“I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.” _Frances McDormand

France McDormand shook the table while giving her acceptance speech during the Oscars and introduced inclusion rider into the popular culture lexicon. Google noted that the term inclusion rider search spiked that night. Before you leave to go look up what inclusion rider means I tell you. Inclusion rider is a stipulation that actors and actresses can ask (or demand) to have inserted into their contracts, which would require a certain level of diversity among a film’s cast and crew.

Public relation INCLUSION RIDERS Black Chicago plus size blogger of color wearing red & yellow and sequins

Director Ava DuVernay: ‘We didn’t need any inclusion riders‘. Ava Duvernay, director of Wrinkle in Time, said that there was no need for inclusion riders in her latest film because ‘we just hired talented people of all kinds and colours and we hope that more people do that.’

We would hope more people in a position of power would think like Ms. DuVernay however sadly that’s not the case. This got me to thinking “How does that apply to the brands I support?” As a plus size woman of color I find myself fighting this fight for representation on two fronts. Being plus size I see many hour-glass or retouched body in plus size campaigns. And as a woman of color in plus size or campaigns, in general, I don’t see women or men for that matter whos skins looks like mine. Should I be happy just seeing a racially ambiguous model?

I personally believe the issue with representation starts long before the brand’s ad hits the magazine or social media. It starts with the marketing and or PR companies many brands work with. As an influencer, I receive a ton of emails to from marketing and public relation firms. A quick google search will let you know who you’re dealing with. Often times the owners, main principals or lead decision-making associates are not people of color. Please note: When I say of color I mean any color African American, Hispanic, Asian, etc..

Brands hire these firms to come up with campaigns and marketing strategies often time to reach a diverse market. But I wonder do those same brands look at who they’re hiring to implement that diversity they seek. I in no way am saying hiring all ” insert any minority group here” marketing or public relations firms. What I am saying is brands would be better serviced by firms that are inclusive from the top down.

I can tell when a brand’s firm is diverse. Their social media (Instagram) doesn’t look whitewashed. The ad work looks realistic. The brand’s message comes off relateable. There is a subtle nuance that ropes you into those campaigns that groupthink will never be able to deliver.

Now I find myself going back to my original question. Should brands the brands we love require inclusion riders? Or should I accept I and people like me are not their demographic?

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Beyonce offered a powerful look into the mind of many women with her song “Pretty Hurts.” She sings “Mama said, “You’re a pretty girl. What’s in your head, it doesn’t matter Brush your hair, fix your teeth. What you wear is all that matters.” I’m not saying that every women is raised to believe this but many have. Pushing our self esteem issues onto our children is a powerful thing. We tell our girls what not “good” about themselves. We focus on hair. Is it long and thick? Does it have the right wave patten? We focus on weight and size. We push our own size issue onto the next generation. Many of us do this unknowingly. It’s done in how we address ourselves in front of our children. Comments like “I look so fat in this” or “I need to lose weight, I’m so ugly.” Our children see & hear how we treat ourselves and start treating themselves the same way. How could a child every feel pretty when they know the person they look just alike doesn’t like the way they look. Often times focusing on girls we forget out boys. It’s important to note we tell our boys what to value as beautiful.

Dove has a short film they just released out called “Legacy”. In the short Dove ask 5 pair of mothers and daughters to write a separate lists of what they like and don’t like about themselves. My of the daughters were found the same body issues that their mother had with themselves.

Dove is asking women who they #FeelBeautifulFor . This is Dove’s campaign for their 5th Self Esteem Weekend happening October 9 – 12. The women of this generation should stop at ask ourselves “What beauty standards are we leaving our children?”

See the Dove Legacy short here.

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Tag: body positive

What beauty standards are we leaving our children?

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