In much earlier posts I discussed how subtle and ubiquitous non-verbal communication is. One example is "lifestyle branding" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_brand. Many of the things in a retail stores environment that we think are arbitrary are not by accident at all. Some retailers such as Wal Mart, Sears, or K-Mart don't seem to care who buys their stuff as long as you are wearing a shirt, shoes, and don't steal anything. Others have clever marketing nuances that throw hints at who their products are geared to and sometimes who they do not want wearing their clothes. Many times the lighting, the background music, the attitude of the employees, and the posters on the wall are used for selecting their clientele and creating discomfort, even intimidating those who they do not want wearing their clothes. Some examples, few modern stores today would dare put up a sign saying that a certain gender, age, ethnicity, or social class is not welcome, but there are some stores where men just don't go, some stores where elderly people just don't go thanks to dim lights and blaring music, some stores where only rich people are welcome no matter how much money is in their wallet, business where families with kids are not welcome, businesses where those living unconventional lifestyles are not welcome, many stores where the choice of sizes makes it clear that overweight people are not welcome, and even some "down to earth" businesses where "yuppies" are unwelcome (reverse snobbery). Many upscale restaurants even try to hide their prices by eliminating the dollar sign and decimal points and keeping the numbers small in size. In other words, if you need to ask than you don't belong there. Calvin Klein was famous for it's extremely thin models back in the 1990's. Walk into a Victoria's Secret, which screams out youthful femininity, and one better be female, accompanied by a female, or at least shopping for that special female. Other stored may be non-discriminatory on paper but countless minorities will complain of cold vibes, being followed, or even being shunned when they go in. An 18 yr old male may have no policy preventing him from joining some church prayer group of mainly elderly women, but no rule will prevent the others from wondering why he is not out kicking a football.
A notable example of this is Abercrombie and Fitch, a once trendy (esp. in the early 2000's) clothing retailer known for its controversial marketing techniques. They tend to target a narrow but aesthetically pleasing demographic of middle to upper-middle class, young, suburban, thin, physically fit, conventional, collegiate crowd. They even go so far as to spray their stores with cologne daily. I can't recall seeing any overweight, elderly, or visibly handicapped people in their adds and the same goes for many other trendy retailers. I'll admit I got a few things in there years ago. I'll admit some of their clothes were comfortable and durable. I do have some issue with some of their marketing practices. This article here explains what I'm getting at very clearly, although I'd say this article is also a little exaggerated and deteriorates into melodrama toward the end. It does make a point however: http://bizcovering.com/major-companies/evil-racist-bigotted-and-rude-exposing-abercrombie-fitchs-true-colors/ I haven't shopped there in a while but not too long ago I wandered into Hollister (an affiliated company) out of boredom and curiosity and immediately felt like a fish out of water and yet entitled to a senior citizens' discount (I'm only 34 and neither bald nor gray yet).
This is a free country, we are entitled to shop or not shop where we please and no one dares admit to caring what anyone else thinks of them, however these are some of the unspoken nuances we are to obey, and never acknowledge that they even exist- for that would be "stereotyping". Not minding these "unwritten rules" and we may and up feeling uncomfortable, and if not than we may end up branded as "naive". Bars and Nightclubs can be even less forgiving with their selectiveness. Going to the wrong one can result in wasting an evening and a large cover charge for an evening of cold shoulders and awkward vibes, but in some major cities one may get turned away at the door although in that case you won't waste as much money or time. I mean everyone makes a faux-pas now and then and society may be forgiving to a point. Sometimes the Internet is the best place to get advice on certain places and establishments to get the real scoop without getting accused of "judging", "generalizing" or getting your head bitten off for even asking.
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