2 years ago
The beauty biases are harsh realities that play havoc with the self-esteem of women. It is time to break free from the stereotypes of society. It's time society takes notice of how ugly the quest for beauty really is. If we look beyond tall, slim and skin colour, we will discover a whole new world of beautiful. Dove India and New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) present Stop The Beauty Test 2.0, a campaign that celebrates beauty in all shapes, colours, and sizes and pledge to create a more accepting society where there is no one particular definition of beauty.
Here are the highlights from the Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon 2.0:
And that's a wrap for NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest 2.0 Telethon
"I think we must focus on unlearning rather than learning. As society, we need to change our lense of an ideal type of colour, body type and shape," Priya malik, Writer, Poet & Performer said.
She recited a poem she wrote for NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon.
"The change needs to start internally": Priya malik, Writer, Poet & Performer
On the NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon, Ms. Malik shares her experience of dealing with beauty and ideal height standards during her childhood.
· "It takes a conscious effort to not put that subconscious complex feelings in a child": Sania Mirza, Former Doubles World No. 1 In Tennis
"As a child from a regular Muslim family, I have also seen a different view. I could be straight away related to the campaign. Luckily my parents were completely supportive of whatever field I and my sister chose, irrespective of what society thought about it," Ms. Mirza said.
She said that it was important to understand that the girl is so much more than her looks. Being a mother myself, I have realised that having a child is not enough, putting confidence in them is essential. It takes a conscious effort to not put that subconscious complex feelings in a child"
Sania Mirza, Former Doubles World No. 1 In Tennis, joins NDTV - DOVE #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon
"We need to know that certain standards of beauty have a tangible impact on people": Swarnima Bhattacharya, Member Of The Advisory Council 2020, Dove Self-Esteem Project and Chief Product Officer
"I have seen patients who come with hormonal health issues, PCOS, but their first concern is to reduce the weight and not address the root cause of it. The definition of fitness has been categorised as looking slim and it happens especially among teenage girls," Ms Bhattacharya said.
A Letter To My Younger Self: Priya Malik, Writer, Poet & Performer performs at the NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon
Priya Malik, Writer, Poet & Performer lends her support to NDTV - Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon by narrating a letter she wrote to her younger self about striving through different forms of beauty tests while growing up
"Several state governments of India have agreed to implement the DOVE self-esteem project": Terry Durnnian, Chief of Education, UNICEF India
Mr. Durnnian said the state governments have agreed to implement the DOVE self-esteem project, a program in select schools, covering students and teachers from grade six to eight, 980 master trainers, 125,000 teachers and 6.25 million students have been reached across this project period.
"This program can be scaled up across states with digital content uploaded on the state management portal, Diksha, to ensure all students and teachers have access to the content and the relevant training," he added.
"Dove Self-Esteem Program is a longstanding partnership that we have with UNICEF across the world. We have a commitment to reach 80 lakh young adults in this country by 2025 with a body positivity curriculum," said Harman Dhillon.
She said that DOVE has reached 10 lakh young lives and imparted this training in classrooms with trained personnel.
"A lot of information on social media is de-conceptualised. The social media trends on health, beauty, body types should not be adhered to," Ms. Harnidh Kaur,Poetess & body neutrality endorser during the NDTV-DOVE #Stopthebeautytest telethon.
"I believe and have observed that what mothers tell their daughters plays a huge role in their lives. What mothers can do is to have conversations about beauty types, body shapes, etc. They must assure their daughters that these things cannot be their criteria for leading a life," Dr Megha Dhillon, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Lady Shri Ram College, said.
Dr. Dhillon said that mothers can be positive role models by showing it to them.
"We have to be midful and careful while dealing with teenages and young adults": Panelists on the NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon
“Watch art, movies, and read books that give you comfort. It helps you having a real-time idea of the world and connects you more to yourself,"Harnidh Kaur, Poetess & body neutrality endorser
"Self validation is more important than validation received by others": Dr Megha Dhillon, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Lady Shri Ram College
"We must stay with people who bring positive changes in our life. One must realise that self validation is more important than validation received by others. One should focus on the functionality of the body and not the appearance of it," Dr. Dhillon said.
"All adolescents struggle with body images, especially at this time of life": Sandhya Awasthi, Principal, Delhi Public School, Greater Noida
Ms. Awasthi said it is common to have such type of complexities at this age.
"I have felt that more consumption of digital media has had a huge impact. Besides, children have also become aware of how the types of people, doctors they can approach. So, there is some hope that children will chose a right path," she said.
"Women now want to see real body types, and not the ideal types": Harnidh Kaur, Poetess & body neutrality endorser
"Initially, a lot of people reacted negatively to my opinion being yourself. But I have seen a significant change from time to time. Now women want to see real body types and represent themselves the same."
The mothers of the young girls who participated in this year's campaign of #StopTheBeautyTest, share the body issues that mattered to them (pimple, dark complexion) and whether their attitudes have changed during the making of this film. Actor Avika Gor also shared her experiences about how she was offered much bigger projects after she completed her initial fitness journey.
"We need to build a healthy relationship with social media": Neelakshi Singh, Plump to Pretty, Body positive content creator & model
"Even I struggle with social media. It is definitely becoming a race but it is important to keep yourself sane, knowing that we are living in a world where everything is online. It is important to regulate, who are we following, whom are we reaching out to, and much more"
Ms. Singh said that it was appalling to see young people having different personalities in person and on social media platforms.
Dr. Chand said that she has spoken to many girls with their struggles and the impact of social media on their lives.
"I've had young girls share with me as to how they question their genetics. Why is my hair curly and not straight, like a certain person that they follow or they admire on social media. How can I get my hair straighter? If my hair was straighter, I think I would feel better about myself or I would be happier," she said.
"Social media likes and dislikes have made our self-esteem fragile": Maitri Chand, Psychologist, Marriage & Family Therapist
On NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon, Dr Maitri Chand, Psychologist, Marriage & Family Therapist, talked about self image and how it is being equated to the number of likes and views on social media in this day and age. She said that this is what starts reflecting in who and how we think of ourselves and sets up for a competition where we want to outdo ourselves.
“At a very young age, we start believing that the people we see on films and ads are perfect": Actor Avika Gor
"Teenagers are victims of Imaginery Audience: Aarti C. Rajaratnam, Director, Child Guidance Centre and Counselling Clinic, Salem/Chennai
Ms. Rajaratnama said that teens have become more anxious and have lower self-esteem because of social media.
“Perfect Body Comes In Different Forms”: Naman Ahuja, Art Historian And Professor
Naman Ahuja, Art historian and Professor at the School of Arts & Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) joined the NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon, and focused on the historical significance of what is considered as a perfect body type.
He refers to visual evidence throughout the history of Indian art where each age has created its own ideal body type, which was quite unattainable, which was beyond the mundane and every day.
"Many people go with the beauty and colour, but I guess look beyond that, the woman's overall personality, talents and intelligence. Many clients come with a request of a 'fair complexion' girl, but I suggest that her nature and personality will beautify the house and not her colour.
I'm Not Skinny Right Now, But Fit: Actor, Avika Gor
Actor Avika Gor, talks about the importance of maintaining one's health and not being influenced by certain "beauty standards". Famously known for her role in an Indian television show 'Balika Vadhu', Ms Gor said that she continued to receive roles in the television shows, but she was offered much bigger projects after she completed her initial fitness journey.
“Beauty Should Be A Source Of Confidence: Harman Dhillon, Vice President, Skin care, Color Cosmetics and Dove Masterbrand
At the NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon, Harman Dhillon, Vice president, Skin care, Color, Cosmetics and Dove Masterbrand said that the statistics and results in India shows that the confidence gap in girls starts happening during teenage years.
"The response to the campaign has been humbling. I think this year's campaign, because it brings to light the prejudices and biases which young girls face, has really touched a chord with women far and wide," Ms. Dillon said.
On NDTV-Dove #StopTheBeautyTest Telethon, Pratibha Pandey, discusses the reason she chose to share her daughter, Akshadha Pandey's story for Dove film. Ms. Pandey said her daughter's story could be of help for girls who wear glasses in schools and are targeted for it.
Sheetal Yogesh Dhamele, Aditi Dhamele's mother, a young girl who agreed to be a part of the Dove #StopTheBeautyTest film shares a few incidents where her daughter was teased in her school bus by different children for her complexion.
Dove India-NDTV Present #StopTheBeautyTest 2.0 Campaign gets underway
Dove India-NDTV Self-Esteem Project is educating Indian girls on body-confidence through a life skills programme that addresses their feelings of disempowerment, low self-esteem & lack of confidence.
Less than an hour to go for the Dove India-NDTV #StopTheBeautyTest 2.0 Campaign
The season 2 of DOVE India-NDTV #StopTheBeautyTest will feature some of the best names in India and worldwide to discuss how women can look beyond physical appearance and empower themselves. Join the 2-hour telethon on November 13, on NDTV Network and ndtv.com/stopthebeautytest and take a pledge to put an end to the societal beauty standards.
Join matchmaker #SimaTaparia along with other celebrities to celebrate beauty in all shapes, colours and sizes on November 13, on NDTV Network and ndtv.com/stopthebeautytest
Sponsored Content | "Customary ideas of beauty should not define how you see yourself," says Matchmaker Sima Taparia.
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 13, 2022
Join her on NDTV - Dove #StopTheBeautyTest telethon, tonight at 7pm on NDTV Network
Take the pledge on https://t.co/fQoIHWYP8k
(In partnership with @Dove_IND) pic.twitter.com/shi6eFWvGR
The season 2 of DOVE India-NDTV #StopTheBeautyTest, aims to get together young and brave women to share their stories of struggles with societal standards of beauty and empower other women of breaking the shackles of body image, colour and size issues.
DOVE thanks Vedika, Aditi, Aashna, Garvita and Akshadha, the young girls who agreed to be a part of the film showcasing societal mindsets of what is considered as beautiful.
#StopTheBeautyTest 2.0: A Campaign By DOVE-NDTV To Celebrate All Shades Of Beauty
Nearly three out of four Indian women are rejected for their looks during the arranged marriage process. This speaks volumes about the matrimonial statistics in India. Dove India with New Delhi Television Limited (NDTV) present Stop The Beauty Test 2.0, to put an end to the society's standards for beauty. Watch a special 2-Hour Telethon On November 13, on NDTV Network and ndtv.com/stopthebeautytest to celebrate beauty in all shapes, colours and sizes.
