We at the HPC have, in the past, addressed the oddity that is mannequin design. I recently came across this fellow in a sporting goods store in Chicago. Now, I'm not going to draw any conclusions, but I'd like to ask a few questions:
1. Is this mannequin meant to look like someone of African decent?
2. If so, is it a good thing or a bad thing that its being used to display athletic apparel?
3. Furthermore, assuming it is meant to look like someone of African decent, is the intention to appeal to black consumers, or is it an attempt to pump some racial equality into what is otherwise a form designed primarily in the mold of caucasians, thereby appealing to those who are more PC-minded?
4. Where else, if anywhere, are we seeing 'ethnic'-looking mannequins?
To give these questions a bit of context, I should point out that this particular sporting goods store is located in the Lakeview neighborhood. To get an idea of the racial and ethnic breakdown in the this area, look under the "Demographics - Race" column.
I could be reading too deeply into this, but I can't help but be reminded of this.
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