Barbie is a rare winner in the corporate culture wars

Or the online backlash faced by the outdoor gear maker North Face after releasing a drag queen video for Pride month. Indeed, there are dozens of examples of companies struggling unsuccessfully to win the culture wars. In some ways, the linking of activism and commerce is as American as apple pie. Boycotts of British goods in Boston, New York and Philadelphia were a precursor to the Revolutionary War. Consumer boycotts were also part of the labour struggles of the late 19th century (unions saw them as a cheap but effective protest method), as well as the civil rights struggles of…