Thursday, December 29, 2022

16082: Pouring Gas On Gaslighting In Adland.

 

Digiday published a list titled, “How The World Of Work Changed In 2022—By The Numbers,” which included the following point that was highlighted in an earlier report:

 

Searches for “gaslighting” spiked by 1,740% on Merriam-Webster’s website in 2022. It’s the latest workplace bullying tactic that is far different from when someone overtly yells at someone in the office. It’s a form of emotional, often more subtle, abuse that can occur between co-workers, both on the same level or from their bosses. While this tactic might have been around for longer than we realize, now experts can give tips for how to recognize and respond to gaslighting in the workplace.

 

In Adland, it could be argued that gaslighting is regularly executed by executives at White advertising agencies when discussing all DE&I topics. The tactic covers a range of uses, such as:

 

• Publicly expressing dedication to DE&I—despite having zero proof of progress

 

• Pressuring resident minorities in ERGs to ‘volunteer’ for a variety of projects like cultural competence consulting, recruitment rackets, and serving as tokens during client meetings

 

• Presenting percentages on increased diversity vendors spending—while not providing specific figures that might reveal the lioness’ share goes to White-women-owned enterprises with blood ties to White advertising agencies and holding companies

 

• Presenting percentages on increased diversity hiring—while not providing specific figures that might reveal the spikes are mostly due to adding White women, foreigners of color, and Human Heat Shields

 

• Human Heat Shields—aka Chief Diversity Officers—drafting ‘thought leadership’ perspectives, gushing about the latest PR stunts fabricated by their White bosses

 

The truth is, when it comes to DE&I, White advertising executives hit the gas and have a gas with gaslighting.

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