Monday, April 16, 2007

Why Everyone Should Hate Abercrombie and Fitch

In the article “Why I Hate Abercrombie and Fitch” Dwight McBride discusses why the store Abercrombie and Fitch markets to white homosexual men. He does this by first by examining the history of the company. The store began as an outdoor clothing company focused towards white males in higher classes. The outdoor lifestyle was one that mainly upper class white men could afford to partake in. This lead to today’s age’s attitude held by Abercrombie and Fitch and can be seen in their “Look Book” in which only two African-Americans are pictured. Furthermore, Abercrombie and Fitch advertise to homosexual white males through their hiring and employment opportunities.
Like the models, employees are almost entirely white and display what McBride calls the “A&F Look”. This look consists of a good-looking male, clean-shaven, and white, which the company is now pending lawsuits because of. This style of looking perfect accented by Abercrombie and Fitch clothing and demonstrates white privilege. This has become adapted by white homosexual men, who wish to classify themselves in this privilege group, in order to avoid being seen underprivileged. Being homosexual classifies these men in a category that makes some people view them in an in superior view.
Abercrombie and Fitch’s requirements for employment are wrong and unjustified. When an individual goes to apply for a position at a business they should be given the same opportunity to acquire the job. It does not surprise me that these actions have brought on lawsuits. What does surprise me is that these actions have not been called out long ago. I have often noticed the similarities between employees at Abercrombie and Fitch but didn’t know why the problem was there. Abercrombie and Fitch deliberately hires those according to the gender, race, and how attractive an individual is.
So why do homosexual men feel the need to attach themselves to an organization that discriminates against other races, if someone is attractive, and what gender someone is? The reason homosexual men cling to this mentality in order to avoid being underprivileged themselves. Being gay in America is hard and comes with many prejudices from those considering themselves privileged in our society. Homosexuals use the label of Abercrombie and Fitch in order to cancel out their underprivileged. This is a hypocritical action because they are using discrimination to make people forget about the discrimination they themselves encounter. Though discriminating against homosexuals is wrong, when they do the same to others it is just as wrong. This is an inappropriate action on these individuals and the company that exploits them.

3 comments:

Miranda said...

I personally don't think Abercrombie & Fitch discrimminates in ANY way. It's clearly an open store just as Apple Bottom & Baby Phat and so on. It is another store as there is others. Abercrombie has white & african american workers. Looks and the ability to view the clothes in a postitve way is a way to sell the product. It's all funny to me, because fingers are pointed at Abercrombie for homosexuality, when it's just merchandise selling. Nothing is wrong about that. What about the division of class? It's the way Americans work. It's always been like this, no reason to start complaining now!

Coulbourne+ said...

"It's always been like this, no reason to start complaining now!"

and the ignorant comment of the day goes to... you

Anonymous said...

I don't see any evidence that A&F markets to white, homosexual men. I do think it pushes the image of the white, New England male because that is the tradition & origin of the company. But the gay thing is not true at all IMHO.

I'm sure if employment law allowed it, they would only hire staff in the image of A&F, however there is quite a lot of diversity among the employees at the store in my city.