Target Receives Backlash for Its Diversity Efforts
Target has been making concerted efforts to embrace diversity and expand its customer base, but these initiatives have often placed it in opposition to the right-wing anti-woke movement. The company’s decision in 2016 to allow customers to use bathrooms matching their gender identity gained significant backlash.
In response to the controversy, Target installed single-person bathrooms in all its stores, accommodating anyone seeking privacy, including transgender individuals not comfortable using multiperson bathrooms. This move resulted in a 7% drop in sales, raising questions about the impact of such policies.
Controversy Surrounding Pride Month Merchandise
In 2023, Target faced criticism again, this time over its Pride Month merchandise, as reported by NPR.
![Inside a Target store, a section dedicated to Pride Month is adorned with a 'Celebrate Pride Month' sign. The area is filled with colorful clothing and accessories featuring rainbow designs. A man with a purple shirt is shopping, holding a product next to a red shopping cart, while a young child with long hair sits inside the cart looking on](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/0d190c56-screenshot-2024-01-27-144123.jpg)
Source: Getty Images
Chief Executive Brian Cornell stated in the company’s 2023 second-quarter-earnings call, “After the launch of the assortment this year, members of our team began experiencing threats and aggressive actions that affected their sense of safety and well-being while at work.” As a result, Target withdrew the pride line from its stores to protect its employees.
Target's New Wellness Initiative
The Street reports that Target has introduced more than 1,000 new wellness-related products, ranging from clothing to technology, some priced as low as $1.99.
![A close-up image of a row of red Target shopping carts lined up and nested within each other. The carts feature the Target bullseye logo on their sides](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/d32b1862-screenshot-2024-01-27-144137.jpg)
Source: Abhinav Bhardwaj/Unsplash
Target Executive Vice President Rick Gomez explained, “Wellness has been redefined to encompass a more holistic way of living — and it’s also different for every person.” This new venture into wellness reflects Target’s ongoing efforts to meet diverse customer needs but might also attract scrutiny in a politically sensitive climate.
Lessons from Bud Light's Backlash
The backlash Bud Light faced after partnering with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney serves as a cautionary example for Target, according to The Street.
![A close-up of a condensation-covered Bud Light beer bottle resting on a wooden table. The label is prominently displayed, featuring the Bud Light logo with text that reads 'Brewed using the choicest hops, best barley malt, and rice.'](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/9659a54c-screenshot-2024-01-27-144149.jpg)
Source: Esperanza Doronila/Unsplash
The beer brand suffered a substantial drop in sales due to the backlash NPR reveals. This shows the potential risks associated with corporate decisions in today’s polarized environment. Target’s current strategies, while not inherently political, may inadvertently provoke similar controversies.
Navigating Diversity and Inclusion: CEO Cornell's Approach
Target’s CEO Cornell is keenly aware of the challenges in balancing inclusivity with business operations.
![Split image of two middle-aged men. On the left, a man with short gray hair wearing a gray sweater over a red collar shirt stands against a blurred office background. On the right, another man with short brown hair, wearing a navy sweater, stands with crossed hands and a soft smile](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/6dd402c2-screenshot-2024-01-27-144202.jpg)
Source: TargetNews/X
He has expressed commitment to diversity, stating in the 2023 second-quarter-earnings call, “Pride is one of many heritage moments that are important to our guests and our team, and we’ll continue to support these moments in the future.” His approach involves maintaining Target as a space where customers can feel relaxed, irrespective of the prevailing social and political climate.
Comparing Target's Stance with Disney's Political Involvement
In a similar vein, Disney found itself in a political controversy when its former CEO, Bob Chapek, opposed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. This move, made under employee pressure, intensified scrutiny from anti-woke groups.
![A vibrant Ferris wheel with a Mickey Mouse face design stands at the center of a theme park. The wheel is set against a backdrop of a roller coaster with red tracks and a wooden structure](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/caa58049-screenshot-2024-01-27-144215.jpg)
Source: Tyler Nix/Unsplash
The Street reveals that Target faces comparable challenges in its efforts to align with current trends while avoiding political statements, especially in a highly divided political landscape.
Target's Recent Controversy with Stanley Cups
Target’s recent controversy involved employees being fired for purchasing limited-edition Stanley Quencher cups ahead of customers, Business Insider reports.
![Close-up of a Stanley branded insulated tumbler in focus, with a metallic lid and cream body featuring the company's logo. In the blurred background, various products are displayed on shelves](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/50d125dd-screenshot-2024-01-27-144230.jpg)
Source: Getty Images
This incident illustrates the difficulties Target faces in managing internal policies and public perception, further complicating its position amid ongoing controversies and public scrutiny.
The Complexities of Target's Diversity Initiatives
The Street notes that Target’s journey towards diversity and inclusivity has been marked by challenges.
![A street view of a Target store during daytime. The store features a large red facade with two Target bullseye logos above the entrances](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/3270c54e-screenshot-2024-01-27-144243.jpg)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
From bathroom policies to pulling Pride merchandise, the company has faced difficult decisions, reflecting the complexities of addressing social issues within a retail setting.
CEO Cornell's Strategy Amidst Societal Challenges
Cornell has been treading between supporting diversity and maintaining neutrality. His commitment to various heritage moments, including Pride, is part of a broader strategy to serve a diverse customer base, per information from The Street.
![Inside a Target store featuring a Pride Month apparel display. A mannequin wears a vibrant, multicolored chevron-patterned dress. A promotional sign with a smiling couple wearing yellow 'BEEN PROUD' T-shirts reads 'take pride.' In the background, racks of clothing with similar Pride-themed designs and colorful patterns are visible](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/eb2fefc7-screenshot-2024-01-27-144258.jpg)
Source: Getty Images
However, he also emphasizes the importance of keeping Target a neutral space, highlighting the intricacies of operating in a diverse and politically charged environment.
The Risks of Target's Wellness Product Line
The Street highlights that Target’s expansion into wellness products, though not overtly political, carries potential risks in the current social climate.
![A joyful woman with glasses, wearing a striped shirt, is standing in the beverage aisle of a Target store, laughing and looking to the side. She is posing next to shelves stocked with bottles of Gatorade](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/52c4ab10-screenshot-2024-01-27-144313.jpg)
Source: Arren Mills/Unsplash
The experience of Bud Light illustrates how such initiatives can become unexpectedly controversial, posing a challenge to Target’s wellness and inclusivity efforts.
Target’s Diversity Goals
The Washington Post reports that in 2020, following George Floyd’s murder, Target set ambitious goals to diversify its team.
![A Target employee in an orange reflective vest is gathering a line of red shopping carts outside of a Target store. The iconic Target bullseye logo is prominently displayed on the store's exterior facade in the background](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/c913e05f-screenshot-2024-01-27-144329.jpg)
Source: Getty Images
They aimed to boost Black team member representation by 20% in three years through enhanced hiring, mentoring, and retention. However, progress has been modest. Target’s 2022 Workforce Diversity Report shows, the representation increased only marginally from 15% to 16%.
Target's Role in a Divided Sociopolitical Landscape
Target faces outrage for its progressive diversity policies, despite not being solely responsible for addressing systemic discrimination in the workforce, The Washington Post notes.
![A large red Target bullseye logo is mounted on a wall to the left of the entrance to a Target store within a shopping mall. Customers can be seen entering and exiting through the automatic doors](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/01/7c9acd3e-screenshot-2024-01-27-144345.jpg)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
This criticism comes even as many other companies have pledged similar commitments to diversity, highlighting a broader challenge in corporate America’s approach to inclusivity.