Today as I was scrolling through my FaceBook, Veet came up as a suggested page for me to "like". For those of you who are unaware, Veet is a hair removal product, like Nair. (On a completely random note, it took me years and years to realize "Nair" was a combination of the words "No Hair" ... I can be slow.) I've used Veet before, so I clicked on the page, considering actually "liking" it. As I scrolled down just a little ways though, I viewed several of their advertisements. Lets take a look at a couple of them.
This was the first one that I saw.
This picture was accompanied by the caption, "It's summer! Guess who forgot to Veet?" Obviously the answer to this question is the woman on the right with long pants on. Notice how she doesn't look happy, standing there with her "horrendous" jeans on in the middle of summer, while the two girls on the left are smiling. So let me ask you something: Right off the bat, what kind of a message is this product giving women? Before I go on, let me show you another part of their advertising campaign.
A little further down the page I saw this.
Okay so I'm already not thrilled with this because of the use of fairy tale princesses. But the very worst of them was this one.
I mean, really?! I am extremely disturbed by this whole advertising campaign! The use of princesses catches the attention of young girls in their early teens, pre-teens, and possibly younger. I suppose that is the point of advertising, but the way it is advertised is disgusting, and I don't mean because the princesses have stubble. Notice how in the Snow White picture the dwarves are shying away from her with disgusted expressions, as if something is wrong with her because she has the slightest stubble on her leg. How disgusting. Its like she's not even human! Lets all look at her as if she just ate a piece of manure!
Is this really a message we want to be portraying to our women, young or old? That they have to be a certain way or else they are absolutely disgusting?
Let me tell you all something; I rarely shave my legs. And, believe it or not, I also have been wearing shorts and capris all summer long. I'm happy, I'm smiling, and I'm not always wearing long pants. On top of all that, I have friends, I have a wonderful life, and nobody looks at me like I'm some kind of animal.
There are girls out there who never shave anything, not their legs or their armpits or anything. And guess what? They are still absolutely beautiful, wonderful human beings.
The point is, advertising like this is everywhere. Many of us may look at it and think that it doesn't really effect us, but when push comes to shove you realize that when you really want to look nice, you don't feel presentable if you haven't shaved or waxed or used cream. That fact is what is truly disgusting. If you want to shave your legs, go for it. I do it sometimes myself. That is your choice. But don't do it because society or advertising says you have to.
You're beautiful, even if you have insanely hairy legs. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise.
Hearts, and lots of love!
♥//Nicki
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