Question about racism...?

Question

I AM NOT RACIST, I just have an observation...

I just finished flipping through a 199 page catalog. I don't want to name the store, but it was a national department store located in every state. While looking through the catalog, I noticed that almost all the models were white, male and female. I saw 1 black male and about 3 black women, that looked white. By "looking white", I mean that they were of the lightest shade with long flowing hair, thin nose, and other Caucaian features.

It is just a question, but why don't you think this catalog included any dark-skinned models? I know I' not the only that has noticed this. I very closely resemble my avatar, and I love my color, but it bothers me that when we view tv, magazines, etc. that are mainly geared toward a white audience, the only "token" still looks white.

I'm not making this up. Why?

Well, I realize that there can be several editions of a catalog, but I live in a predominately black city and this is the catalog I still received, just like everyone else in other states I imagine...

Answer 1

I'm with you! They should show more diversification! But maybe they had some stupid market study that showed 66 percent of their customers were Caucasians, and were afraid of frightening the 66 percent. Instead of courting the other 34 percent.

It's so stupid. I wouldn't mind seeing more variety in the catalogs. But they seem to only want thin white people, it seems. Preferably blonde. You rarely see anybody with some meat on their bones, either, even though there's a large percentage of overweight women in the US!

There's not much you can do besides write a letter to the management, and boycott the store.

Answer 2

It could be that they don't want non-caucasians wearing their clothing, as the conspiracy theory would go.

It is more likely that they believe their target demographic to the whites. They might believe non-caucasions wouldn't want their product so why waste time appealing to them.

Another option which falls between the two previous possibilities is that the company believes that their target demographic, apparently caucasions, will be more-likely to buy product from the catalog of there are not non caucasions pictured in the catalog.

Don't feel bad, there are many catalogs that avoid displaying a caucasion for fear it may water down the ethnoidentity of the clothing line. It's about sales, not racial condemnation.

My advice would be to quit worrying about the models and just decide whether or not you like the clothing

Answer 3

Your observation wasn't wrong. Actually Tyra Banks discussed this on her show (I know, yes I occasionally do watch it). She mentioned how there is a decline of Black models. She had a couple of special guest models who did have dark skin, one young woman was actually from Africa and had very dark skin. They both happen to be popular models, however, they mentioned too that there isn't enough representation of darker skinned models. They didn't have a cause or reason for it, I'm not exactly sure what it would be, but they just mentioned that this should change.

Answer 4

Well there prolly werent any fat or crippled people either. Clothes are more distinguishable based on 3 things:

1) small sizes look better
2) "plain" looking people dont draw away from item being sold
3) people with money buy things they see on peers . . . if they put an LL bean shirt on a pregnant hobo w/ 2 teeth (like britney spears) sales wouldnt exactly soar.

Look at it from a sales perspective. Its nothing personal. Why make issues out of things when there isnt one?

Answer 5

Right now, the trends in America are:
1) White
2) Thin
3) Blond

If you meet those criteria, you're a model American (no pun intended). It's a vicious cycle; the fashion industry comes up with this ridiculous standard, and instead of fighting it, we rush to accommodate them.

I think it'll always be this way.

Answer 6

LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING HERE, THOSE MODELS WEREN'T OLD, OR FAT, OR UGLY EITHER WERE THEY? THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEE MODELS OF ALL COLORS, SHAPES, AND AGES IN THOSE CATALOGS. NONE OF US LOOK LIKE THE PEOPLE THEY CHOOSE TO ADVERTISE THEIR GOODS OR CLOTHING. HOW ARE WE SUPPOSE TO IMAGINE OURSELVES IN CLOTHES THAT ARE BEING WARN BY SIZE "0" WHITE WOMEN!! I AM A WHITE WOMAN, AND IN MY OPEN ION, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN CHARGE OF CALLING THE SHOT, IN CONTROL OF A CATALOG OR THE UNITED STATES, I GUESS THE OPEN IONS OF THE MAJORITY JUST DON'T COUNT ANYMORE!!! WRITE THE COMPANY AND COMPLAIN, THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE OIL!!!

Answer 7

It has to do with people that are running major corporations in America. They are white so they promote white people...

When African Americans reach more prominent positions in America in larger numbers than now then things will really change.

Answer 8

I guess those people are in love with their features and they want all of us to be beautiful like them.