Unilever acts to eliminate beauty stereotypes, drive gender equality

Erasing stereotypes, embracing diverse and positive beauty

According to the "Mirror Mirror" survey conducted by the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD) in March 2023 on 2,000 Vietnamese women aged from 16 to 40, 60% participants do not feel confident about their appearance, specifically their face and body shape as their most concerning factors. Six out of ten women feel unconfident about their status and influence on others around them.

These results reflect the reality that, despite many advances in gender equality in today's society, women are still constrained by stereotypes and standards regarding their beauty and their roles.

With over one billion people worldwide using Unilever's personal care and beauty products daily, Unilever continuously strives to leverage their scale and influence to build and outspread good purposes. Specifically, it aims to eliminate negative stereotypes and barriers against women's beauty, promote positive and diverse beauty, and empower every woman and girl to become their best and most confident selves.

To celebrate International Women's Month and promote the vision of positive beauty, Unilever Vietnam, in collaboration with the Vietnam Women's Union, UN Women, and the Management and Sustainable Development Institute, recently organized a seminar titled “Positive and Diverse Beauty”, aiming to erase barriers affecting the confidence of women and young girls while encouraging their self-esteem to embrace their unique values and unlock their potential.

The panel brought together representatives from the Vietnam Women's Union, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, UN Women, international organizations, social organizations, NGOs, experts in gender equality, and representatives of women, youths, and the disabled, as well as online participants from provinces and cities throughout the country.

During the panel discussion, speakers from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Unilever Vietnam, the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC), writer Hoang Anh Tu, and youth representatives shared their perspectives on inspiring and encouraging confidence and self-esteem in the positive and diverse beauty of women and girls.

At the same time, they also discussed initiatives to eliminate gender stereotypes, how to support women’s empowerment and enhance their capacity in today's society. The speakers all agreed that the beauty of women does not come from stereotypes or imposed prejudices, but the confidence to pursue good values through their positions and contributions.

Specific efforts

Unilever has been operating in Vietnam for nearly three decades and desired to be a part of the solutions to environmental and social issues. Taking part in building a more equal and socially inclusive world has always been a key part of its sustainable development strategy. Thus, Unilever and its brands have carried out various activities to promote the positive and diverse beauty of women, enhance their confidence and self-esteem, and enable them to grasp opportunities and pursue their dreams. These efforts have contributed to promoting gender equality in Vietnam.

“Through the ‘Positive Beauty’ campaign, we aim to eliminate stereotypes that limit women's self-confidence. Establishing a multidimensional and profound perspective on beauty will help girls and women become more confident, develop further, and contribute more to their families and society”, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, chairperson of Unilever Vietnam.

One typical example is Dove's program "My Hair, My Choices," which helps to eliminate beauty stereotypes and foster confidence by representing diverse hair choices and removing hair color stereotypes. In recent future, the Dove Women and Girls Confidence Project will also continue to promote positive beauty messages on media channels and drive educational cooperation, raise public awareness of this topic through sharing professional materials with educators, parents, and schools.

This April, Unilever Vietnam will collaborate with the Vietnam Women's Union to organize training courses for 100 disabled women, aimed at improving their capabilities, and equipping them with business knowledge and skills, and digital technology application to enhance their online business efficiency.

The training courses will be conducted by experts in the fields of digital technology and business skills, as well as leaders and members from the Vietnam Women's Union, Unilever Vietnam, representatives from the Vietnam Federation for Disabilities, and grassroots members of the Women's Union in Hanoi.