Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

(www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/)

Growing up I’ve always had self esteem issues along with negative body image and problems with accepting myself. I also know that many girls around the world go through the same things on a daily basis. Whenever I think of beautiful, I think of the women I see in magazines and on T.V. I think to myself that there must be more to looking good than perfect skin, hair, clothing, and bodies. I think that the definition of beauty should be changed so that many girls, including me, will have an easier time accepting themselves and gain a higher confidence level.

Girls that do not consider themselves beautiful, have more issues that are beyond looks. Problems for these girls include low self esteem, eating disorders, and acting out. Young girls will do things such as drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and having suicidal thoughts. The images that we see everyday can have a negative impact on girls that will never go away. These “beautiful” women in the media force girls to think they need to become society’s image of perfection, and push out the things that make them truly unique and special. There are so many things that make a girl beautiful inside and out and I think that the media is not allowing anyone to see them. I believe this ongoing problem needs to stop.

The Dove Campaign for Real is an organization whose goal is to broaden the definition of beauty. All over the United States and some parts of Canada, Dove is reaching out to girls with beauty issues by conducting workshops and encouraging young girls that they are beautiful. Since only 2% of girls in the world consider themselves beautiful, Dove started their campaign to help free the next generation from self-limiting stereotypes. Dove also has a donation fund to contribute to the cause, which increases the success of Dove’s goal. The campaign consists of beauty tools, national campaign Beauty Workshops complete with volunteer mentors, and a beauty fund. Their goal is to effectively reach 5 million girls by the end of 2010 and continue beyond that.

One way they plan to reach their goal is to create free online quizzes, articles, and words of encouragement and advice that can help teach girls they are beautiful and special. Dove also holds Beauty Workshops all across the nation where volunteers speak about ways to help gain confidence and realize self worth and true beauty. Also, Dove accepts donations. Donating is as easy as buying Dove products, and simply offering money to the fund. One workshop volunteer once truthfully stated, “Truth is beauty” - Sigrid Sutter .Dove is committed to making every girl feel beautiful by challenging the stereotypical view of beauty and inspiring girls. They use women of all different ages, races, sizes, and shapes in their ads for Dove products to provoke the new beautiful.

(www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/)

There are many things that I can do to help this cause and reach out to myself and people around me. I can see myself as beautiful and encourage others around me to do the same. Also, I can purchase Dove items, because every purchase contributes to the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Finally, I can go to workshops or take the self- esteem quizzes online.