Dove Pro-Age Campaign: Wrinkles, Rolls, and Real Beauty

This week's post takes a look at how the new Dove “Pro-Age” campaign is changing the way women are represented on television and in fashion magazines. Dove’s bold new advertisements portray nude women in their fifties flaunting their bodies and smiling for the camera. The ads, which are not retouched or airbrushed, promote the message that beauty comes in all colors and sizes, and encourage women to celebrate their age, not hide it. As part of their “Campaign for Real Beauty” Dove has created a video which can be found on You Tube, that exposes how photographs are digitally manipulated to create the deceptive images that millions of young girls see everyday in magazines. Below are my comments on two other blogs that also discuss the Dove Campaign. The first is Brilliant at Breakfast, a liberal blog that focuses predominantly on politics, and is written by a woman in her fifties. The second is Back in Skinny Jeans, a blog that aims to help young women feel good about themselves despite our cultural obsession with thinness and beauty.

My comment on Brilliant at Breakfast:

I completely agree with your statement that “When you read a magazine like this [Us Weekly], you wonder how on earth it is that celebrities define what beauty is in this country, because these magazines contain photo after photo of people who look so mind-bogglingly unattractive you wonder why anyone holds them up as a standard.” I think the reason for this phenomenon is that we are letting the media dictate to us what we think is beautiful and desirable. We have become so programmed to associate attractiveness with thinness that we are no longer making these decisions for ourselves. Our society is trained to think that “jutting collarbones, stick-thin arms, and bony ankles” symbolize beauty. Then every so often someone like Jennifer Hudson or American Ferrera comes along and reminds us to rethink the canon of beauty. Like you said, it does seem that there are very few Caucasian women behind the movement to be more “real;” but hopefully the trend will catch on and inspire women everywhere to celebrate their individual beauty.

My comment on Back in Skinny Jeans:

I think it is fantastic that Dove is celebrating women in their fifties as still being sexy and beautiful. It is refreshing to see something other than a twenty-one year old, blonde haired, pin-thin model selling something to me. Although I understand why Dove wanted the “Pro-Age” models to bare it all, I think it is unfortunate that the nudity has prevented the advertisements from airing on television where such a larger audience could have been reached. Also, on another note, I noticed that the campaign uses fewer African American models than Caucasian models and that most of these women are still quite thin. I even noticed some protruding collarbones, which brought to mind some of the scary thin models that we are both so tired of seeing in magazines. The Dove campaign is wonderful and inspiring, but unfortunately even “real beauty” isolates those who still do not possess the ideal traits that our society deems attractive. This is no flaw on the part of Dove, nor is this an easy problem to resolve, because as long as beauty is an important part of our culture, there will always be those who are considered attractive and those who suffer because they are not.

From Blonde to Bald: Are Celebrities Cracking Under Pressure?

With award show season underway, the media are focusing more than ever on the stars, what they are wearing, and most importantly, how much they weigh. In a sea of size two actresses strutting down the red carpet, it is the full-figured stars such as Dream Girl Jennifer Hudson (pictured to the right) and Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera who are stealing the show. While it is encouraging to see these women setting an example for young girls as they defy the typical mold of Hollywood beauty, I still find myself worrying that it might be too little too late. Despite the fact that both Hudson and Ferrera are Golden Globe winning actresses, every magazine headline about them exclaims: “Is Ugly the New Beautiful?” or “She’s a size twelve and designers still want to dress her!” In reality, neither actress is overweight, and by discussing them as such, the media are only enforcing misconception that beauty only comes in one color, shape, and size. I am pleased to see diverse women gracing the covers of magazines; and I hope that such positive representation becomes the norm rather than the exception. If the media truly aims to celebrate healthier role models, they should stop glamorizing emaciated celebrities and start portraying a more realistic model of fitness and beauty on television and in the magazines.

Time and time again a fresh-faced new star steps into the spotlight and within months of her newfound stardom she drops fifteen pounds by “working out and healthy dieting.” When 27-year old singer Norah Jones was asked to lose weight for her upcoming film "My Blueberry Nights" she said, "It was a horrible thing to hear but I understand the game. I was just amazed that it really was an issue, and it made me have a lot more sympathy for really skinny actresses." But some stars have not had as much luck withstanding the pressure to fit the Hollywood prototype. Young celebrities such as Ashlee Simpson and Carrie Underwood, who once embraced their healthy curves and vowed never to surrender to the pressure to be thin, soon swapped these admirable attitudes for new bodies, fake hair extensions, and expensive new noses. In 2006 a pre-nose job Ashlee Simpson preached to her fans, “Everyone is made differently, and that is what makes us beautiful and unique. I want girls to look in the mirror and feel confident.” Ironically enough, Simpson reemerged just a few months later sporting a new nose, long blonde extensions, and a much thinner figure (Simpson's transformation is shown to the left). One really has to question the impossible standards that the media are setting for our youth when Carmen Electra, one of our country’s most prevalent sex symbols, becomes the new spokesperson for Taco Bell fast food while simultaneously endorsing the new NV diet pill! It is ridiculous that Electra, who is known for her rock solid abs and svelte body, is even allowed to promote a diet pill. Mixed messages such as these convince women every day that to be successful, they must achieve these expectations of beauty by starving themselves and taking potentially dangerous pills.

With an entire nation tracking the every move of these young female starlets, it is no wonder that they are beginning to suffer the consequences. While media attention has always been part of the job description, I think our society’s celebrity obsession may be crossing over from what is appropriate and entertaining to a harmful and dangerous zone. A perfect example of this phenomenon is the recent Britney Spears scandal, when she spontaneously decided to shave her head (her new look is pictured below). Gossip columnists and news channels alike became completely obsessed with the story and stalked poor Britney like predators hunting their prey. I, like Britney Spears, just shaved my head. One of my many motivations for doing so was because I was tired of perpetuating our society’s unfounded and unrealistic conventions of beauty. I firmly believe that women give so much power to their hair because we think it is what makes us feminine and beautiful. Shaving it all off was my way of saying that we don’t need long, blonde hair to be sexy. After so many years of being judged by her appearance, maybe Britney and I shared a similar sentiment. Of course, the media had their own take on Britney’s situation, speculating that she is having a nervous breakdown. Entire websites were devoted to bashing her new look and some even accusing her of being gay. Although I do not know Britney personally, I know that if I had to read about my fashion disasters, horrible parenting skills, cheating husband, and the cellulite on my thighs every single day, I would not be in the best state of mind either. Britney Spears, the same teen queen who produced hit after hit, who dated heart-throb Justin Timberlake, and who was the first major teen icon of my generation, has become one of our media's favorite punching bags. Despite her questionable actions as of late, I cannot help but sympathize for the former starlet. It seems that we, the public who helped build the Britney Spears brand, have completely turned our backs on her and are now relishing her failures for their entertainment value.

In American Ferrera's Golden Globe acceptance speech the "Ugly Betty" star said, “Thank you to the foreign press for recognizing this show and this character who is truly bringing a new face to television… and such a beautiful, beautiful message about beauty that lies deeper than what we can see. It’s such an honor to play a role that I hear from young girls on a daily basis how it makes them feel worthy and lovable and that they have more to offer the world than they thought. It’s such an honor to play this role.” Messages such at these can help change the way our society views women, and more importantly help change women’s attitudes toward themselves. With all the negative publicity that so many young stars both receive and generate for women, it is refreshing and inspiring that shows such as "Ugly Betty" are striving to put the focus back on women in a positive light.

Made in the USA: Are we Trading Our Women for Cheap Labor?

This week’s post focuses on the troubling conditions in the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S
territory located in the Pacific Ocean, which is currently exempt from U.S immigration and labor laws. Due to the lack of authority on the island, Mariana has become a hub for the sexual trafficking and the exploitation of women and laborers; a typical sweatshop is pictured here. The Mariana Islands are making headlines as 23-year old Kayleen Entena testifies at last week’s hearing to determine whether the islands should be brought under U.S. jurisdiction. Entena shares her tragic story; how she was lured by the promise of a paying job, but upon her arrival on the island was immediately forced into sexual slavery. Below are my comments on two other blogs that discuss the Mariana Island situation. The first takes a close look at Entena’s testimony and at the severity of the sex slavery epidemic, and the second celebrates a recent decision to apply U.S minimum wage laws to laborers in Mariana Island.

My Reaction: "Plea to Congress to End Sexual Bondage in U.S. Islands"

What does it say about our country when states like South Dakota are trying to pass an abortion ban that makes no exceptions for rape, while women in U.S territory are being raped and sexually abused on a daily basis? It seems to me that sex trafficking has been a major issue for years, but it has not received the attention it deserves because of its taboo nature. If the white American male in power does not care to put his time and money toward protecting the lives of these impoverished and desperate young women, then we might as well just give these rapists and kidnappers the green light to continue. The Mariana Island economy relies heavily on the garment factories which produce clothes with labels that brag “Made in the USA.” If the United States benefits from these factories, and if these factories produce clothing for the U.S, then they should certainly abide by the same strict set of labor and immigration laws as the rest of the country has to.

My Reaction: "Ending the Mariana Mambo"

It's difficult to imagine that there is actually a place in the United States where conditions as horrible as these really exist. It is about time that these garment factories, which produce goods for the United States, and from which the United States benefits, start abiding by the laws. It is absolutely appalling that the Mariana Islands, which are considered a U.S territory, are allowed to produce garments that sport a “Made in the USA” label if their workers and citizens do not have to live by U.S law. Although extending minimum-wage restrictions to the Mariana Islands is a start, what about the sex trafficking epidemic? Hundreds of women are being bought and sold into the sex trade for little or no money, while others are being kidnapped or duped into thinking that they are going to have a better life. Hopefully, after last week’s hearings, the Mariana Islands will be brought into U.S jurisdiction in matters of both labor and immigration.

No More Wire Hangers: South Dakota Fights Back

In 1973 the case of Roe Versus Wade resulted in the legalization of abortion in America, for whichever reason a woman chooses, up until the point where the fetus becomes viable. Since its legalization in 1973, the topic of abortion has been the focus of much controversy, dividing Americans as either “Pro-Life” or “Pro-Choice;" a "Pro-Choice" rally is pictured to the right. Although the Roe V. Wade verdict has always been met with fanatical opposition, in recent years there has been a major push to bring back the extreme abortion ban, especially now with the elections just around the corner. Last year, the state legislature in South Dakota proposed a bill to outlaw abortion in the state, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or a woman’s health; and only allowing abortion to save the pregnant woman’s life. The 2006 ban was barely defeated, with just a 54 to 46 percent margin; and now, after a few minor revisions, South Dakota law- makers have reintroduced their proposal for this both dangerous and unconstitutional statewide ban.

The South Dakota abortion ban has outraged reproductive rights and civil liberties groups across the state. Led by Planned Parenthood, which runs the only abortion clinic in South Dakota, the Campaign for Healthy Families is doing everything in their power to overturn this ban. In the last six weeks more than 1,200 volunteers have petitioned more than 38,000 signatures from every county in the state, double the signatures needed to have voters repeal the ban. One of the major lobbyists for the South Dakota abortion ban is Leslee Unruh, founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse, a national group based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that advocates abstinence until marriage. Unruh, who is pictured here with First Lady Laura Bush, has received direct funding from the Bush administration, most significantly in 2002, when the Congress gave the Clearinghouse $2.7 million for their "Abstinence Only" campaigns. William Smith, vice president for public policy of Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States says, "If you follow the money, there is no other conclusion: Our tax dollars financed the South Dakota anti-choice lobby."

In early 2005, Unruh worked with South Dakota legislature to “set aside politics” and provide scientific and medical evidence to help end the abortion debate. In what was supposed to be a strictly scientific analysis of evidence, 10 of the 17 governor-selected members of the committee were well known abortion opponents, including Unruh’s own husband; as well as other experts whose work has also been published on the National Right to Life Committee website, a major “pro-life” organization. Among many ludicrous findings, the Committee concluded that abortion traumatizes and exploits women, and that abortion providers have a legal duty to the unborn, not to the pregnant woman. Leslee Unruh continues to manipulate and misuse scientific evidence to support her claims, ultimately misguiding and harming women who could potentially benefit from having this procedure.

In South Dakota the consequences of a statewide abortion ban would be devastating. On the poverty stricken Rosebud Indian reservation in South Dakota, pictured to the left, 80 percent of female high school seniors report having been raped. Nichole Witt of the White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, the reservation's shelter for women, says, “Control over our bodies is being decided by white men who have no concept of our lives here as Indian women. We have children, young girls, being molested and raped by their family members.” Witt explains that these Native American women do not have the resources to travel long distances to an out of state abortion clinic. While banning abortion in South Dakota may satisfy the wishes of “pro-life” conservatives, it will increase the number of unwanted children being born into the Native American community. Although Native Americans make up just 8 percent of the state's population, an astonishing 56 percent of children in South Dakota state care are Native American.

The South Dakota abortion ban poses a huge threat to the safety and health of women in America. In a country where almost half the teenage population is sexually active and almost 16 percent of sexually active teens report using no form of contraception, abortion is necessary. If our government proceeds to fund abstinence campaigns instead of safe sex education, teenagers will continue to have unprotected sex and the rate of unwanted pregnancy will rise. Unfortunately, our society is not perfect, and accidents do happen. A South Dakota doctor says, "By the nature of being adolescents, they are the ones more inclined to take risks. They are in a position where unwanted, unplanned pregnancy has the ability to most greatly affect their lives." Until we find a way to effectively reduce the amount of unwanted pregnancies in our country, abortion must be a legal and available service. The doctor, who flies to South Dakota once a month to provide abortions for South Dakota natives, warns, "Women with resources will get safe abortions. It's these young women who will try to end their pregnancies in dangerous and unhealthy ways."

Although South Dakota is just one small state, those who oppose the ban believe that if it is not defeated on a state level, it will inevitably make its way to the U.S Supreme Court. Sarah Stoesz, CEO of Planned Parenthood in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota explains, “This is about an ill wind that is beginning to blow in South Dakota and will ultimately blow across the country unless stopped. A Win in this state will advance our movement for reproductive rights to the next level, and change the current politics of the country."