The current Dove video that is going around the Internet today speaks volumes. It is a creative project with a heart. It illustrates the commitment of a group of people at Dove/Unilever to address the misperceptions and poor self-images that so many women have of themselves.  It is poignant.  Anyone watching this video feels the heartache as each woman looks at the discrepancy between her own self-image and the more positive image of how others see her.

Here's the video. 

I wanted Act Two.  I wanted Dove to move on to a critique of why all of these women shared the common experience of self-doubt,  body insecurity, and judgment.  Who are these women comparing themselves to? Where did they get the idea that crows feet, dark circles under the eyes, protruding chins, round faces are unbecoming, problems to be dealt with?

When each of those women look in the mirror and see a new line, wrinkle, pound of flesh why do they have an instantaneous reaction of disappointment, self-disgust—for some even despair.  What are the products, surgeries, diets they reach for to ‘fix’ themselves? How many billions in profit are gained at the cost of womens’, girls’ and increasingly boys’ and mens’ suffering?

It is insidious in its acceptance of its concept of beauty. Where is the diversity of  beautiful women of all shapes, sizes and colors? Who defines beauty and profits from the one being promoted?

Act Two needed to take a more courageous stand—one which questions WHY these women feel as they do. It’s not enough to say— isn’t it sad that they see themselves as less beautiful than others see them? Act Two needs to say we must stop the toxicity that creates this epidemic.