Dove Pro-Age campaign

[lukasahero]

Just found this and thought I'd share.

http://www.doveproage.com/

Most interestingly, the commercials will not be allowed on US television. "...the Federal Communications Commission banned the U.S. broadcast of a pro-age TV ad that revealed only slightly more skin than you'd see in a soap commercial." Source: http://www.canada.com/topics/lifestyle/story.html?id=e3ff0ab8-7280-4c57-ac47-ab8b41b18f8e&k=99279

[DKRC]

1. What were they thinking?

Would have been running here if Dove had only sold beer/cars/sofas or included a sex-chat number. That's what our bodies are suppose to be used for in advertisements.
:sarcasm:

[lukasahero]

2. Actually, I don't think it would have been

I believe the entire point of the campaign is highlighted by the FCC's reaction to it: only young women's bodies are allowed to be used to sell things.

And oh yeah - thanks to whomever gave me the heart. Made my day. :blush:

[DKRC]

3. I know, that's why I used the sarcasm. nt

[Katherine Brengle]

4. I thought that was beautiful, I'm passing it on. TFS

[noamnety]

5. I'm torn

They are still using naked women's bodies to sell a product, as a tool for corporate profit. That's not something I would throw any effort into fighting for.

"If only the rest of us could be exploited as marketing tools."

Ugh.

I guess the question is whether nude women in marketing is harming women by setting up unrealistic beauty standards (we can all agree on that, I think), or whether the commercial exploitation itself also does harm. Do we really want to fight for the right for older/heavier women to also be objectified?

I'm not sure what to think.

[Morgana LaFey]

6. Well, I can't tell you what to think, but I'll share with you what I think

I was just dazzled. Delighted. Pleased. I LOVED it. I didn't even think of it as using women's bodies to sell a product (tho I do see your point and will continue to think on it), but rather as a celebration of older women's beauty. I really was dazzled by that ad.

I'm not sure I saw it as objectifying, either. Rather as a celebration of our differences -- differences in size, shape, color, wrinkle accumulation, hair style, etc. It made me feel good, good to be a woman, good to be an older woman. It also made me feel good that there's a comany out there who is thinking in terms that are diametrically opposed to the waifs who walk down the catwalks and are all washed up by 30.

Of course, I do realize that they ARE selling a product -- and that there are so many of us boomers who may be interested.

But still -- if images are going to be tossed around of women, incl. naked women, I'm delighted it's this tastefully done and featuring older women.

Maybe I'll change my mind later.

And as for the fact that the FCC turned them down -- the little sweet young things in those Hanes panties may have been wearing more, but those commercials were, IMO, far more objectionable.

[Katherine Brengle]

12. I think it's the perfection image, not the nudity, that is offensive.

The human body is the one thing we ALL have in common. The women in these ads looked like me, and my mother, and all the women I know. It was empowering to see them, so unashamed, as we all should be.

Seeing ad after ad after ad of underweight stick-thin supermodels with breast implants and tummy tucks all airbrushed into false perfection... that weakens all women, whether they are clothed or not.

[LostinVA]

7. I've seen one of the print ads -- it's terrific

An older woman with beautiful grey hair and a body not entirely air-brushed.

[noamnety]

8. Okay, but let's think about this

What product are they marketing - what is it FOR?

Why are they marketing that product only to women?

[LostinVA]

9. No, I understand your point about that

Unvaryingly, the product will be marketed no matter what, and will use women and their "fear" of aging. I'm just saying that I DO like seeing older women not only represented but the ficus of a marketing campaign. Women over 40 are so marginalized in pour society. And women over 50? Oi. Forget it.

[NMMNG]

10. Great ad

Too bad the US thinks skin is only acceptable if it's young skin. :eyes:

[SemperEadem]

11. I love it!!!

it's no different than what's seen on tv every single day. Perhaps it was banned because it didn't give any of the men sitting on the FCC a woody because the women were women, not girls.