There is a haunting note that accompanies Dove’s latest ad (“Is That You?”), a nursery rhyme that repeats over and over again:
Chubby Cheeks
Dimple Chin
Rosy Lips
Teeth Within
As the lines above describe, women are still expected to adhere to certain standards of beauty and thought of as ‘dainty’ and ‘fragile’. The ‘training’ for this begins right at school where children are taught to look at their bodies in a certain way. It is important that we remember that women do not, and should not, adhere to any such standards of body and beauty.
This is actually an excellent time for this, especially since women athletes are performing particularly well at the Olympics. This ad becomes a great way of not only destroying the stereotype of “chubby cheeks-dimple chin” but also showcasing the many talented sportswomen India has. The women in the video are not actors, but real women in sports who drive Dove’s point home about redefining the idea of ‘beauty’ itself.
Table Tennis: Aditi Sinha
Gymnastics: Rutuja Parkar
Wrestling: Akshita Karkera, Sakshi Shetty
Archery: Mrudula Parande
Shot Put: Iccha Priti
Runner: Amruta Patre
Hockey Team: Mary Imacculate Girls High School
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