I think that enough advertising of beauty can affect the perception of beauty in people. I know that in ancient Rome, they though it was beautiful to have very pale skin, because it meant that you were rich and didn't have to work in the fields. We know how that is completely different in today's world. Even in video games and their advertisements, the people portrayed are attractive by today's standards, and wear clothing to flaunt that.

I think that people will instinctively pay more attention to an ad that features very attractive people rather than more average people. I think that standards would definitely be different to different cultures, because what may be sexy in India, may be stupid to us here in America.

The Dove ads in themselves may be trying to alter to perception of beauty in our culture because it seems they want to convince their audience that a more average body types is much more attractive than previously thought, making women feel more confident, if they wear their product, of course.