Moments of Permanence - Sometimes the racism is accidental: the problem is the system

From: attentive Date: January 6th, 2010 05:29 am (UTC) (Link)

As you point out, sometimes the statistical physiological differences between ethnic groups - including but not limited to skin tone - will have material implications. Just as, for example, suncream "works better" for people with darker skin because they get burned less severely when exposed to UV light. Or people with different types of hair use different hair products and groom their hair differently.

It's quite interesting to visit a multicultural borough of London, for example, and see the white hairdresser (with its products) leasing alongside the salons providing for people of African or subcontinental complexions (with quite distinct products, advertising and clientele).

In this instance, I think there's a slight blurring of the boundaries between different types of equality going on. Demanding that consumer items will work the same way for all people isn't a normal part of the politics of equity.

That said, you're right in your observations. The fact that this issue was only observed after the device went to market suggests structural inequality in many different areas: among camera users, technologists, product marketers and those with disposable income for starters. That's where the true concern should lie.

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