Dove is challenging the use of overly sexualized women in video games. In a partnership with Epic Games’ Unreal Engine education team and Women in Games, Dove is looking to get rid of unrealistic beauty stereotypes in gaming and “build the next generation of young players’ self-esteem and body confidence.” In a new ad on YouTube, viewers can see how one female heroin rids herself of an overly sexualized costume and becomes more comfortable with herself as she sheds the constricting bodysuit and mask. In the video, Dove includes a stat from their own research that says “74% of girls feel underrepresented in video games” and concludes with a statement that reads, “Let’s make virtual beauty, real.” YPulse’s Gaming report data shows 91% of young females play video games in some capacity but they’re often subject to exclusion in the industry. (The Drum)
