Comments on: The hypocrisy of Unilever advertising? http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/ Graphic designer with a passion for logos. View my logo designer portfolio and read free logo design tips from the blog. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:02:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-103704 David Airey Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:17:53 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-103704 <blockquote>In America, tons of beauty aisles are lined with tanning lotions, sprays, bronzers, etc. In Asia, they are lined with whitening and skin lightening products. Who is to say one aisle is racist versus the other?</blockquote> Exactly.

In America, tons of beauty aisles are lined with tanning lotions, sprays, bronzers, etc. In Asia, they are lined with whitening and skin lightening products. Who is to say one aisle is racist versus the other?

Exactly.

]]> By: Designer http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-103549 Designer Tue, 23 Sep 2008 03:50:45 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-103549 I actually don't find this racist...let me explain. I am Chinese, and In East Asia, the same desire for fair skin exists as it does in India. This is because if you are darkened by the sun, it means that you work outdoors and are "lower class." The middle/upperclass are white collar, and women walk around carrying umbrellas to keep their fair skin. Those that must toil in the sun are usually of a lower class. The culture views fair skin as pure, delicate, beautiful. It is common to use whitening lotions. Lighter skin also signifies healthier skin which has not be sun damaged. In America, being tan means you are of the middle/upper class. You have the luxury of time and money to travel, go to the beach, lay out in the sun, while the lower class has to stay in doors in McDonalds and flip burgers. Not only are products like Jergens sunless everyday lotion popular, but also instant bronze lotions by Neutrogena and bronze powders. People in America want to be darker. Interestingly enough, when in America I use bronzer every day. When in China, I don't. It's all about the culture you're in and what definition of beauty you are surrounded with. Yes - I realize that my explanation only applies to those people that are able to darken/lighten their skin to some degree (this doesn't apply to Africans). But the products Unilever is selling isn't designed to change someone's race.. just their "tan." And tan is a fashion and a fad. In America, tons of beauty aisles are lined with tanning lotions, sprays, bronzers, etc. In Asia, they are lined with whitening and skin lightening products. Who is to say one aisle is racist versus the other? You can only claim that the Asian products are racist if you claim the American brands and American drug store are racist and want everyone to look darker than they naturally are. I actually don’t find this racist…let me explain. I am Chinese, and In East Asia, the same desire for fair skin exists as it does in India. This is because if you are darkened by the sun, it means that you work outdoors and are “lower class.” The middle/upperclass are white collar, and women walk around carrying umbrellas to keep their fair skin. Those that must toil in the sun are usually of a lower class. The culture views fair skin as pure, delicate, beautiful. It is common to use whitening lotions. Lighter skin also signifies healthier skin which has not be sun damaged.

In America, being tan means you are of the middle/upper class. You have the luxury of time and money to travel, go to the beach, lay out in the sun, while the lower class has to stay in doors in McDonalds and flip burgers. Not only are products like Jergens sunless everyday lotion popular, but also instant bronze lotions by Neutrogena and bronze powders. People in America want to be darker.

Interestingly enough, when in America I use bronzer every day. When in China, I don’t. It’s all about the culture you’re in and what definition of beauty you are surrounded with.

Yes - I realize that my explanation only applies to those people that are able to darken/lighten their skin to some degree (this doesn’t apply to Africans). But the products Unilever is selling isn’t designed to change someone’s race.. just their “tan.” And tan is a fashion and a fad. In America, tons of beauty aisles are lined with tanning lotions, sprays, bronzers, etc. In Asia, they are lined with whitening and skin lightening products. Who is to say one aisle is racist versus the other? You can only claim that the Asian products are racist if you claim the American brands and American drug store are racist and want everyone to look darker than they naturally are.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-102359 David Airey Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:45:40 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-102359 Yep, the same idea as fake tan. Most of us want what we don't have. Yep, the same idea as fake tan. Most of us want what we don’t have.

]]> By: Jo http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-102336 Jo Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:03:01 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-102336 Isn't fair and lovely the same as fake tan? Only the opposite way around obviously. Isn’t fair and lovely the same as fake tan? Only the opposite way around obviously.

]]> By: gabriel bear http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-50072 gabriel bear Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:14:52 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-50072 it's not hypocrisy to sell chemicals however you can make them, which is what Unilever do. the hypocrisy is saying that they are "just kidding" about the way they market Axe body spray. it’s not hypocrisy to sell chemicals however you can make them, which is what Unilever do.
the hypocrisy is saying that they are “just kidding” about the way they market Axe body spray.

]]> By: David Airey http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-37525 David Airey Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:36:02 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-37525 Peter, That's great that you found some use with this blog post, and I hope the uni assignment goes well. Good luck. Peter,

That’s great that you found some use with this blog post, and I hope the uni assignment goes well.

Good luck.

]]> By: Peter http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-36618 Peter Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:32:17 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-36618 David, As an assignment for University I'm part of a group analysing Unilever's financial, social and environmental reporting. These contradictory adverts support the theory that corporate social responsibility is nothing more than 'hard practise masquerading behind soft rhetoric;' a wolf dressed in lamb's clothing. This is also reflected in Unilever's role in creating the 'Marine Stewardship Council' despite the fact that they have been cited for polluting a Scottish river (1991) and were fined this year for polluting a river in China. Also, if the customer is soveriegn, why do companies spend hundreds of millions on advertising? Fascinating and helpful piece of work!! David,

As an assignment for University I’m part of a group analysing Unilever’s financial, social and environmental reporting. These contradictory adverts support the theory that corporate social responsibility is nothing more than ‘hard practise masquerading behind soft rhetoric;’ a wolf dressed in lamb’s clothing.
This is also reflected in Unilever’s role in creating the ‘Marine Stewardship Council’ despite the fact that they have been cited for polluting a Scottish river (1991) and were fined this year for polluting a river in China.

Also, if the customer is soveriegn, why do companies spend hundreds of millions on advertising?

Fascinating and helpful piece of work!!

]]> By: David Airey :: Graphic Designer http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-35923 David Airey :: Graphic Designer Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:14:35 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-35923 Hi Pedro, I'm glad you can use my site content to for your lessons! Thanks for the compliment. Hi Pedro,

I’m glad you can use my site content to for your lessons! Thanks for the compliment.

]]> By: Pedro Graça http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-35370 Pedro Graça Fri, 26 Oct 2007 08:08:13 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-35370 Dear David, I'm nutritionist and I teach nutrition and communication in Porto University - Portugal. I'm using your excelent post about Unilever to introduce my students to the world of design and advertising. Congratulations for all the site and contents ! Pedro Graça Dear David,

I’m nutritionist and I teach nutrition and communication in Porto University - Portugal. I’m using your excelent post about Unilever to introduce my students to the world of design and advertising. Congratulations for all the site and contents !

Pedro Graça

]]> By: David Airey :: Graphic Designer http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-34673 David Airey :: Graphic Designer Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:10:36 +0000 http://www.davidairey.com/the-hypocrisy-of-unilever-advertising/#comment-34673 Thanks for leaving your thoughts, Laura. I visited your blog to read more on the subject. Thanks for leaving your thoughts, Laura. I visited your blog to read more on the subject.

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