vivalarepublica
theJeff wrote:
vivalarepublica wrote:
I see what you are saying. A company is explicitly pandering to a customer demographic based on a recent social movement, whereas they would be blasted for pandering based on other social movements. I think you're singling out pandering to the LBGT community because of some sort bias that you harbor, whether explicit or implicit. You are equating the LGBT movement with being a preference or social/political issue du jour, rather than an ongoing effort for recognition and equal treatment after basically being pushed into the margins since...forever. Just look at home many anti-gay folks still post on this message board.
But this is capitalism. Companies pander to certain demographics ALL THE TIME, have been doing this forever, and you probably barely even notice it. Subaru was pandering to lesbians in the 1990s. I am sure that VW was pandering the Jetta to gay men. The true meaning of Christmas might as well not even exist anymore, as companies pander to anyone they can during the holidays. Who or what is Brett Favre and his Wranglers pandering to, along with every truck commercial ever? White guys that have a certain cultural image and identity of themselves. Also, have you seen everything that is sold with a Confederate flag on it?
At the end of day, who gives a sh!t what company tries to pander to you. Just buy what you think is a good product.
Good points.
Regardless of what the LGBQ community has gone through, it is still the issue de jour (I haven’t noticed any movements on behalf of Native or Asian Americans, for instance, both of whom have suffered injustices throughout our nation’s history.) Still, point taken (not agreed with, necessarily, but taken).
Capitalism is a funny thing. I doubt this shoe will affect Adidas one way or the other on paper, although I am sure some supporters will buy their first Adidas, and a few Adidas customers will walk away. There are certainly instances of these moves backfiring, (thinking about Target and Chik Fil A), but again, I doubt this one will register.
There have been plenty of movements on behalf of Native Americans in the past and currently. Just look into Native American activism during the 60s and 70s. We recently experienced the controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Butte reservation, which turned into a social issue du jour that attracted people of all kinds and led to significant fundraising efforts, but was quickly forgotten about. However, that event inspired Native groups around the country to take more ownership of their land. I am somewhat keyed into Native American issues through a couple publication that I read, so it is more in my conscious than the typical American. Native Americans activism is strong and growing right now. You simply may not be fully aware of what is happening. In fact, it's impossible for us to fully understand what is happening.
I do think that the Pride month hype might be approaching the point of Christmas marketing. Companies jump on it as a marketing opportunity. Many people attend Pride events just to be seen there. I've read articles that some LGBT women feel uncomfortable at Pride celebrations, which is the opposite of the purpose of a Pride event.
But I do find Pride events to be much more positive, welcoming, and joyful than other types of social movements and self identification that might be based on more exclusionary or hateful terms.