With consumers confronting issues around race, gender, and inclusivity in their daily lives, how brands respond to social justice issues is becoming more important. In this week’s roundup, we take a look at how brands and marketers are responding and what inclusivity marketing looks like in 2021.

What We Can Learn from Dr. Seuss About Inclusivity Marketing

There’s been a lot of hubbub and energy expended over the decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises to remove six of the author’s lesser-known works from publication. However, at its core the bold decision to remove books from its catalog that “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.” As Inc.’s Sonia Thompson notes in her column Dr. Seuss Enterprises was just the latest brand to take a step toward greater inclusivity. This growing awareness about the importance of inclusivity to customer engagement has seen brands like Quaker and Mars take important steps as well.

You can read the full article here.

Unilever Expunges the Idea of “Normal”

The idea of what is normal has long been questionable and the use of the word is taking on greater significance in 2021, so much so that global brand, Unilever, has expunged it from its corporate vernacular. An article this month in Forbes explores Unilever’s decision and clearly establishes that “[w]ords matter. They send signals to consumers who interact with your brand that let them know whether or not they belong with you.” As well as acknowledging the importance of language in the customer experience and in building brand loyalty, the article explores several best practices brands can implement to develop their understanding and ability to execute inclusivity marketing.

You can find those best practices here.

Does it Make Sense to Pay Brands to Diversify?

If brands aren’t willing, or able to take steps towards inclusivity on their own does it make sense to pay brands to diversify? As reported by Marketing Dive, Dove – a Unilever brand – has offered to pay the costs of hiring diverse talent for other brands to help meet their diversity and inclusion pledges. With more than 70 percent of women feeling unrepresented in marketing Dove’s “It’s On Us” campaign clearly demonstrates that the brand is paying more than lip-service to solving this issue.

You can watch the video below and read the story here.