Abercrombie and Fitch CEO, Mike Jeffries, recently explained the reason that they don't have XL clothing for women is because it would hurt their public image.
“We hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don't market to anyone other than that."
This has understandably caused a lot of backlash. Many people rightfully have criticized their discrimination against larger women. Some have gone a little too far though and made ad hominem attacks on Mike Jeffries, mocking his own looks. The hypocrisy of this doesn't seem to occur to them.
Good intentions led to even more mind boggling decisions when change.org set up a petition to have Jeffries apologize and for them to make plus size women's clothing. Why you would want to give money to the very people who insult you is beyond me.
Despite me taking cheap shots at every person I can, I am glad this has led to a backlash. We are straying away from judging people by a narrow definition of beauty.
Do you think that fat shaming is a significant problem in Western Culture? (or if you're not from the West, in your culture) Do you think Jeffries comment is harmless, or do companies like these lead to people having insecurities about their personal body image?
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