Real Curves
I like the Dove campaign billboards, even though they are trying to sell cellulite creme in the guise of being empowering. But, as brought to my attention by Wendy's delightful post, there are some people who don't care for them. Not because of the whole hypocritical cellulite creme thing, but because "the only time I want to see a thigh that big is in a bucket with bread crumbs on it."
Oh, fuck off. Those girls are gorgeous.
Oh, fuck off. Those girls are gorgeous.
posted by mo pie at 9:56 AM
24 Comments:
I think it's telling that all the people who've publicly objected are male, especially since it's obvious men are NOT the target audience. Dove is targeting women and I think most women have had positive reactions to the ads. We're the ones who are usually objectified in the media and told we don't meet certain standards, so we like that Dove is featuring women who look more like us. It doesn't really matter that some men are mad the women aren't size 2 models because Dove wasn't targeting those men to begin with.
Great post! Thanks for the links. They're on my blog now, too. I'm wondering if I should buy some of this cream, if only to encourage more such ads.
First off, I love the ads.
Second, I'm horrified that the interviewed model is between a size 8 and 10. OH MY GOD! WE'RE (Okay, some dumb guys) ARE ARGUING OVER WHETHER WE WANT TO SEE A *SIZE 8* WOMAN ON AN AD!!! Sorry, I'll finish hyperventilating in a few minutes.
Yessh, these "columnists" sure seem to be trying to make it all appear like a huge insult to the world. Size 8 women... ohmyeffinggodhowawful! And yes, I'll say as well: "Who cares? It's not YOU, dear men, whom this ad is targeted at". It's just so irking, the holier-than-thou tone of these articles, as if they were exposing some display of horror, as if these "chunky women" were beating little children to death with their "thighs that fat". You'd think it's the most important thing in the world, and that the rest pales in comparison.
Honestly, they should just grow up, but somehow I think they're already too old for that.
I first saw those ads last year when I was vacationing in Germany and I thought they were FANTASTIC, and then I thought, they'll never have those back home.
I was psyched to see these ads in the states and I think the women in them are bloody gorgeous.
To those men who don't like the ads: Well, I don't like the ads that feature underweight women, so I guess this makes us even now, doesn't it?
My favorite is this quote:
"See, ads should be about the beautiful people. They should include the unrealistic, the ideal or the unattainable look for which so many people strive."
This man obviously lives in a little fairy world. Dude, why don't you try striving for something a little more attainable and useful- like a clue. I'd hate to see how he would treat his wife and/or daughters if the sight of a size 8 woman nauseates him so much.
The most nauseating thing to me is that someone could look at that fantastic photograph of six attractive happy women and have their first thought be "ewww...fatties!"
I want to reassure myself that all men are not such pigs by showing it to a guy friend of mine who I know will immediately say "wow! does it have any of their phone numbers...but what's up with the granny knickers?"
As to the asshole journalists assertion that advertising is supposed to make us all strive for an ultimately unattainable ideal, it makes me think that he doesn't realise that he's saying that advertising is there to make us all feel woefully inadequate. If he does realise that's what he's saying, then I don't think we need to worry about his opinion: he's clearly insane.
I had to share, I gave my friend the link to the dove site and here's his responses, in order:
"I think I like this idea"
"REAL beauty"
"these women are gorgeous"
"God I hope this becomes the trend"
So there you have it, at least one guy who will be very very happy to see these billboards all over the city.
Good point, Beth. While I love that the ads feature normal sized women as attractive, it is saying that size 8-10 women NEED firming cream. For all their jiggling cellulite. Which is not there, for one thing -- and for another, so what? Let's all jiggle a little in protest!
i find it really funny when women see other women as no competition, they always say those women are beautiful ... in an attempt to redifine the pain threshold.
Guess what? DOESN'T WORK!!!!!!!!
those cows in the ad are gross, fat, and repulsive and i wouldn't give them the time of day when it comes to a relationship. like it or not, that's the way it is, 99% of men feel just like i do, and it's not going to change no matter what!!!!
you want to attract a quality man? then get your ass to the gym and shed those pounds cos otherwise you're destined for a springer marriage with some loser.
you fat women can talk tough and feign pride at being fat, but the truth comes out when you don't get many dates and when you do, it's some some cheese, weez or geez.
Ok, maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't mind looking like those women in the Dove ads. To me, they appear to be fit, well-fed and pretty happy, which is not a bad way to be. To look as good as they do in the ads (firm, toned, not flabby but not thin), you've got to spend some time in the gym. What's with folks who insist on images of bony, spindly women?
And for mr. anonymous ("those cows in the ad are gross, fat, and repulsive and i wouldn't give them the time of day...") I can't imagine that you're the form devine either....
Funny, I would find a man who says "get your ass to the gym and shed those pounds" to be one of those losers that are lacking in quality. Are you really saying a quality man requires toothpicks?
And as for the "fat cows" on the ads, one is only a size 4, which is probably the same size or smaller than any poor woman you may have actually been able to date.
That really is the funniest thing I have ever heard - that we are stuck with some loser if we don't lose weight...did some curvy woman just dump you and now you're bitter? Good luck on your hunt for the size 2 and under ladies out there - the average American woman is a size 14, and those "fat cows" on the ad only go up to a size 10, maybe 12.
Midknyt
You might feel comfortable being fat but I am a slim person and it is almost to find clothes and pantyhose are the worst, there are 50 thousand rows of queen size and 2 and only 2 rows of A size pantyhose. We also need to look at the clothing needs for skinny people, not all of us are fat asses.
My 3 year old always says look at the pretty girls whenever she sees any of the DOve ads on TV or in print. This is different than her reaction for any other ad where she syas look at hre pretty dress, purse, car, etc... I never noticed the add was for firming cream
"Starved" on FX at least deals with the subject of weight and eating disorders in a darkly funny way that will get you laughing and people talking. It's on Thursdays i think.
Tell that poster to shove it! I love seeing women who look like me on billboards. In fact, my boyfriend makes a point to make sure I notice them when we're out in the mall because he knows I love them so much.
ahram, this is to the jerky up there (c'mon, we all know who I'm referring to): I'm a size 6-8, about the same as some of those "fat asses" in the ad and guess what? I'm one of the most desired girls in the whole high-school! I can have any guy I want and I chose one who certainly isn't a loser (like you) but someone smart, sensitive and independent. despite my obvious good looks, it's a relationship based on personality, not appearance, which means it's solid and true, unlike those shallow dates you prefer to have. thank you very much Mr. Mysoginist.
People like what they like, there are some that will be repulsed by the ad and others that find it sexy.
I am glad the ads are out there. Most men don't even know what a size 8 IS so what some doughboy columnist says in his little blurb doesn't mean much to me...
confession :
I am repulsed by soft men, anything thats not tight and muscular-- they don't have to be shaped like Adonis, lanky and thin is fine but I can't stand SOFT. To me Soft is Feminine and Hard is Masculine...
(unfortunately I am lean and muscular so so maybe I am just making up for my 'lack' of feminine softness by getting a man MORE masculine than myself..)
I'll just say this. I recently met a couple through work (they have their own design house). At our lunch meeting/intro, the wife said, "Hi, I'm the fat chick, he's the geeky guy with low self-esteem." One of the most beautiful, honest sentences in the history of humankind. Finally!!!!!
I think its good that Dove had full-Figured women on their billboards. Not every women is a size 5, and to assume that every one is would be very unrealistic. Most women in this country are overweight anyway.I think that chunky women are beautiful a real women has curves and some.
I don't think companies should be condoning plus sized people, as the previous person stated, most of this country is obese. America is the fattest country we shouldent give women a "reward" for that. I agree the anorexic modles are "rewarding" anorexics, however I think that if we just put normal (Ideal) sizes women into ads then women across the country would have a positive role modle. A modle sized 6-8 is perfect... and I know some of the women in the dove campaign were size 8, but some of them are size 12, and none of them are 6's. An average person with a BMI of between 20-28 should be the type person I would like to see in ads. that way people arn't told that to be over or under weight is okay.
The girls in the add are not plus sized. If you saw them with clothes on you would be surprised. The blonde looks like a size 4 or 6 to me so stfu and get over it
Models are made to look perfect. Guess what, those air brush effects in Photoshop do wonders! Has anyone seen the truth about Tyra Banks? They basically shave around 10 lbs. of meat off her legs in pictures because the girl has some good sized thighs (NORMAL BY THE WAY)! She showed it on national t.v. because she wanted people to know the truth! Guys who want 'perfection' end up finding out the costs if they get it...liposuction, augmentation, tucks, lifts, and all his earnings going bye-bye when she leaves him for that good looking younger man!!! I feel sorry for women who starve themselves just to 'fit' the marketing industries air brushed profiles. Just so everyone is aware...the 'average' size of a woman, who is NOT considered anywhere close to obese or even fat on ANY medical chart, is a size 8-10. The size 0-4 girls typically 'grow out of it' once they bear children or hit their 30s. How I long for the days when Cindy Crawford and the original Anna Nicole shapes are again popular in media for they were at least closer to a real woman than that of a twig with a preteen body! Oh, by the way, when Anna Nicole modeled for Guess, she was a Size 10-12! Go DOVE!
Being from England the Dove Campaigns were greatly appreciated. Obesity is a growing problem and we're constantly bombarded with the extremes of either end, so with the super skinny or super over weight. I think the adds show a comfortable range of women, showing the middle lot that are never recognised and so probably never realise whether they are too fat or too thin because they never get any appreciation from the media, which, unfortunately, seemingly controls what is or is not an acceptable size too be. Personally I don't know one man who doesn't like something to hold on to, and naturally women have an extra layer of fat to men because naturally, as we are animals, is the way women are meant to be. In the eyes of nature women are only here to produce life and men to spread their seed, but this capitalist life that has been created makes women feel like complete shit if their boobs are not big enough or their thighs not skinny enough. Here it's like over 80% of men prefer really curvy women, because that's what their naturally drawn to as subconciously, as animals, they look like they can carry children well. I'm only referring to these natural elements to show what an artifical society our western culture has created. I spend everyday paranoid of my huge huge huge hips and other days feeling proud of them. I think the adds are good to showing a move in the right direction,even if they are advertising cellulite cream, it's just a way to help with the false insecuritys of women, created by the media, and more likely than not, other women.
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