Some of my earliest memories are of feeling othered as a child. Long before I had the vocabulary to express the feeling, I was well aware that it was happening.
When I would scrape my knee, or get a paper cut, the light beige color of the adhesive bandage would stand out on my skin. I would look down at myself and see this rectangular reminder of how I was “different.” I remember the feeling quite distinctly.
In 1997, tattoo bandages hit the market and they were the only ones I wanted to wear. The little cartoon figures weren’t pretending to be a skin tone that didn’t match mine. I didn’t have to feel different.
But I would’ve been happier with a bandage that matched my own skin.
Band-Aid, the brand, was founded in 1921. In 2005, the company launched its first line of inclusive skin tone bandages. It took them 84 years. 🤯
Three years later the line was discontinued due to “lack of interest.” 👀
But that was then. And this is now.
More and more, brands are expanding their shade range across products that used to center the default “nude” skin tone (code: white).
We’re seeing this in everything from makeup 💄, to pointe shoes 🩰, to underwear 🩲. In the world of bandages and plasters 🩹, companies like TruColour Products (2014), Browndages (2018) and TEINT (2021) are leading the way towards inclusivity.
Perhaps you read this post and think that bandages are small indicators of inclusivity (literally and figuratively!).
But yet again, small acts of inclusivity can have outsized impacts.
Can a bandage protect a child from ever feeling othered? No.
But inclusion in commonplace products can go a long way in making children (and adults!) feel seen, included, and validated. 💫
What other brands are bringing inclusive shade ranges to the market? ⬇️✍🏽
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#DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #diversityandinclusion #inclusionmatters #inclusiveleadership
Image: TEINT bandages (L to R nude, raw, naked, au naturel, bare)
Director, Global B2B Integrated Marketing at Pinterest || 15+ years B2B & B2C marketing experience || Ex-American Express || Ex-charity:water || Ex-consultant
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