Abercrombie & Fitch Settles Discrimination Suit
November 17th, 2004 | Published in Politics | 6 Comments
NPR : Abercrombie & Fitch Settles Discrimination Suit
Clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch agrees to pay $50 million to settle lawsuits claiming it discriminates against minorities and women. The company was accused of favoring white men in its hiring and branding. Abercrombie will create an office of diversity and has already hired a vice president for diversity.
So should we sue companies in Japan that have all japanese models? They should have at least 19.3% caucasion and 17.2% blacks and 14% hispanics!!
November 18th, 2004 at 12:13 am (#)
Absolutely… if those statistics were true. According to the CIA Factbook Japan’s population is comprised of 99% people of Japanese decent.
But that is beside the point. The fact is, we have anti-descrimination laws in the United States. If they are systematicly descriminating against minorites and women, that is illegal.
November 18th, 2004 at 11:51 am (#)
I think it’s ridiclous. If you’re appealing to a certain market, of course you are going to advertise for it. I agree there should not be racism, but I don’t think you should be forced not to hire someone because you need more quotas of another gender or color or religion or whatever.
I do agree that we should do what the law says, of course, but I think this affirmative action stuff can get out of hand sometimes.
February 2nd, 2006 at 3:48 am (#)
that is non sense! who would think there are at least 19.3% caucasion and 17.2% blacks and 14% hispanics in Japan?
August 1st, 2006 at 10:17 pm (#)
but you have more than just white males buying abercrombie and fitch clothing. phat farm, and sean john which are considered to be “urban” clothing lines have more than just african american models. it’s not about affirmative action. it’s about fully knowing who your customers are. (black, white, green, or whatever) and having them represented.
June 9th, 2007 at 9:58 am (#)
Abercrombie & Fitch is a store that is open to the public…right? There are overweight people in the public. But Abercrombie & Fitch does not sale anything that would fit a person with a waist size over 36 inches. I think they discriminate more against bigger people than minorities or women. I entered their store in my area and was told they had nothing in a size 40.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:38 pm (#)
The law doesn’t apply to modeling, standing alone. Of course, models or actors can be specific to required roles. But it can help show a pattern. For example, if you only sell houses to whites, and all your advertising shows whites, well that is a strong case for discrimination
Also, overweight people are not a protected class, so yes, you can usually discriminate unless them. There is some gray with regards to workers (not customers)– whether being overweight meets the requirements of a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act. For most overweight people where it is not caused by disease, probably not.
Lastly, most cases for retail companies are settled for public good will, not for the letter of the law. That’s why related but not necessarily illegal issues are mentioned in the press releases; makes the company look “warmer and fuzzier.”