Times of London:
L'Oréal, the French cosmetics giant, whose advertising campaigns proclaim "because you're worth it", was found guilty of racial discrimination for considering black, Arab and Asian women unworthy of selling its shampoo.
Samuel S. Epstein: Risks From Toxic Ingredients In Cosmetics, And Personal Care Products
There are no warnings whatsoever on cosmetics and personal care products. Yet their ingredients pose unrecognized lifelong dangers to the entire U.S. population.
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Hey Jane Fonda! What's your take on this? You just filmed a new ad campaign and signed a new contract to continue being their spokesperson. I have respect for your viewpoint, so weigh in on the subject.
PART II
Effective immediately, I will use every means at my disposal as an academic to promote a general boycott of all L'Oreal products and services. I will urge family and friends alike to cease purchasing your products in their entirety. I will inform them of the history your corporate leadership so willfully chose to ignore.
As a member of my family and more than a few family friends helped liberate France during WW2, I find this action an insult to the memory of the sacrifices of Americans -including Americans of color- who fought to lift the yoke of Nazi tyranny from La Belle France.
Racism was a central part of that Nazi tyranny, and it is racism that you have championed with your discriminatory hiring policies, no more, no less.
The corporate officers responsible for these actions represent the very worst sort of characters, unworthy of the sacrifices of those soldiers of color who gave their lives to keep France a free nation.
Leland R. Erickson
Proud son of a WW2 US Marine
I just sent L'Oreal the following:
Today the ruling of La Cour de Cassation was brought to my attention regarding your corporation's deliberate discrimination in hiring. As a Military Historian, I am quite aware of the history of France, in particular the blood debt France and its people owe to countless thousands of African and Arab soldiers who gave their lives in defense of the French Republic and its people.
Your corporation's officially sanctioned act of racial discrimination is a deliberate, despicable insult to the memories of thousands of African, Arab, and Asian soldiers who lay buried still in military cemeteries in France to this day. These men gave their lives for France; your actions are a desecration of their collective sacrifice.
END PART I
PART II
Effective immediately, I will use every means at my disposal as an academic to promote a general boycott of all L'Oreal products and services. I will urge family and friends alike to cease purchasing your products in their entirety. I will inform them of the history your corporate leadership so willfully chose to ignore.
As a member of my family and more than a few family friends helped liberate France during WW2, I find this action an insult to the memory of the sacrifices of Americans -including Americans of color- who fought to lift the yoke of Nazi tyranny from La Belle France.
Racism was a central part of that Nazi tyranny, and it is racism that you have championed with your discriminatory hiring policies, no more, no less.
The corporate officers responsible for these actions represent the very worst sort of characters, unworthy of the sacrifices of those soldiers of color who gave their lives to keep France a free nation.
Leland R. Erickson
Proud son of a WW2 US Marine
People should have stop buying Ford several years back when it came to light that they super imposed white faces over black in their ads. wait...maybe that's when their problems.
What about the fact that they airbrush and bleach every model they have. By the time they do get done with their black models, they look whiter than most mixed race women. Same goes for their Latina and Asian models. They also manage to airbrush the crap out of their older models to make them all look at least 15-20 years younger, then they claim they are celebrating women of a "certain age". Unfortunately that age is mid-20s.
Does shampoo know the race of the hair it's on? I think you can say I won't buy this particular product anymore, but this problem goes way beyond L'Oreal. Most products are marketed for white women, and most companies don't hire women of color. When was the last time you saw a black woman on the cover of a magazine that is not First Lady Michelle Obama or Beyonce? Our own American companies are guilty of this. I am a Black woman who has two nieces who are models, one is six foot, the other six one, both size two, and I've been with them on casting were the reason they didn't get thejob is because there are all ready two or three black models, that's New York and Los Angeles. Like I stated this problem is much bigger than L'Oreal and bigger than France.
Ethnic women have different hair. Usually they buy much different shampoo and hair products than white women. They even have a separate aisle in the store for such products. It could be that they didn't want to get into that market because it was already saturated.
Whoever represented L'Oreal at court failed pretty hard. It's understandable given the racial tension in France now, but this justice seems a bit misdirected...
Uh, I'm an "ethnic woman" as you call us, and I can tell you that we have a range of hair types and textures (just like white women do. Wow!). We also use the same/similar shampoo and hair products as white women. I'm black and I liked the Garnier Fructis line, but it looks like I'll have to go shopping for a different brand now.
See, not all of us purchase "ethnic" hair care products exclusively (or at all) for various reasons, the main one tending to be the fact that not all of us have the same type of hair that those products were created for. Do you think many East Asian women, for instance, buy "ethnic" hair care products? Considering that their hair types tend to lean towards straight, probably not.
You really have no idea what you're talking about when it comes to the hair of "ethnic women".
Correct! What an uneducated comment.
I have to find a different product as well. Oh BTW I have locks!!!!!
Jason, i gather you are not an 'ethnic woman’? ;-) As an ethnic woman I will tell you that until reading this, I was a user if garnier. You are right that some black women use additional products but the shampoo and conditioner part is the same as others. Also, ethnic does not equal just black only especially in France where the Arab population is large. Many Arabs who have European like hair are also suing.
Are you deliberately being obtuse?
Open your eyes, there are White women with curly hair and Black women with naturally straight hair.
Marketing executives like to target different groups, it sells product, but it's all shampoo in a bottle and it cleans hair - all hair - Jeez
Get educated before posting your ignorant remarks
Thanks for the heads up. I wont be buying their products any more.
In the end I don't think this will dissuade people from purchasing their products. They simply have their roots in too many items women need... I don't see them giving them up.
Maybe women's "roots" can't afford being without their products? :-)
reason # 3, 3432 ..i dont like the French!!
Generalize much?
Leland R. Erickson
Citizen
Well, I won't be buying their products either. I guess I'll be throwing away their coupons. Wow...L'Oreal, it the 21st Century!?!
L'Oreal , you're not worth it !!
Well.
And I liked the Fructis hair products.
Too bad.....my money goes to someone else.
He ll, I liked the products too. I'll make sure to avoid buying L'Oreal or any products associated with/owned by them (Soft Sheen Carson, Lancome, Maybelline, just to name a few.)
Not surprised. I got rejected for a PR job because as an African American woman, I didn't have the right image for the company.
Women of color - black, white, asian, etc., - should not buy from a company that discriminates against other women!
I have never bought their shampoo or products. Don't use their shampoo and I don't even wash my hair with shampoo. I wash it would baking soda or co-wash it with conditioner. If it has harsh cleaners in it, I don't use it.
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First Posted: 06-25-09 12:28 AM | Updated: 07-25-09 05:12 AM