Is Dove's "Real Beauty"...Fake?

Dove’s “Real Beauty” Campaign, founded in 2004 aims to redefine beauty not by “shape, size, or color”, but as “feeling like the best version of yourself” (“Dove Real Beauty”). However, as an advertising campaign, “Real Beauty” is a money grabbing initiative at its core. In other words, it works to “[keep] us permanently dissatisfied” with ourselves (Shaw et al. 323). Hence, always on the lookout for products to please our newfound needs. Notably, this campaign is littered with flaws which are overlooked by consumers and overshadowed by perceived positive outcomes, for the greater good…