‘Some innovations don’t make sense’ Harsh Goenka on skin-tone matching band-aids, post leaves Netizens divided
3 min read . Updated: 10 May 2023, 03:02 PM IST
PremiumRPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka shared an image on social media of a brand named OURTONE which offers band-aid to customers as per their skin tone.
Fairness products have often been called out for its racist approach. Now, the band-aids which is found in every household has also been called out. In a recent post, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka shared an image on social media of a brand named OURTONE which offers band-aid to customers as per their skin tone.
The industrialist has called this 'an innovations that don't make sense.'
In a tweet, he wrote, “Was matching skin tones really necessary…… some innovations don’t make sense!" he tweeted as he posted the image"
Since the post was shared by Goenka, it has got over more than 55,000 views and 400 likes on Twitter. Debate emerged on social media where some users called this as racist while some users explained the reason behind the skin coloured band-aids.
One user wrote, “Matching the skin tones is good for lipstick business but not necessary for bandaids!!." While some other wrote, “Overcorrection is usually done by over-guilty people …. Just Saying"
“Racist product," other user wrote while some said that loses its objectivity."
"Essence of marketing. Creating of "needs". Filling in the gaps in the human mind," another user wrote.
Some other wrote, “Why should Band-Aids only come in "flesh" color when skin tones are so diverse? It's time to take a stand and demand bandages that match all shades of clumsiness!"
Another user wrote, “When a patient comes to the hospital for dressing a wound or for putting plaster cast they will be offered a range of colors to chose from? making a necessity out of a non necessity, considering the patient is in pain, any color would suffice at that point, blue/green/any hue"
Some also argued and supported saying, “May not make sense to you. A product designed for white skin may be fine for you. Some brown people may prefer to match their own color."
Another wrote, "Sometimes these band aids are used for protecting foot from shoe bite. For that purpose it does make sense."
One user also said, “It actually means a lot to people of color. So please don't just say things without a deeper understanding. You have no idea how much people suffer only because of the color of their skin."
What does the brand say on these skin tone complementing bandages?
The US based brand OURTONE is a Johnson & Johnson product. On its website, it states that “These Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages provide a skin tone complementing adhesive bandage in shades for Black & Brown skin tones. These bandages were designed to provide flexible wound protection that blends with your skin tone."
"Made with MEMORY-WEAVE fabric to provide complete and flexible protection and a QUILT-AID pad that wicks away blood and fluids, these comfortable skin-colored bandages help protect against dirt and germs for up to 24 hours, it states.
As per J&J, this bandages come in three distinct shades of brown to help ensure that Black people and other people of color have more options in the first-aid aisle.