Target hijab pic sparks debate

MANY customers have praised Target for including a mum wearing a hijab in a back-to-school catalogue — but some others weren’t happy.

Target says it always aims to be inclusive in its advertising.

TARGET has sparked fierce debate online by featuring a mother wearing a hijab in its latest back-to-school catalogue.

Many customers took to social media to praise the retailer for the catalogue, which also features children with disabilities and from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Thank you @Targetaus for embracing diversity!
Love it! ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/5kc95YbVQs

— Mariam Veiszadeh (@MariamVeiszadeh) January 8, 2017

“Thanks, Target,” Mary Mehwish wrote on Target’s Facebook page. “Being a mother of a special need child and being a hijabi (wearing the head scarf) this is so relatable. Keep it up.”

“Loving the diversity in the new catalogue!” Jordan Grant wrote. Cathy Taylor wrote: “Good to see people of different abilities and cultural backgrounds in the new catalogue.”

Sam Gillespie said she didn’t usually take much notice of shopping catalogues “but the Target back-to-school catalogue has stopped me in my tracks”.

“Way to go, Target, breaking stereotypes and sharing images of real Aussies. Fantastic, should be just normal for us to see this in advertising I’m so impressed,” she wrote.

Kylie Ruxton said she was surprised some people were complaining about a Muslim woman being featured. “I was under the impression that Target sold clothes, so why people are so insulted over a photo of a mother sending her son off to school really just boggles my mind,” she wrote.

Fiona Coates described the catalogue as a “true representation of the wonderful world we are part of in Australia”, while Karissa Jayne said she loved “that Target is embracing diversity, multiculturalism and reality of Australia’s identity”.

“I love that you’ve put a Muslim woman in your catalogue. It’s so empowering,” Victoria Paige wrote. “To put her in your catalogue even though you’ll probably get so much hate for doing so is amazing. Keep up the good work.”

In response, Target wrote: “We always aim to be inclusive with our advertising, whether it’s in relation to age, gender, ethnicity or people with a disability. We love the diversity which can be found in our customers and always aim to reflect this in our advertising.”

But others were more critical of the decision. “Next catalogue, please use a Hindu lady in a sari, or a Buddhist in robes, a Sikh gentleman in full regalia, just to keep the ‘diversity’ momentum going,” wrote Linda Epton.

Sonia Stephenson said “no one sector should be given preference over others”. “Australia is ‘multicultural’, can we please see other sectors also represented in your advertising?” she wrote.

“I look forward to Target having a Christian woman wearing a large crucifix as we wouldn’t want Target discriminating and only promoting one religion would we?” Vettie Marr wrote. “This isn’t an ethnicity, it’s a religion. You are advertising a religion. Big difference.”

On Twitter, user @NickNchlsn wrote: “There is a severe cost to pandering to Islam and leftist identity politics, Target. Can you guess what that cost will be?”

User @StaunchA said “not one” Hindu or Buddhist was featured in any of Target’s catalogues “and they’re a much larger demographic”. “When people see you overcompensating for a religion that denigrates women, they’ll boycott you,” they wrote. “Your loss!”

And user @BasimaFaysal added: “The law that requires women wear a sack on head is the one requiring gays and atheists be executed. Well done, Target.”

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What did you think of the catalogue? Leave your comments below.

Originally published as Target hijab pic sparks debate