Dove Real Truth on Beauty

Logo, company name, with Text and Self Esteem FundDove Real Truth on Beauty: I glanced at my fridge calender this morning and this months’ inspirational quote jumped out at me:

‘What you think of yourself is more important
than what others think of you’ {seneca}
.

I couldn’t help but to recall a post I wrote last year about how my daughter thought a perfect body created a perfect life. I have thought about my daughters’ statement constantly since then, realizing that the job of parenthood is more than finding that ideal diaper bag or creating the cutest nursery. We often go through the daily tasks of parenthood, failing to look at the job in entirety. Reality hits – I am a parent and my girls’ values and attitudes rest heavily on my own perceptions and style of parenting.

A few weeks ago, I flew to Toronto to attend the release of Dove’s latest research on the ‘Real Truth about Beauty’. Myself, other social media representatives and various members of the press heard stories and conversation from Jeanne Beker {Fashion Television}, Shelly-Ann Brown {Olympic silver medalist}, Sarah Taylor, Genevieve Borne and Lisa Naylor. They discussed how their upbringing and life experiences shaped their feelings about beauty and self-esteem. They talked a lot about how their mothers shaped their feelings about beauty and had significant impact on the women they became.

The results of the Dove study were startling to say the least.

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  • By age 14, almost half of all girls are avoiding social activities and engaging in sports, as they are worried about the way they’ll look in front of others. Girls’ paranoia and fear of others’ opinions are preventing them from having a full life.
  • By the age of 15, less than 3% of girls consider themselves beautiful.

This is just a small sampling of the results, it’s very detailed yet you can read the Global Study for yourself. Let’s do something about these sad facts! Raise confident, willing and strong girls! My job as a parent lies in teaching the truth about beauty and the fact that it’s not my daughters’ job to decorate the world.

This is to my daughters and to yours:
Be your own authentic self. Be true. Live. Love. Succeed. Fail. Then try again. Laugh. Be proud of who you are. Celebrate yourself. There is only one you. And, I am grateful for having you.

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I think I learned the most from Shelly-Ann Brown, what an amazing woman! She just pours with the strength and attitude that I could only wish for my daughters to have. Alright, and myself as well, let’s be honest. I’m sure, like anyone, she has her days – but you can look at Shelly-Ann and see confidence, it simply sparkles from her in such a glorious way. I could have talked with Shelly-Ann for hours, she’s a very inspirational woman! Here is the day in photos:

dove real truth on beauty

If you’d like to learn more about Dove’s Self Esteem Fund for Girls, visit Dove Canada. They have articles for Mom & Mentors, educators and for girls as well.

The Dove Evolution video is one of my favorite clips to share with people, since it’s just as startling. This seems like the perfect time to put ‘beauty in the media’ into perspective. I was recently fortunate to be one of 14 real women to appear in Dove Canada’s latest music video. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Singin’ in the Rain: A Dove Hair Music Video.

How will you encourage self-esteem in young girls?
Together we can improve these statistics!

~

11 Comments

    1. I love that you started ‘Mission Beautiful’!
      After this event, I tweeted out to many that they were beautiful – and got less of a response than what I had hoped. Proved that people don’t take such a thing to heart.

  1. my parents always thought I was a very self-confident person, until they heard me talking around the age of 12. I had extra cartilage in my ears causing them to have a very “Dumbo” like appearance. After being teased for years from friends to even family members. I refused to get water baptized at church because of them. I didn’t want my hair to get wet in public. My ears would stick out too far. We opted for surgery, it was the easy fix. The wounds from all the name-calling… took longer to heal.

    I want my daughter to be as confident as I am now. She is the age I was at when I started to worry about my appearance. I do not complain about any part of my body in front of her. I often “let it all hang out” when we go out in public, meaning I could care less who sees me with or without makeup on. Take me as I am – like it or lump it! 🙂 There’s far more important things to talk about in life than where my body falls short according to society’s standards. If I compare my own body to my own body and nobody elses… I’m perfect in every way!

    1. Thanks for sharing, Shannon.
      I too was made fun of, probably around the age 14. I still recall it vividly, way more than I do the positive times of that age.
      It pains me to think that my daughters will live through that, and I am trying very hard to teach them to love themselves for who they are – so that they might not take criticism too personally one day.
      I like your attitude on parenting!!

  2. Uh,,, this is such a hard thing to get into any womens head… we are bombarded with BEAUTIFUL people who are ANYTHING but everyday women. I love Dove’s campaign, I have been watching a lot on YouTube lately,,, one that really stuck out in my mind was how stars only release photos of themselves after they have been professionally photo shopped by their very own artist… how are we, as normal everyday people suppose to compete with that? We can’t and in return, it leaves us feeling nothing less than crappy…

    something needs to change, for the sake of our daughters and all women alike.

    Thanks for posting Tammi!

  3. What an absolutely beautiful, beautiful post. I respect Dove immensely and what they do for girls of all ages all around the world-It’s unfortunate that it has to happen, but SOMEONE needs to do it! Someone needs to remind woman that what they deem ‘beautiful’ is nothing but a media-created fantasy, and that normal woman of every shape, size, color, and ethnicity are the REAL beautiful ones.

    1. Inspirational, isn’t it?!
      My hope is that others follow suit. Little pieces for a huge gain!

  4. I saw on Twitter that MommyMoment has made this part of her own personal mission, too – to tell women they are beautiful, and I know she means it!

    I love that Evolution commercial too – it’s awesome. And of course I love the Singing in the Rain video, too, because I know it’s REAL women, gorgeous, full-of-life women, having a great time just being FUN!

  5. Tammi,
    When I read your post, I think of someone trying to untangle a necklace they’ve found hidden at the bottom of their jewelry drawer. If you can just get that knot past that loop you’ll see your way clear. And then another knot presents itself and you’re worrying yourself through that one. But when you’re finished you have this beautiful necklace that you’ve been missing – and that’s pretty darn awesome.

    I think our beauty stories are knotted up and confusing but they’re worth unraveling. I love that we had this experience and that we’re working at the knots – for us and for our daughters. Thank you for sharing your beauty, vulnerability and your hopes. I think the journey you’re on is going to be beautiful – just like you!

    Julia, who has never once called herself beautiful and now thinks that might just be plain sad…

    1. Oh Julia, this comment is beautiful – and it makes so much sense! Thank you for commenting, your words sincerely made my day!

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