Yahoo! goes multi-cultural

I suppose it makes sense that Yahoo would want to go multi-cultural. I mean, the internet is available to everyone, so from a business perspective, it makes sense to market to everyone.

However, I found this photo interesting. When I went to sign in to get my email today, I found this picture next to the "sign in" box. It was part of a big ad that read, "Sort work messages for your 'Later' file".

I have a few thoughts on this.

First, they must be trying to encourage the notion that Muslim women can be in the professional world checking email at work too.

Second, they must assume that these Muslims live in the desert. I can't figure out what else that would be in the background.

Third, they must not be very good at profiling their ads toward geographic regions of the country.

I think the first thought is the most accurate. It's another example how giant companies like Yahoo! are showing their "diversity" (their definition, anyway, which excludes those deemed too "conservative" or "radical" for their tastes) by normalizing something that for most Americans isn't "normal."

I wonder what marketing guru came up with the idea? I wonder what his/her major in college was? I wonder how old he/she was? I wonder how much he/she makes? I wonder if he/she would be offended by me calling him/her "him" or "her" because it shows that I recognize that there is such a thing as gender.

Hmm... I wonder...