Never have I been more a fan of an advertising campaign than the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Real women. REAL women. With curves and cellulite and flat hair and saggy whole bunch of things posing in their undies in larger than life ads. I am not kidding when I tell you I started making a point to buy their products. And guess what? I am loving their deodorant, soap and body washes. And I am not brand loyal when it comes to those things, but I am making a gradual switcheroo.
All because of some really powerful ads and God’s blessing of 2 beautiful daughters. I am so scared for their future self esteem. What woman doesn’t remember the awkward teenage years and all the moments of wishing the earth would just swallow you up cause your blue eyeshadow didn’t look quite right and your mom had botched yet another home perm? Yes, clearly my awkward teenage years took place smack dab in the 80’s with a mom who was not gifted with a box of Ogilvie (sorry mom).
But what I didn’t grow up with was a check out aisle with magazine after magazine with airbrushed models staring back at me adding to my insecurities. Nor did I have 700 celebrity magazines, TV “news” shows and reality TV documenting every facet of what “cool” is supposed to be. Which is 180 degrees from the values I am trying to instill in my girls. That they are beautiful because they were created in the image of God who loves them in their brokenness. Hmmm, my word against a whole host of images bombarding them at every turn.
Dove recently released the Real Girls, Real Pressure: A National Report on the State of Self-Esteem, conducted with girls between eight and 17 and commissioned by Dove Self-Esteem Fund. The highlights, which you can read here, are scary to say the least. And if this doesn’t knock your socks off, I don’t know what will…
So Dove, as part of their Campaign for Real Beauty has launched the Dove Self-Esteem Fund to bring self-esteem programming to girls across the country and to encourage everyone to make a difference in the lives
of girls. This new initiative has a goal to reach 5 million girls globally by 2010 and has already reached over 2 million.
Seriously, how often do we get to buy a great product that is committed to something that will have a positive impact on us and our children? Maybe I am cynical, but I think this is a rarity among companies today. So I encourage you to check out Dove products. They have a whole bunch of things to help us feel more beautiful on the outside and I love that they are working on the inside too.
Ok, I feel like it has been forever since we have done a linked up TILT. So I would love it if you would head over and check out the guidelines. Then come back over and link on up. I love reading what you all are loving these days.
We are THAT family
says:
What a great post, great ad campaign for our girls….makes my want to support DOVE.
Are they hypo-allergenic?
I have issues.
Well. Skin. Issues. Too.
We are THAT familys last blog post..The Sled
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 12:42 am
mom_of2boys
says:
Great post! I’m glad to see a company that uses REAL women. I’ve only tried their body wash and like it.
mom_of2boyss last blog post..Things I Love Thursday – Fleece Earbags
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Candace (Mama Mia)
says:
I totally agree with everything you said! Everything I’ve used from Dove has been great. Right now I’m loving their cream oil lotion- it rocks!
Candace (Mama Mia)s last blog post..Things I Love Thursday- My Dyson
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 9:29 am
The Happy Housewife
says:
I have appreciated their campaign as well. I try to buy Dove products (when they are on sale
. I do love their body wash!
Toni
The Happy Housewifes last blog post..Confessions of a Happy Housewife
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Sarah
says:
I’ve heard Dove is great and enjoyed whatever I have used. Thanks for doing the linkie!
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:22 am
bee
Twitter: willblogforshoe
says:
I big fat puffy heart DOVE for the exact same reasons!
BTW, one of these days I’ll participate in this. I work on Thursdays and never have the forethought to put together a post on Wednesday night. ‘Cause there are about a BAZILLION things that I love!
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Melanie
says:
That’s a disturbing video
Melanies last blog post..Such a sad sight
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Brooke
says:
I thought I enjoyed reading a particular “more than” beauty magazine, until I started noticing a trend. After time I read that month’s issue, I noticed I felt down on myself. It was a gradual thing, and it wasn’t until the article about the girl who was humiliated to go swimsuit shopping because she was a big fat humongo size 8. yeah, you read that right. single digits.
well guess what not so great magazine, i’m a small, greatful, healthy size 8. wanna see a note from my doctor who said i was healthier than a size 2 (even if i would never be one)?
Brookes last blog post..Things I Love Thursday
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Andrea Mcmann
says:
Have you read Reviving Ophelia? I read it when my daughter was a baby, and it really brought the point home about the onslaught of media messages that girls receive from the time they’re old enough to notice. It makes me sick. I’m so pleased with Dove for this campaign!
Andrea Mcmanns last blog post..Things I Love Thursday: Poingo!
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Becky
says:
We are longtime Dove fans here. Happy TILT!
Beckys last blog post..Turtlemania
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
debbie
says:
I love Dove too for that campaign.
debbies last blog post..Unique Family Holiday Traditions and a Giveaway
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Rachel
says:
Great post! I love Dove for this too!
Rachels last blog post..I’m Feeling Generous
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Jenny from Mommin' It Up!
says:
I TOO had an Ogilvie home perm. I swear we are twinsies.
Jenny from Mommin’ It Up!s last blog post..I’m a *little* nervous about posting this!
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Shynea
says:
This is a really good post. I am so glad that a company is finally trying to promote good self-esteem and is trying to show, and use, real women in their ad campaign. I have been a fan of Dove products for a long time and I will always continue to use them. Take care.
Shyneas last blog post..I LOVE LISTERINE AGENT COOL BLUE
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
La
says:
We have two girls and that’s just SCARY! Dove is pretty great, I have to agree. It seems like when I tried the deodorant it didn’t work very good for me, though. I must have extra stinky genes. =)
Las last blog post..Girl Toy Worth Buying!
[Reply]
December 4th, 2008 at 10:16 pm