girls

So Dove has a new spot–which, sorry, I think is pretty great–called “Onslaught.” Broadsheet’s Catherine Price thinks it’s pretty nifty too:

The Dove ad team is at it again with this spot, set to a song called “Here It Comes” that starts with an innocent-looking young girl who is then subjected to an onslaught of images of models on bus stops, women binging and purging, plastic surgeries and TV commercials telling her to lose weight. The tag line? “Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does” — followed by the suggestion to download Dove’s self-esteem kits. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s an attempt to recast skin and beauty products as “self-esteem boosters,” but I’ll admit it: I like Dove’s ads.

What do you think?

And speaking of beauty myths, Naomi Wolf is having a book party tonight to celebrate her new one (which just hit the New York Times bestseller list), The End of America: Letter to a Young Patriot Congrats, Naomi!

Meanwhile, the Woodhull Institute’s online trainings continue over at Dove’s Real Women, Real Success stories site. Our “Financial Literacy” units are now all live, and next week begins “Authentic Voice and Advocacy.” Spread the word!

I just learned about this interesting org – The Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Inc. – that raises money to buy athletic shoes for Ethiopian girls to support their participation in sports and help them continue their formal education. The Phoenix Gallery here in Chelsea is hosting a related art exhibit (Girls Gotta Run). Pics posted here. The exhibit runs through September 29.

If I weren’t going to be in Illinois at the National Women’s Studies conference on June 29, I’d be at the Knitting Factory in NYC that night, here:

Rock for Young Women will feature musical performances by Bouva, Boyskout, Tamara Fishman, Frank Hoier, and Receptor. Molly Kelleher and Maryann Schaub of Broad Comedy will present “It’s Great To Wait,” written by Katie Goodman. The evening will also include several spoken word performances.

Tickets at the door will be $20 with half of the proceeds going to GEMS (an organization that provides preventive and transitional services to young women, ages 12-21 years, who are at risk for or involved in sexual exploitation and violence) and the other half to the New York metro chapter of the Younger Women’s Task Force (which does great work on reproductive rights, voter education, and other issues important to young women in New York City). Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street). Purchase advance tickets from the Knitting Factory for $15.

Thanks to Patti Binder for passing it on. And to someone named Nathan, whose graphic (above) I stole. I’m very into hot pink today – I’m doing my first bookstore reading for Sisterhood, Interrupted, which has a hot pink cover. Fashion advice needed: Is it tacky to wear a dress that matches your book?

Yep, you guessed it! It’s coming! And it’s going to be GOOD, cuz my friend and blogospheric idol Miriam Peskowitz is coauthoring it with her MotherTalk partner Andi Buchanan. Read more about it here.