We know the phrase “You can’t be what you can’t see,” yet many images in media & advertising continue to impose unrealistic beauty standards that speak volumes about how society expects women to look, and what it thinks they can/can’t achieve.

This film moves from country to country, encountering underrepresented and marginalized women — inclusive of all female-identifying and non-binary individuals — as they observe advertisements of other women they can relate to. The women in the adverts unexpectedly come to life to declare their truth, shattering the stereotype that might otherwise limit them.

The film ends by declaring that this is not a hypothetical world, because Dove has taken action with women everywhere to create the world’s largest stock photo library to shatter beauty stereotypes. 5,000+ images, available to all media & advertisers. Let’s show all women as they are, so they can show the world what’s possible.

Stereotypes depicted were validated in collaboration with women — inclusive of all female-identifying and non-binary individuals — from 39 countries. E.g.:

-Women with disabilities are rarely featured in fulfilling relationships

-Older women are stereotyped as geriatric

-Women with visible skin conditions are encouraged to hide their bodies

-Women who don’t conform to traditionally feminine roles are deemed unbeautiful

-Higher-weight women are less likely to engage in sports due to inadequate clothing options

-In the U.S., African-American/Natural hair is deemed ‘unprofessional’ in the workplace

-In China, unmarried women over 25 are deemed “leftover” – unfit for marriage

-In Asia, women are discouraged from exposing their skin to sun because darker skin is considered “ugly”

-In Asia, women with single eyelids are encouraged to “fix” this perceived “flaw” with makeup, filters, and/or cosmetic surgery

-In Asia, women whose looks don't conform to standards are not considered trustworthy in the workplace