Cookin’ It Up In My Head
Evening, folks! Let the weekend officially begin!
I had another fun day of classes. We talked about the Dove Real Beauty campaign, and my students had a lot of interesting things to say. They were actually really cynical about the campaign—I was kind of surprised. Many of them noted that, though the girls used in the campaign aren’t “model beautiful,” most of them are still very attractive with nice bodies. Even the girls who are “bigger,” for instance, have flat stomachs, toned legs, and no cellulite—certainly none of these girls would be considered overweight.
This was the particular ad that we viewed in the textbook:
You know…I kind of agree with my students. Although these girls are “real” looking…they aren’t exactly posing a huge challenge to the standard of beauty, as they are all relatively attractive with attractive bodies, good hair, white teeth, etc.
They also all agreed that Dove was probably only trying to find the most effective way to turn a profit—in this case, by “cashing in” on the way that women have traditionally been portrayed in the advertising industry. While many of them thought that the campaign has some merit, they all agreed that Dove’s desire at the heart of the campaign was to earn as much money as possible, not to “widen the beauty ideal” or help women to feel better about themselves.
We read a really interesting article that went along with the reading by Virginia Postrel. You can read it here—basically she says that the problem with the Dove campaign is that it insists that we’re all “beautiful” in our own way…and most of us are simply not. The word “beautiful” holds a power that has more to do with evolution and biology than social construct—that since the beginning of time, when choosing a partner meant choosing the best “mate” to bear your children or continue your lineage, we’ve been drawn to faces that are more symmetrical. We’re drawn to eyes that are bright and skin that is clear and lips that are full because these are good indicators of fertility and health, not just beauty. I thought that was really interesting. She ends her essay by saying that a girl claiming she is not “beautiful” does not indicate horrible self-esteem, but rather an acceptance of the truth. Most of us are not beautiful, we are simple average-looking—and there’s nothing wrong with accepting that. Postrel concludes, “Asking women to say they’re beautiful is like asking intellectuals to say they’re geniuses. Most know they simply don’t qualify.”
Honestly, I was kind of surprised by the way my students reacted to the Dove campaign—they were really cynical about it, almost contemptuous. I do think that part of why they had that reaction was because the ads are run by a major company who, at the end of the day, is simply selling another product, just like every other company.
Whew! Anyway!
While my students were answering discussion questions, I was cooking up dinner in my head. I knew I wanted to do something with the swiss chard that has been sitting in our fridge since Saturday—it was use it or lose it time! We also have a lot of eggs…and some mushrooms…and soon enough, I had a pretty good idea in my head of what I wanted to make!
Swiss Chard, Mushroom, and Couscous Custard
Ingredients
1 bunch of swiss chard (leaves and stems) (about 2 cups), chopped
2 cups baby bella mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
pepper to taste
1/2 tsp. herbes de provence
3 eggs, beaten
splash of half and half
1/4 cup couscous
1/2 cup white cheddar, grated
Directions
In a pan, saute the swiss chard, mushrooms, and garlic in about a tbsp. of olive oil until the greens have wilted and the mushrooms have browned, about 10 minutes. Season with spices and salt and pepper, and transfer to a baking dish.
Combine the eggs and the half and half, and pour over the vegetables. Sprinkle the couscous over the top, and pat with a spoon to ensure that the couscous is submerged. Sprinkle cheese over the top.
Bake in an oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes, until the eggs are set and firm.
Delicious! Here are some pictures of the process:
This turned out really well—the couscous took on a taste almost like grits. We had ours with a simple slice of toast:
Simple, but divine! You know it was good, because we at the WHOLE thing! 
Well, I’m beat. We’re supposed to get 40 mph winds tonight! Crazy! See you tomorrow…Friday!
I think the ad is, at the very least, a step in the right direction. They may not be “ugly” but they challenged the expectation enough to get attention. And while I agree it probably was a ploy by Dove to get attention, I don’t think it worked necessarily better than any other ploy
Good for your students for really delving into that topic. I do agree the ad is a step in the right direction, they still are trying to sell a product. They still are going to put women in ads that are “easy on the eyes” even if they aren’t stick thin models. Your dinner looks beautiful by the way!
I agree with Evan, it’s a step in the right direction!
I’m surprised how cynical they were about it…those girls look MUCH more real than most models. I think it’s a great idea to put healthy people who are just simply not “models”. What was disgusting to me was people who called the girls overweight or said other terrible things about the campaign. I think in general it was a great idea. Sure they are trying to sell a product, but you can either help us step in the right direction or continue to do what always sells…they chose the first.
I was definitely surprised too!
I like the Dove campaign. These women look pretty “average” and “normal” to me. Advertisers just aren’t going to choose ugly models. Ads have to be aesthetically pleasing.
that’s interesting that they were so cynical…but i agree with evan, at least we’re moving AWAY from stick-thin women being the forefront of ad campaigns!
Hi Anna!
p.s. Postrel’s article is really interesting…hinting that what needs to change is society’s emphasis on promoting unrealistic ideals of beauty that make normal women feel inadequate for no reason. Also, physical beauty isn’t everything. Personalities can be even more beautiful and attractive to the right person…although that concept is probably hard to convey with visual ads!
I don’t keep a food blog but I like reading them for recipe/workout inspiration, and I was excited to stumble on yours because A. great name B. I live in state college AKA siberia!
Hey Anna!!! I’m so glad to “meet” you– we should meet up in State College sometime for lunch or coffee (when all of these BLIZZARDS die down, that is). Thanks for reading!
Oooh, count me in for a meet up!
The discussions in this section of your class sound so interesting! I’ve got to agree that any departure from stick thin models in beauty campaigns have to be a baby step in the right direction.
I agree, your class discussions are so interesting and thought provoking! I agree with Lily completely. It’s all about aesthetics!
Oh man… I wrote a 10 page paper on the Dove Real Beauty campaign my sophomore year for a rhetoric in public culture class. Still have it, I think
Definitely came across some of the same conclusions. Even more interesting is that Unilever owns Dove… and Axe. Yeah, the body spray with the commercials that completely degrade women and play up the culture’s stereotypes of them. Perfect….
Ugh…I HATE those Axe commercials.
This is what I was going to look up… who owns Dove… it says a lot about them.
so interesting about your “dove” discussion! and i love that you had a simple piece of toast with dinner – sometimes i forget i can do that – i feel like i need to go out and get a french bread loaf just because it’s dinnertime!
What a great class discussion! I never liked those Dove ads because I always felt like there was something almost mocking about the way they presented them, all hamming for the cameras in matching white undies. Sure, it’s a step in the right direction, but I feel like it would have been more real to individualize each model!
A wonderful class discussion! I had mixed feelings about the ads too, something seemed a bit polished and phony about them.
That custard looks amazing!
Interesting discussion.. I both agree and disagree. The thing is though, that although those women may be toned, pretty, etc., they are STILL not what society is being brainwashed into thinking is beautiful – super skinny. Perhaps Dove just uses it as a means to bring in more money but it IS a step in the right direction. As for being toned with no cellulite.. those were most likely airbrushed away.
That seems like a very interesting discussion.. I have quite mixed feelings about that campain. First I thought that it was great that they showed “more normal” people too but I also agree with you. In the end it’s a simple ad to sell the products.
Your custard looks so good!!
Really interesting subject. I never thought of the campaign the way your students did or the article, but it totally makes sense. Could it be that Dove wanted to just introduce the idea of “real women” but was too afraid to dive into it completely and use “normal” women?
Looks fantastic!! We got crazy winds last night- it was scary!! Definitely an interesting class discussion
Wow – that dish looks fabulous Anna – I love anything with cheese
…and nice colors !
That dinner looks amazing!! I’ll have to remember to try making it.
With respect to Dove: Of course the company is out to make a profit! That’s what companies do. Is that inherently bad? No. It’s just economics. If the company is improving women’s self-esteem in the the process then I think it’s great. And Dove does more than just put up ads, they also fund programs to improve self-esteem in women.What’s so bad about that?
I should have brought up the programs that Dove funds in order to improve self-esteem in women– I’ll mention that to my students on Tuesday!
This was exactly the point I was going to make if no one else had! I mean companies can either decide to sell their product by selling completely unrealistic and mostly unattainable sex appeal like everyone else, or they could decide to sell their product with a more sensitive and realistic vision of “beauty.” I mean, they are still selling a “beauty” product, so they’re not going to use women who by most standards would be called ugly.
I guess I just appreciate that this campaign reflects a conscious decision and inherently acknowledges that there’s a problem, which is more than most companies do.
Plus, Oprah backs Dove!!!!
Dinner looks great (as usual)!!! I sit around thinking up ways to use up stuff in my fridge too. I started keeping a food journal even so I’d remember!
I need to start doing that!! I feel like I always think of 20 different things that I want to make when I’m just sitting around or going about my day, but then when it comes time to make a meal, I can’t remember any of the things I wanted to make!
I agree with Samantha – Of course Dove is trying to make a profit! And, it’s a good thing to use more “normal looking” women in the ad instead of the anorexic women that have become the standard. A great discussion for your class! (Great looking dinner, by the way!)
I think a lot of us are going to be inherently cynical of any attempt a major corporation makes at using more “real” models because we are hyper-aware of the issue (I am not sure if you read Glamour but when they wrote in their mag that they were going to use more realistic models, a lot of people acted like it was just a cry for attention). At least, I know I am. But, I don’t really trust that any corporation (or anyone) has my best interest in mind. Yes, they are a business out to make a profit. They will tug at our heartstrings anyway they can.
What an interesting perspective. I think I do agree with your students. I also agree about the fact that very few people are actually “beautiful” and I don’t mean that rudely at all!I don’t consider myself to be “beautiful” but I don’t feel like I am putting myself down either. I don’t think I am ugly or anything like that but I think I am just average. But I totally agree that I don’t have low self esteem and am happy with myself. Am I making any kind of sense?
You’re totally making sense! I feel the same way– I don’t consider myself to be “beautiful,” but I’m very happy with my looks and who I am, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that!
P.S. Not sure if you’ve seen this already – but you might find it interesting. It’s called “Dove Evolution” and they are showing what goes into making a model look cover ready. It’s really interesting.
That article you talked about makes me sad! “A girls saying she isn’t beautiful isn’t a lack of confidence, its accepting the truth.” Outrageous! I think that every girl should believe she is beautiful — even if her “look” doesn’t mesh with the media’s standards of beautiful, everyone is beautiful in their own way! Accepting not being beautiful as “the truth”, I think, would be harmful and down putting. I am so interested in this article, thanks for writing about it!
I definitely hear what you’re saying, and I agree with you to an extent– I think there’s definitely something to having enough confidence to feel proud of yourself and content with your looks, even if they don’t fit with the media’s standards of beauty. I think what was so interesting about the article to me was her argument that beauty isn’t just a construction of the media– that true standards of beauty DO exist, and have ALWAYS existed– standards that have more to do with facial symmetry than anything else– and the truth is just that most of us don’t fall into those standards– and that’s okay too! The article cites historical figures like the Venus de Miilo, Cleopatra, Helen of Troy, etc. as proof that we’ve always, in one way or another, celebrated true beauty, and that there’s nothing wrong wtih that.
Very interesting stuff, for sure!
Wow! That custard looks terrific! Maybe thats what’s for dinner tonight
What a great, interesting, though-provoking post! I think that the Dove ads are great because they feature women that are at HEALTHY weights. Featuring obese women is the same as featuring rail thin models, unhealthy lifestyles of any type shouldn’t be acceptable. By featuring average women it makes feeling better about your body more approachable. That article you talked about sounds very interesting too- in “The Third Chimpanzee” there’s a chapter on how we choose mates and it was very interesting to read.
Great dinner, too! Yum!
I agree, that article is really interesting. I guess it is kind of a fact that most of us are never going to be considered traditionally beautiful, but that doesn’t mean it’s something to cry over. It doesn’t mean we’re UGLY. I like that way of looking at it, and I bet I would totally enjoy being in your class.
I think the ad is definitely a good thought, but I agree – they all have flat tummies and look like they hit the gym a ton, even though they might not be super skinny like most models. I think beauty is a hard thing to portray though because in order to encapsulate true beauty you need to be able to see the inner beauty and that’s just not possible to get across through a print or TV ad.
I don’t think Dove should be attached, but an interesting idea might be to show women completely covered up in traditional muslim dress with a slogan like “You can’t even see the true depth of my beauty…” kind of a random thought, sorry. It’s just so hard to get people off the idea of physical beauty as the only sign of beauty when magazines are filled with pictures.
My goodness, what a great post! I love the discussion about the Dove campaign and the notion of beauty. I like to think that Dove is at least moving in the right direction, whatever their motivations may be. I also think that beauty is more than the symmetrical, aesthetically pleasing face. I suppose we’re not really talking about someone’s physical characteristics when we say everyone is “beautiful in their own way.” Rather, we’re saying that they radiate something that attracts us- a beautiful mixing of intelligence, liveliness, happiness, confidence, etc. But I agree that we throw the word ‘beautiful’ around too often and too easily.
I love your dinner by the way!! Amazing!
Like Evan, I agree that the ad is at least a step in the right direction. It’s not perfect.. but it’s still way ahead of the curve. At least they aren’t freaking skinny women that leave this unrealistic expectation that skinny is beautiful.
Your dinner sounds fantastic!!!
I am really surprised that people were contemptuous towards this campaign. I always admired these ladies for putting themselves out there and I do think they represent a great majority of the population. In any case, I think this a great campaign and Dove should get kudos for a step in the right direction!
We had crazy winds too. Love that you were cookin up dinner in your head while the kids were busy working away. I agree with their thoughts however, it’s a start!! Branching out from the typical stick figure is a great goal and sometimes we need to take baby steps.
Your class sounds so interesting! I’ve watched those commercials and thought that they definitely were a step in the right direction but I’ve never considered all of the other aspects to it. Owned by the same company that owns Axe, the fact that the women in the campaign all still looked really great, and that article. Wow, I have so many thoughts going on now! Great topic!!
That dinner looks so good! You are so creative with your meals, it’s great inspiration!
Looks like this post got the comments goin! Awesome!
First, the chard. Used to get a ton of it in my CSA box in San diego, oh how I love it! Beautiful food pics, Anna!
The ad…well, as much as we want to tell ourselves that “all women are beautiful” and they are; women are beautiful, not just for our body’s but for what we can do: grow people inside of us!!! But the media, pop culture, and society still has it ingrained in us that unless you’re a size 2 or 4 you’re not model-worthy beautiful, you’re just run of the mill “beautiful”. I don’t know where I’m going with this but it’s more of a reply to some of the other comments…all i can say is that as a mom of a 3 yr old daughter, I have my work cut out of me to make her realize that we’re all beautiful, even if it’s not a size 2, perfect teeth kinda beauty.
Great post, Anna!
Nice! Way to keep the 90′s alive!
That bread looks so yum
Anna, I think i aske du before, but never saw the answer: what do u think?
i meant to say what do u teach
oops
I teach English composition classes and creative writing classes
That dish looks fantastic!! The pics are great too!!
i love the dove add I think it takes real guts for some of these ladies to get up there and do what they do and its inspiring!
now your food, that looks AMAZING I would never think of all of those ingredients to come together in a custard of sorts, sucha great idea!
I’ve always found the ad to be sort of off as well! I think it’s interesting..companies that market towards full figured women, don’t feature full figured women. Even Torrid, a popular plus sized store geared towards plus sized women probably from 16..to maybe 30, uses models that are a size 16. I just wish that there was more of a spectrum…put the size 16 in the ad..with a size 28, and a size 12!
I agree, the ad is trying to get the appropriate message across. Your students are very insightful!!
I think that the fact that the ad uses “real” women and calls attention to that fact sort of takes away from what they are trying to do. If they had a regular ad with a “real” woman and didn’t highlight the fact that beauty comes in all sizes, I think that would be more effective in changing the way beauty is perceived in advertising. That said, I still think that it’s a step in the right direction.
I don’t know if that makes any sense. In my head it does, but I’m having trouble articulating what I’m trying to say.
Yes, my husband said the same thing– that he would have been a lot more impressed if they had just USED real women instead of pointing out, “Hey, look at us! We’re using REAL women!!!”