While creating fake applications at work, I decided to get a creative with the names and started using stuff like “Bud Light” and “Chester Cheetah”. Since I had a lot of apps to do, I decided to check out other brand mascots in search of women. Unfortunately, I didn’t find very many. Not even the animals were female.
As I looked for more females, I found this infographic with the 50 most iconic brand mascots. I know it’s not very clear, but you can click on the link in the previous sentence or on the image below to go directly to the site.
Out of the 50 listed, only four of them were female: Caramel Bunny, Chiquita Banana, Sun Maid Girl and Wendy’s girl. And none of them were black females. Speaking of which, where is Aunt Jemima? Isn’t’ she the face of some breakfast foods?
And before anyone asks me why I am only asking about black females, know that I can only speak on characteristics that represent who I am: black and female.
The lack of representation and misrepresentation of women, especially black women, have always been an issue for me. And this is just another area where I discovered both.
So, what am I going to do now? I don’t know. However, the first two solutions that come to mind are:
- Contact brands to let them know that diversity is needed. Do you think they would care?
- Really promote my own mascot, Shorty, which is a black female. Not a bad idea.
I guess the only way to really find out is to do both. In the meantime, I would love to hear your thoughts.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What other brands have female mascots – race and color don’t matter?
Which brands have black mascots that are not stereotypical?
Do you think brands would care if someone brought the lack of diversity to their attention?
Images: twitchy.com, creativebloq.com