Go to YouTube.com and search for the video “Onslaught.” The opening shot is of a young girl staring at the camera with light music playing in the background.
Just wait.
Fifty seconds into the video, the footage speeds up and zooms through an array of images all showing female models, dancers and celebrities.
The women are flawless.
The video is part of Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty, and is aiming to increase self-esteem in all women. Dove introduced the campaign in 2004 in an attempt to help women around the world fight the ever-growing stereotypes of the female body.
Dove’s website, www.dove.us, states only 2 percent of women in the world describe themselves as beautiful. In addition, 81 percent of women claim media and advertising are the most influential sources on their low self-esteem.
Since when did being comfortable in your own skin become unacceptable?
I see women on campus wearing what makes them feel good, whether that be sweat pants or a dress. And I commend those who can step out the door in the morning and feel good about themselves, but not all women can.
More importantly than the women old enough to fill out Dove’s survey are the young girls who are manipulated by unrealistic images every day.
Advertising bombards females with images that not all will be able to match.
Long legs.
Skinny waist.
Perfect skin.
And these examples merely skim the top of the problem.
Dove’s campaign has released videos showing how intense makeup, lavish hair and computer-generated touchups can morph normal-looking models into images of female perfection.
The lies fed to females on a daily basis are creating a low self-esteem outbreak. The danger of these images can be seen in another of Dove’s videos, “True Colors.” Each female shines with a beauty of her own, but then, her insecurity appears in white text on the screen.
Girls who are healthy and beautiful think they are fat and ugly in comparison to the billboards, magazines and music videos they see.
This problem should concern all people, whether male or female, young or old. Your sister, niece or cousin could be feeling the pressure to change her body based on ads that are not only untrue but in some cases, unattainable.
My youngest sister is 12 years old and in the sixth grade. Middle school is introducing a whole new set of pressures outside of grades and socializing.
She no longer wears her yellow, smiley-face T-shirt with braces on the smile.
She no longer wears male gym shorts to school.
She no longer leaves the house without straightening her hair.
She has reached the age of self-critique. I just hope she doesn’t let the pressure of advertising make her insecure.
All women and girls are beautiful in their own way. We don't need airbrushed advertisements to make us question our beauty. <br/>&#160;