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“Going for the Look, But Risking Discrimination” by Steven Greenhouse from the New York Times. I decided, I disagree with Cohen’s argument, because it is hurtful and unfair to intelligence, experience and personality. Abercrombie is setting a bad example for America and what people should look like. I think Abercrombie has messed up values. You cannot hire someone based only on there looks ,everyone has a chance of getting any job regardless of how they look nor their race.
In fact that stores like Abercrombie And Fitch to L’oreal Cosmetics, Mac Cosmetics and Hollister Co all use the same marketing strategies, is very wrong because it’s like they have gone back in time to when African American’s couldn’t drink out of the same drinking fountains or even attend the same schools as Anglos. One day my friend and I went to an Abercrombie and Fitch in Lancaster where I used to live. My friend hates shopping and was waiting for me patiently. When we got up to the beginning of the line the man ringing us up started what I thought was friendly conversation with Jimmy , my friend. Hey, where do you go to school? ” The worker asked him. “UCLA,” Jim said. “Oh wow that’s great. ” Said the worker. “I go to Uc Davis. ” “Tight. ” Jimmy said. “Hey, are you looking for a job? Because right now were hiring. ” Jim just kind of laughed, for working at Abercrombie and Fitch was probably his worst nightmare because once during senior year of high school he worked at Hollister Co. This aggressive approach Abercrombie and Fitch had made Jimmy very uncomfortable. He pretty much ran out of the store and I followed him laughing, for I knew this was policy for Abercrombie and Fitch and other stores just them.
When I read the Quote, ” If someone came in with a pretty face, we were told to approach them and ask them if they wanted a job,” Mr. Serrano said. “They thought if we had the best-looking college kids working in our store, everyone would want to shop there. “This was why they asked Jimmy for a job! They started out asking him where he went to school. The man who worked at the Lancaster Abercrombie and Fitch went to Uc Davis. Jim goes to UCLA just like his older sister who in fact also fits the Abercrombie and Fitch policy.
It all makes sense to me now,because they would never hire someone like myself who attends Cerrtios College/ high school, They want good looking college kids working in their store in order to attract more college kids to shop there. Plus I’m Five three weighting at 170 and i can pass as a “Arabic and Caucasian or Latina, so I guess i’d be too ethic. The quote by Mr. Serrano that really got me hooked into this article was this, ” We were supposed to approach someone in the mall who we think will look attractive in our store.
If that person said, ‘I never worked in retailing before,’ we said: ‘who cares? We’ll hire you. ‘ But if someone came in who had lots of retail experience and not a pretty face, we were told to not hire them at all. ” This quote is absolutely ridicules. It is hurtful and unfair to intelligence, experience, and personality since Abercrombie’s values are based on looks only. It makes me sad to think that if someone came into an Abercrombie store who really wanted a job and is not the average American, blonde hair, blue eyed, they would be flat out denied, even if they had tons of retail experience.
I understand the economic standpoint Abercrombie and Fitch is trying to get through to people. They are saying that they need people who can wear the clothes to work in the store. “Being able to find a brand enhancer, or what they call a walking billboard, is critical. ” I understand this is a good idea for Abercrombie and Fitch to make more money. But also from another economic standpoint I think Abercrombie could make way more money if they had clothes that fit everybody. I think Abercrombie had it wrong from the beginning.
Why wouldn’t they want to make clothes to fit everyone in America? There is such a small portion of people who are 5’6 blonde hair blue eyes. I disagree with Cohen’s argument,I do not think it is right to hire people based only on their looks. I think this is discrimination in our county. I do not agree with Abercrombie and Fitch’s aggressive approach of hiring people at their stores. I believe people should be hired based on their experience, personalities and intelligence.