In my last blog post, I mentioned how civic artifacts come in all different forms, including campaigns and movements. However, in this post, I want to highlight a different civic artifact that I feel is very relevant for our time. The Dove Self-Esteem Project is a movement created from the view that beauty should be a source of confidence, and not make people feel anxious. Starting in 2004, the movement’s mission, according to their website, is, “to ensure that the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look”. Almost everyone at some point in time has doubts about the way they look or compare themselves to others thinking, “I wish I looked like that”. Due to these moments of insecurity, it becomes a possibility to claim everyone could benefit from this project.
Take a minute to think about social media and the negative turmoil it has caused for the beauty standard, especially for women. Beauty standards have been around way before social media was invented, however, the power that social media holds has made the issue far worse. On social media people only post what they want others to see, which means they can alter their pictures and post only the glories of their lives. When others, especially children, view such content they feel the need to be “just like them”. This creates a deeper problem in beauty standards as people are trying to achieve looks that are not real to begin with and in most cases cause mental and physical harm. The Dove Self-Esteem project aims to challenge this specific problem. They strive to encourage the younger generation to raise their self-esteem and realize their full potential. Sadly, this artifact is still relevant to this day, but every year they plan to help more people build a positive body image in hopes of alleviating the anxiety caused by the beauty standard.
Embedded within this civic artifact is the idea of the commonplace, “true beauty lies within”. It is within ourselves where true beauty can be found and expressed, not in the standards imposed by society. The movement puts a greater emphasis on the civic to ignore the beauty standard when judging one’s self or others. By ignoring beauty standards, the civic is participating in helping the healing process of those already suffering from insecurity and also reducing the risk of future generations inheriting the same issues. Beauty standards can cause increased pressure and anxiety to look “perfect” and in worse cases affect health, most commonly in the form of eating disorders. The Dove Self-Esteem Project continues to educate the youth and willing others on effective ways to boost one’s self-esteem in hope to reduce the negative affects of the beauty standard.
If there is one thing to take away from this blog post, just know you are beautiful just the way you are, and remember true beauty come from within!
Dove Self-Esteem Project Website
I think this would make an excellent speech regarding a civic artifact! The beauty standard is rarely talked about, or if it is, it isn’t talked about as much as it should be. So many women try to conform to what society deems as beautiful, not seeing how beautiful they truly are without trying to augment themselves. Many women grow depressed or anxious from these standards, as it is so heavily enforced that they start to believe “if I am not like that, I’m not beautiful,” which is not the case at all. With this new outlook, it gives women a chance to feel good about themselves and to finally view themselves as perfect. I’d personally love to hear a speech revolving around this and I think you’re onto something here regarding a civic artifact!