The supposed internationality of the fashion industry is characterized by various forms of racial discrimination. Ongoing subject matters like these should be considered in a sensitive and critical way, when in reality fashion advertisements and editorials regularly lead to controversies. Big fashion brands are regularly critisized for publishing racist advertisements or products. This term paper will discuss different forms of racial discrimination in the fashion industry, exemplified on recent controversies.
For this, the focus will be on big fashion brands and magazines. The goal of this term paper is to find out how racial discrimination is expressed in the fashion industry as well as finding ways to fight it. Forms of racial discrimination, dominance of a white and eurocentric beauty idol, and protests against main forms of racial discrimination in the fashion industry will be in the center of attention.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Definitions
III. Racism in Fashion Industry
IV. Protests
V. Conclusion
VI. References
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the prevalence of racial discrimination within the global fashion industry, analyzing how western-centric beauty standards and exclusionary practices manifest in modern branding and advertising. By exploring specific industry controversies and the subsequent public responses, the research investigates the mechanisms of racial bias and the emerging trends in collective action aimed at fostering diversity and accountability.
- Forms of racial discrimination in fashion marketing and editorial content
- The dominance of Eurocentric beauty ideals and "whitewashing" practices
- Tokenism and the performative nature of diversity in luxury branding
- Cultural appropriation and the usage of racial stereotypes in commercial campaigns
- The role of social media and activism in protesting discriminatory industry practices
Excerpt from the Book
III. Racial Discrimination in Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is characterized by western dominance, which leads to suppression and racial discrimination. Although the fashion industry serves different target groups, it does stereotype eurocentric body images and reproduces dominant power relations (Schmelzer-Ziringer 2013: 12). White bodies function as unmarked and normative centers. All bodies deviant from that are organized as marked bodies along the normative beauty idols of „being white“ (Brilling 2017: 8). Therefore, People of Colour are often chosen to illustrate deviance or to present accentuated diversity. In 2008, the Italian Vogue published ‚The Black Issue‘ as a response to the out-spoken imbalance of diversity. Franca Sozzani, the late Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, featured only black models, establishing heavyweights like Naomi Campbell, but also contemporary notables like Jordan Dunn and the first black, plus-size model Toccara Jones (Newman 2017: 1). What may seem as a step forward for achieving diversity turns out to be a manifestation of the existing standards.
The ‚White Is Right Ideology‘ (Glenn 2008) is reproduced by the token use of models of colour to excuse racial discrimination. Tokenism is defined as the practice of only making a perfunctory or symbolic effort to do a particular thing, especially by recruiting a small number of people from underrepresented groups in order to give the appearance of sexual or racial equality within a workforce. The token model allows the designer to avoid the accusation of stereo-typing or discrimination against the minority group. In fact, tokenism does not accurately represent the people who take an interest in fashion or consume luxury fashion (Newman 2017: 1).
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the persistence of racial discrimination within the western-influenced fashion industry and defines the scope of the research regarding major brands and magazines.
II. Definitions: Establishes a formal understanding of "racial discrimination" based on international conventions and defines the "fashion industry" as a global economic system.
III. Racism in Fashion Industry: Analyzes how eurocentric beauty standards, tokenism, and cultural appropriation serve to marginalize non-white individuals in fashion media.
IV. Protests: Documents how models, activists, and consumers use campaigns and social media to challenge discriminatory practices by major fashion houses.
V. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, noting that while some progress is being made, the industry remains deeply rooted in capitalistic and white-dominated power structures.
VI. References: Provides the comprehensive list of academic sources and media reports utilized throughout the paper.
Keywords
Racial Discrimination, Fashion Industry, Western Dominance, Eurocentric Beauty, Tokenism, Whitewashing, Cultural Appropriation, Racial Stereotypes, Activism, Diversity, Social Media, Power Structures, Capitalism, Inclusion, Black Models Matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores the prevalence of racial discrimination in the fashion industry, specifically focusing on how brands and magazines uphold western-centric beauty standards and exclusionary practices.
What are the central themes discussed?
Key themes include the impact of eurocentric beauty ideals, the use of tokenism, instances of cultural appropriation, and the effectiveness of public protest against discriminatory marketing.
What is the research goal?
The goal is to analyze how racial discrimination is expressed in the industry and to identify current trends and movements that are fighting to overcome these systemic issues.
Which methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a qualitative analysis of industry controversies, examining specific media cases and theoretical frameworks regarding racial discrimination and power structures.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body investigates specific controversies, such as H&M’s "Coolest Monkey" advertisement and Dolce & Gabbana’s "Eating with Chopsticks" campaign, while providing definitions for key concepts like tokenism and whitewashing.
How is the paper characterized by its keywords?
The paper is defined by terms relating to social justice in fashion, specifically highlighting the intersection of aesthetics, corporate responsibility, and systematic racial bias.
How did major fashion houses respond to the "Balance Diversity" campaign?
Following the open letter from Naomi Campbell, Iman, and Bethann Hardison, many designer brands increased their usage of models of color within just one season at the Paris runway shows.
What role does social media play in these protests?
Social media acts as a catalyst for global opposition, allowing consumers to rapidly share controversial advertisements, hold brands accountable, and coordinate protest actions against discriminatory companies.
- Quote paper
- Eva Wilhelm (Author), 2019, Racial discrimination in the fashion industry, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/465446
