Essay 311

Overreaction of the Month Award.

This pathetic ad from Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion appeared in the January 2006 issue of Essence.

The headline reads, “Nothing keeps you from handling your business.” Hey, nothing keeps some advertisers from producing corny messages that insult the professionalism of Black women everywhere. While the meeting participants focus on the presenter, our heroine strikes a completely oblivious, oh-so-seductive pose — even throwing her perfect legs up on the table. It’s a classic depiction of the Black woman as a sexual object. You go, girl!

Let’s also note this garbage comes from Unilever, the parent company of Dove. Guess the celebration of real beauty is restricted to a single brand. All other campaigns continue to employ glamorized images with hot models. Typical. Or in this case, stereotypical.