(Untitled)

[seadiver]

I'm reading a case study about Dove brand's "Campaign for Real Beauty". It notes that after some preliminary work with psychologists, Unilever surveyed 3,000 women from 10 different countries to test some of the specialists' hypotheses. Out of all those women, only 2% chose to describe themselves as beautiful. Ouch! Most respondents answered "

Comments

[sarahpolk]

I, too, loved Dove's campaign... until I read this article from the Los Angeles Times (http://articles.latimes.com/2007/oct/10/business/fi-unilever10) talking about how hypocritical it was because Unilever puts out some of the most offensive, sexist crap with their stupid Axe commercials.

[seadiver]

I noticed the brand mentioned under the Unilever umbrella, but I didn't know they'd been taken to task for it. I think this will make for a nifty addition to my paper. Thanks, Lani!

[drainbead]

How much of that is due to self-esteem issues, and how much of it is due to modesty and the attempt to be humble?

[seadiver]

Could be a considerable amount, certainly, but I'm looking through the rest of the options and it's notable that the various other image-positive words remained in the single digits: Attractive 9%, Feminine 8%, Cute 7%, Pretty 7%. Sexy and Stunning each got only 1% and Gorgeous got 0%, so apparently some modesty is in check.

[withbutterflies]

For me, beautiful is something that is almost unattainable. Kate Winslet is beautiful. Natalie Portman is beautiful. I rarely see what I would consider beautiful women walking around. Pretty. Cute. Sexy. Those things I see.

When I'm having a good hair day, etc I will look at a mirror and give myself the ol thumbs up and say "Pretty cute." ;)

[seadiver]

Ah, good point!

I have to say I work on a two-tiered system. There is celebrity beautiful, which we all know comes not only from spectacular genetics, but also a small entourage of experts and the best cosmetics/clothes/occasional elective surgery money can buy.

Then there's regular people beautiful, which I see around me all the time. Almost too much, really. ;)

[zette]

I'm feeling naturally beautiful. :)

Rock on, Zette!

[seadiver]

Before the day I met yoooou...life was so unkind.....

[postmoderngirl]

Eh, it's just marketing. I know you're studying it and all, so I don't mean to be TOTALLY dismissive, but I don't really give a shit, they're just trying to sell things.

I feel like me.

[seadiver]

I would be so offended if you were my target market. ;)