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Are you hot enough for Abercrombie?
An Abercrombie and Fitch shopping bag with standard model on the front
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TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: The clothing company Abercrombie and Fitch is causing a stir again. It's had trouble in the past with racial diversity issues. Now, more employees are complaining they were discriminated against it for the way they look. But this isn't about race. Ashley Milne-Tyte explains.
Ashley Milne-Tyte: One girl says she was moved from sales to the stockroom because management told her she wasn't cute enough to mix with customers. Another employee has talked about a hierarchy of hotness.
Wendy Liebmann of WSL Strategic Retail says we shouldn't be surprised given that Abercrombie refers to its salespeople as models.
Wendy Liebmann: I think that says a lot about what do we expect: we expect the people for this brand at the front of the store to look like a model. And if you don't, then you get, you know, a different position in the store.
She says plenty of other companies follow similar staffing strategies, even if they're less obvious about it. But she says Abercrombie has never been shy about promoting itself with lithe, young bodies and beautiful faces.
Liebmann: So, they're not hiding behind any bushels or ugly people with their philosophy.
She says plenty of ordinary-looking shoppers are lured by the lush marketing. After all, she says, most people aspire to be gorgeous.
In New York, I'm Ashley Milne-Tyte for Marketplace.
I feel that Abercrombie should be able to hire whoever they want to hire. Nobody complains about 90% mexicans working at a Mexican restaurant, or for that fact any ethnic restaurant. Nobody complains about big boobs girls only at Hooters. Nobody complains about majority of black population working at FUBU or other stores that sell clothing that appeal to only certain kinds of people. Then why complain about A&F. Nobody asked you to work there... There are plenty of other jobs. It's like people always want what they can't get. I am not gonna complain racism against hooters because they won't hire me because of my small boobs?!? That's why I work at A&F. Personally I think people just want to sue company that has billions of dollars so they can get a piece of that money too. Get a life. Accept reality. Not everything in life is fair. Fight for your rights but don't be partial to one company. If you feel that you're being discriminated then file a lawsuit against all those who make you feel that way, not just one company!
I've got no problem with that. They're up-front about it. What successful merchant isn't fostering anxiety in their customer in order to make them buy? Everyone doesn't have the same talents, and after all, it's not a dream job, it's about clocking hours selling clothing in a mall. Now people who never stepped through the door of an A&F will visit to see who these beautiful people are. Love it!
The apple doesn't fall to far from the corporate tree; just ask The Limited former employees how they felt about it. Although A&F outfitted the elite and wealthy with their outdoor gear 100 yrs. ago, the name had substance. Now, it represents something far more shallow and that is reflected in its treatment of its employees. Most people aspire to be gorgeous? How out of touch with reality and shallow is that? But wait, that is reality; it says everything about America today: shallow and self absorbed.
