actually it was A&F's policy (not official, but basically everyone understood) back in the early/mid-00s to discriminate against anyone that didn't fit their profile. (tall, white, athletic).
Only in recent years have they relaxed this policy due to lawsuits and the potential of intl markets.
i remember when my asian friends that got jobs at A&F as sales reps. this was their experience.
#1 they were incredibly happy to be considered to be part of the "in" crowd. almost no asians were accepted as workers, and if you were, you had to look like a surfer dude/chick to fit in.
happiness/honeymoon phase - around 2 weeks
#2 as they progressed with work, they realized that they were stuck in the stock room for every shift. they weren't getting any shifts in the front of the stores selling/help[ing customers.
starting to feel shitty phase - around 4 weeks
#3 after feeling shitty about the job, they ask the manager for shifts that include working the floor. they get denied because they haven't proved themselves. (while other newer sales reps get automatically placed on the floors)
starting to feel really shitty about A&F - a couple months
#4 they suck it up for a few more months to get the clothing discounts so they can stock up on fashionable clothing and to say that they're still working at A&F.
still bragging to friends that they work in A&F but we never see them in the stores working...
- few more months
#5 after about half a year, they finally quit and tell their friends how shitty the experience was.
this was basically consistent across all my friends who worked at A&F (except for one, who was tall and athletic, and chinese/hawaiian).
I've got to give it to A&F to still use sex to market their apparel and not get blasted as tacky by mainstream media.
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Last edited by gmpink at 20-8-2012 09:54 ]