“People of all shapes and sizes are beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is only skin deep.” These are controversial sayings about beauty. In recent years people, especially women and young girls, have been encouraged to love their body the way that it is and to not succumb to the pressures of this predetermined image of someone really skinny; or, if you’re male, really muscular.
In Dove’s “Love Your Body” campaign they have featured models of various ethnicities and sizes that would be considered plus size instead of the traditional skinny model. The company has been on a mission to show women that they are beautiful and to make them feel that they are beautiful. In 2004 Dove conducted a study of 3,000 women in 10 countries. Only 2% of those that were studied found themselves beautiful.[1] However, there are those that disagree with the new wave of encouragement. The Victoria’s Secret Company put out an ad featuring women with a small frame and a large bust with the slogan “The Perfect Body.” in U.K. stores. This has caused an outrage among consumers and Victoria’s Secret has changed the slogan to “A Body for Everybody”, but still features the same women. According to the Huffington Post, the original slogan is still up in U.K. stores.[2] Victoria’s Secret has shown no sign of straying away from the traditional model look. [1] Bahadur, N. (2014, February 6). Dove 'Real Beauty' Campaign Turns 10: How A Brand Tried To Change The Conversation About Female Beauty. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/dove-real-beauty-campaign-turns-10_n_4575940.html [2] Bahadur, N. (2014, November 6). Victoria's Secret 'Perfect Body' Campaign Changes Slogan After Backlash. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/06/victorias-secret-perfect-body-campaign_n_6115728.html |
Media & Body Image