Dove’s Racist Ad

Hey everybody, today I’m going to be analyzing a racist ad that dove put out. This ad contributes to the horrific beauty industry standard which some companies promote that says that having whiter skin is more beautiful.

As you can see, this ad immediately sparks a bad standard. Whether intentional or not, the ad does damage to black women who will begin to feel unsatisfied with their bodies. Even if Dove did not intend to deliver this message (hopefully they did not), their carelessness would still be inexcusable as the damage will be done to black women anyway.

The gradient across the three women aligned with the before and after demonstrations of the product above are the cause of the problem. As the women go from black to white, the ad gives the appearance that the lighter, white skin is somehow more beautiful than the black woman’s skin. The company attempts to convince consumers that its product will help them get the “better” white skin.

This abhorrent standard has become an issue across the entire industry. Black women everywhere have learned to feel somehow inadequate or inferior because they do not have the skin color that the beauty industry promotes. Hopefully, companies in the industry will begin to take a stand against this horrible issue and make things right.