This June, Discover_TMA contributors Lillian Zhao, Candace Allison, and Olivia Wilmsen take a look at where gender discrepancies can level out and where it already has.
Birchbox Needs No Man
If you are Birchbox customer, you might have noticed that your “BirchboxMan” box is now called “Birchbox Grooming.” It’s not a mistake; it’s actually a correction. In a recent blog post, Birchbox announced that it would be removing “Man” from the name in an effort to make the brand more inclusive to customers who are gender fluid or gender nonconforming. Pretty cool, huh!? Societies’ acceptance of the gender spectrum is shifting, and brands are listening. While labels can put people into boxes they don’t necessarily fit into—nor should any of us be defined by single terms—brands are making an effort to broaden what terms like “grooming” mean to consumers. The beauty about individuals is how we express ourselves and that we define our intersectionality. In this case, Birchbox needs no MAN to tell us how we groom our bodies. It’s up to us.
Behind the Camera, Hollywood Inclusion Falls Flat
In early April 2019, the major film studios held their annual showcase in Las Vegas where they presented their 2019 lineups. While this year’s promising hits were made up of the most diverse on-screen casts that we’ve seen, a diversity disconnect exists between onscreen faces and those behind the camera. Specifically, there is a huge drop-off from the number of male directors to female directors. Moviegoers have proven to studios that onscreen diversity matters with economic pressure by signaling to studios the type of movies they want to see with their wallet. As consumers, it’s time to dig deeper on who creates our films. As advertisers, let’s ‘free the bid’ for female directors in our work, too.
Tackling the Space Industry and Gender Inequality
Kyrgyzstan, a country that has historically given women less rights than men, is home to the “satellite girls,” who are working to launch the country’s first space satellite. The program was born out of an independent journalism school that asked for applications from women ages 17-25. This is a huge step in destroying gender norms, but some worry it’s unfair that only women are involved, calling it a case of gender inequality. While the project is exclusive to women only, this program’s existence is a must for Kyrgyzstan in order to advance and move away from oppressive gender norms. It’s vital for historically marginalized groups—in all countries—to be specifically catered to and be able to work in a safe space. Sometimes it takes exclusivity for inclusivity.
Discover_TMA is an employee-led initiative focused on increasing opportunities for education, content sharing, and conversation about diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Lillian Zhao is a Junior Art Director and Discover_TMA contributor at TMA
Candace Allison is a University Relations Recruiting Manager and Discover_TMA contributor at TMA
Olivia Wilmsen is a Learning, Education & Development Manager and Discover_TMA contributor at TMA
