Week 2
Myths of Superiority: Unpacking Racist Narratives

Bonus Content: Racist Soap Commercials?

Context: The Qiaobi detergent controversy involves a 2016 Chinese ad in which a Black man is pushed into a washing machine and emerges as a light-skinned Asian man, implying he’s been "cleaned." The ad sparked global outrage for its blatant racial insensitivity and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. Qiaobi initially dismissed the backlash but later issued an apology, claiming the offense was unintentional. The controversy became a stark example of racial insensitivity in global advertising. 

Lexicon #6: Internalized oppression

Definition: When people face discrimination or oppression for a long time, they may start to believe the negative stereotypes and misinformation about themselves and people who share their identity. They begin to see themselves through the lens of these harmful beliefs or myths and may act as if they are true. 

See the video for an example of internalized racism. 

Lexicon #7: Social construct, a social construction

Definition: An idea created by society that shapes how we understand the world, often without a basis in objective reality. They exist purely because humans have accepted that they exist. They influence our beliefs, values, and behaviors, and are often viewed as natural, even though they are man-made. 

Some examples:

• Gender: The roles, behaviors, and attributes that society considers appropriate for men and women, often based on perceived differences but not biologically determined.

• Race: Categories used to group people based on physical characteristics, such as skin color, but not grounded in significant biological differences.

• Class: Divisions of people based on wealth, education, or occupation, shaping perceptions of social status and power.

• Money: A medium of exchange whose value is determined by societal agreement rather than any intrinsic value of the physical object (i.e., paper or digital currency).