Controversy Over Dove’s Body-Shaped Products

Dove prides itself on their popular message, “Real Beauty”, where they promote their products through empowering women.

Their latest campaign focused on body-shaped bottles in an attempt to celebrate body diversity. The bottles represent various body shapes and sizes. Dove announced that “just like women, we wanted to show that our iconic bottle can come in all shapes and sizes, too” However, the packaging style upset many customers and as a result, made individuals question Dove’s support with women empowerment.

Many customers believe the body-shaped bottles contradict their “Real Beauty” message and that Dove overreached; while other consumers are confused with the backlash. Many complaints revolve around the fact that all the bottles are white in color and failing to celebrate diversity. In Fortune’s Broadsheet newsletter, Kristen Bellstrom argues that “I do not appreciate a company that so oversimplifies the complicated issue of how our society views women’s bodies.”

Dove’s clear intention and hope was to embrace and praise women’s bodies and to inspire women to be proud of who they are. Dove stated “from curvaceous to slender, tall to petite, and whatever your skin color, shoe size or hair type, beauty comes in a million different shapes and sizes.” Dove explains that they have celebrated real beauty for the past 60 years and aimed to bring it to life through their products.

How do you feel about Dove’s body-shaped body wash bottles? Imagine strolling down the aisle and choosing your body-shaped bottle! Did Dove accomplish their women empowerment goal or is the product campaign inadvertently contradicting the true definition of beauty.

Instagram/Photo: @dove

Twitter: @dove