represented in a good light. __________________ Chokolate's Space Haters=Motivators Thank U 4 All that U Do!!!

12-31-2005, 07:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
skandelous_lala back from the dead Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hey! Fuck you and the horse you rode in on! Posts: 26,707	This Dove campaign has actually been around for a while now..I'd say a good year if not longer. They still have it going so I'd say it's been somewhat effective. I've seen a few of the Dove commercials for this campaign and I love them. They have really skinny girls....heavier girls.... really pale girls...really dark girls...pregnant girls... ect, ect. And all the girls look beautiful b/c they look confident with themselves. It reminds you that beauty is not just one set defiinition...such as 5'11", 110 lbs, whatever... I don't think Dove is trying to "policitally correct". Cuz 99% of companies still advertise with their airbrushed tiny models that make a lot of women feel like they aren't shit. But it doesn't seem like they are trying to take a "holier than thou" route..it just seems like they decided, hey let's try something different and it seems to be working. Plus I can never really remember Dove advertising with supermodels or anything like that. I don't think it's hyprocritical...I mean anybody who has tried a firming body lotion knows that it doesn't really do shit lol If you're buying body lotion anyways it already means you're looking to fix a problem..skin that is too dry..need some exfoliation ect. They don't seem to be saying to me..buy this product b/c you need it. Excepting of my own body? I've always had issues with my own body and I have sourta accepted the fact that I always will. The only thing I like by watching this campaign is that it reminds you that confidence and loving yourself is sexy. __________________ ALL YOU REALLY KNOW IS WHAT I CHOOSE TO SHOW Good Mourning, Good afternoon, Good nite, what have you done with your life?. Everybody's time comes to be embraced by the light you only afraid to die when you ain't livin right

12-31-2005, 04:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nam Dekan i got a tip in my pocket Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Home Depot Posts: 58,136	I dislike it...How come midgets are not represented? __________________ Juggs n Ruggs, we'll fuck up your mugs! Strip Club Dreams "Let me tell you something, sister, you serve two purposes in this house - you can give me a blow job or make me a sandwich. I'm not in the mood for head and I had a late breakfast, so you're shit out of luck. "-Tommy Gavin from Rescue Me

01-02-2006, 12:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
MiSt_Of_CoNfUsIoN Ray of Sunshine Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Washington Posts: 15,534	I like the idea of the campaign, but I think its going to take a long time for people to turn around their thinking. I think it is a bit hypocritical for them to say " this is REAL beauty" but then kick in the " try this firming lotion" like saying ya its real beauty, but that just isn't enough.. so buy our product. They should've tried it out with a different type of lotion, but.. then again if they did that then it would kinda be pointless to have the "real women" in their skivvies. Its hard, but I'm glad they took a step out on that ledge.. What I find most interesting about this is that they started their campaign for real beauty way before they put "real sized" women in their ad they were putting in older women. Women aged 50+ and showing them without make up and with gray hair, just natural "real" beauty.. Funny how no one said a thing about it then. . . . __________________ "Let your life reflect what comes outta your mouth"

01-02-2006, 04:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
wyn 23 QB Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: fuckin japan Posts: 2,701	i dunno its fresh to see some girls that still look good and isn the typical model girl some of these girls are def attractive,

01-04-2006, 01:52 AM	#17 (permalink)
~STARM~ Goddess Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: anywhere and everywhere Posts: 10,050