Blind Spots, Diversity on the Catwalk, and Holding Ourselves Accountable

It's been close to 2 weeks since the New York Giants won the Super Bowl. Aside from the game I, along with apparently millions of  other people, enjoy critiquing the commercials. One of the spots that garnered a lot of attention was from Best Buy. In it they highlight various inventors and business people who've had a significant impact in the mobile arena. 

It definitely appealed  to the geek in me. I felt it was a pretty cool commercial, but some didn't see it as I did, noting its lack of women or people of color (click here and here for a few examples). What was interesting was that I didn't notice until it was pointed out to me. Then it became pretty obvious. Whether this constitutes discrimination or lack of understanding on the part of Best Buy or the advertising agency is debatable. The point is that, for an industry that's been in the news recently for its distinct lack of diversity, this commercial didn't help matters.

But other business sectors have their own blind spots when it comes to diversity and inclusion issues. I've been in the fashion and retail industry for more than two decades now. In that time I've experienced a lot of changes--from the rise of fast fashion to changes in the fortunes of many a retailer--yet there are a few constants. Retail, even in the age of the internet, still works best when it's face-to-face. And female models--on display, in print, on the runway, or through other mediums--are tall and lithesome. Instead of lithesome some would say skinny, and unhealthily so. Why else would the Council of Fashion Designers in America (CFDA), the industry's trade association, issue guidelines designed to "educate the industry to identify the early warning signs in an individual at risk of developing an eating disorder"? 

Be that as it may, the latter statement may be changing slightly, if recent articles can be used as indicators of said change.

'Most runway models meet the BMI criteria for anorexia', claims plus-size magazine in powerful comment on body image in the fashion industry

This was the headline in a recent online article for The Daily Mail, a British publication. The piece centered around a feature from Plus Model Magazine. This magazine, through photos and statements, attempted to address the need for greater size diversity in the fashion and modeling industry. As you can imagine, the article generated strong comments on both sites.

On a somewhat quieter but no less interesting note is this article from the Fashionista blog:

Can Modesty and Modeling Mix? Enter New Muslim Modeling Agency, Underwraps

Its content centers around Nailah Lymus, an American-born Muslim, and her modeling start-up called Underwraps. Its purpose, according to Ms. Lymus, is to provide a way for women who want to work as models while holding onto the modesty principles of their faith. While brand new (she started the agency only recently, in time for New York's Fashion Week) she has 4 women in development. 

Again, it's not until an alternative appears that we realize how homogeneous our environment is or can become. As business leaders, it's important that we have our eyes open to what's occurring around us. Be honest about our inherent biases about the industry and profession we work within. Celebrate its successes but be critical of its shortcomings. Equally important, speak up about the need for change, even if things are going well--especially when things are going well. This goes beyond diversity as a game of numbers (e.g., how many members of a protected category the organization has representing it). This also goes beyond avoiding lawsuits and bad press. Ultimately, it's about reflecting the audience you serve, not as something 'other', but as normal as we all are.