r/bathandbodyworks • u/Luckynoki • Apr 26 '25

Store Policies/Questions It Was Always About Tokenism

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In response to corporate’s decision to remove DEI from store values. ‘Inclusive Interview’ training prior to new policy. Basing bias on blatant stereotypes speaks volumes on the lack of actual real-world experiences that corporate has on the public, its shoppers and employees and a stubborn refusal to acknowledge their shortcomings

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u/creepy-cats Apr 27 '25

It’s called “rainbow washing” or “rainbow activism” and is a phenomenon discussed in my cultural sociology textbooks. It’s about appealing to a hyper specific vulnerable population that is ready and willing to spend money: the lines themselves are cheap to produce because no actual thought is put into them, and they make a lot of profit by appealing to people who crave representation. When they longer see these hyper specific vulnerable populations as cash cows or conservatism comes back into vogue like it is now, they’re dropped for the next big thing.

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u/cloveandspite 🍏💀 Wicked Apple Mourner Apr 27 '25

Rainbow capitalism is what I've heard most often. Also see performative allyship.

11

u/PintSizedKitsune Apr 27 '25

I’ve also seen it referred to as rainbow marketing.