But, in some cases, real beauty is not lovelier, according to Unilever stockholders
A big thank you to Chicago blogger-mom and my new best friend alimum, who turned me on to yet more disturbing marketing practices by Unilever, maker of Dove:
Fair & Lovely. It’s a skin lightener. Unilever markets this in countries where, well, a gal’s skin may be too dark.
Check out the T.V. ad from India, for example. Not exactly what you’d call a Campaign for Real Beauty.
If you want to read up on the issue, see this post at Feministing and Race, Poverty and Skin-Whitener at Salon.
What kills me about this is how public relations for a global company can change based on the audience/country. Obviously, different people have different needs. But how can a company who can sell beauty products by touting:
For too long, beauty has been defined by narrow, stifling stereotypes. Women have told us it’s time to change all that. Dove agrees. . . .
Dove’s global Campaign for Real Beauty aims to change the status quo and offer in its place a broader, healthier, more democratic view of beauty. A view of beauty that all women can own and enjoy everyday.
also tell some women that it is okay, even preferred, to change their natural skin color?
Based on this and all the other evidence, I’d say it’s time to say that Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty is really pretty ugly.
Don’t buy it.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
Every time you post about Unilever, I get more disenchanted with their products. Thanks for pointing out the hypocrisy.
April 4th, 2007 at 1:59 am
[…] out I’m not the only one annoyed by Fair and Lovely’s commercials. Check out their latest commercial (in […]
April 6th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
What soap do you recommend… (out of curiousity.)
April 7th, 2007 at 9:48 am
OTJ, that’s a great question. I’ve been thinking that I have to come up with some solutions here instead of complaining all the time. I’m working on it.
April 7th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Unilever is responding to demand and that they did not create the desire for lighter skin which is pervasive in India. In America, no one believes me when I tell them I am Indian because my skin is considered “too light”. In India, I have men following me down the street, begging my mother for my hand in marriage, insisting that her low caste was immaterial (yeah, right). That isn’t Unilever’s fault.
However, now that I have said that, I can go back to hating them for capitalizing on it. I am actually surprised they haven’t tried marketing this in African American communities here–I mean, no one gets to irritated by the sale of hair relaxers. there must be some really nasty chemicals in that Fair and Lovely cream.
April 9th, 2007 at 11:00 am
alimum, you’re right about the supply/demand issue, but I can’t let go of the idea that profits come before the good of the community — and that corporations seem to never have any responsibilities, to anyone.
Thanks for your thoughts and I’m now reading your blog!
May 20th, 2007 at 9:14 am
I am also disgusted by Fair and Lovely’s commercials. Basically this whole product line.