Kdotfann - Black Beauty

racism in fashion app games

ok so i’ve been playing this fashion game called “covet fashion” which started off being SUPER fun.

u basically build ur closet up by completing missions, jet setting off to other countries, and attending events.

here’s the problem: u submit ur outfits to be judged by the masses of OTHER ppl who also play the game. their votes determine ur score—whether u pass and score more swag for ur closet or fail and have to try again.

but after the first three missions i was having a REALLY hard time. i would put together outfits that met the mission requirements but i couldn’t ever seem to get a high enough score to move forward and/or build up my closet. i would look at the top scoring outfits for the contest i entered and couldn’t understand why my outfits kept failing when those winning looks weren’t even that special.

and then it hit me.

EVERY time i submitted an outfit my model had the darkest skin. ALWAYS. and why not? my model was an extension of myself and i have darker skin so i wanted my model to have the same. the top scoring looks always featured white models or models of color with lighter skin. when i would go to vote on looks i noticed that whenever a darker skinned model was up against a lighter skin one REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY HAD ON THEY ALWAYS LOST.

what i was thinking seemed legit but i HAD to be sure. so i put together a few more looks but i used much lighter skin tones and ALL OF A SUDDEN all these levels i couldn’t pass before i was passing with flying colors. i shit u not—i would win even when i put on shitty fucking outfits.

so i got curious about the low star reviews of the app and SURE ENOUGH there were few reviewers that had actually noticed the SAME THING! they pointed out the obvious racial bias and asked the app makers to come up with some other way to score outfits that wasn’t entirely user generated and ITA.

cause i was REALLY enjoying the game and i kept getting so frustrated when i couldnt win thinking i was the one who was doing something wrong when it had nothing to do with me at all. i mean shit— i kno i cant even enjoy the simplest shit thanks to racism but this is some BULLSHIT. i felt sincerely distressed because i wanted to win but the idea of having to pick lighter skinned models when i didnt want to just to do so didnt sit well with me so i ended up just deleting the app.

aint that some shit?

16 notes View Post

kdotfann

9 years ago

Fuck yeah!