Dove’s Low Self Esteem

Indian girls are surprisingly found to have low levels of self-esteem and body confidence. In a Dove Girls and Beauty Confidence study, at ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 2018

On 26th January, 2018 Dove engaged with writers, thinkers, politicians, journalists and popular cultural icons at the ZEE Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 as a part of their effort to promote awareness on body positivity and self-esteem.

Invoking discussions around beauty and confidence in India, Dove urged girls and women to share their voices on the state of body confidence in India.

Dove has a mission to ensure the next generation grows up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look – helping young people raise their self-esteem and realise their full potential.

To encourage conversations that have a positive impact on women and girls and nurture future female leaders, Dove conducted a study called “Girls and Beauty Confidence in seven markets globally.

• Low self-esteem and body confidence prevails amongst Indian girls

Examining the impact of body esteem, pressures and confidence amongst girls, the research showed that 60% of Indian girls do not have high body esteem. It also reported that 65% girls will avoid important activities, such as engaging with friends and family and participating in activities outside of the house.

• Sixty percent Indian girls said that they feel pressured to be beautiful

Uncovering a clear and powerful correlation between an Indian girl’s level of body esteem, and her overall confidence and life satisfaction, 60% of Indian girls said that they feel pressured to be beautiful. This has showed to have had the largest impact on their overall life satisfaction. Establishing that Indian girls are aware of the negative impact that media portrayals of beauty have on their self-esteem; 71% of Indian girls think that very few women and girls look like the women and girls shown in advertisements, movies and television.

• Indian girls want change in the existing perceptions of beauty

Demonstrating that a change in the perception around beauty is under way, Indian girls are using social media to break traditional definitions of beauty and are seeing the value in taking time out to care for themselves.

This sentiment was seen higher in India than other countries. Seventy one percent think that very few women and girls look like the women and girls shown in adverts, movies and television.

As a part of the Dove Self Esteem Project, this endeavour is aimed at helping the women of tomorrow develop a positive relationship with the way they look, raise their self-esteem and realize their full potential. Crossing geographical boundaries and perceptions, the project has reached more than 20 million lives across 139 countries since 2004.