This picture graces what might be called the back of the new Canadian polymer-based $100 bill.

It has recently been revealed that the Bank of Canada altered to this current image because 2009 research (focus groups etc.) revealed that the woman looked too Asian. I'm not sure what that means exactly because Asia is a pretty big continent, with lots of different ethnicities.

TOO ASIAN?

People actually thought the way the woman was drawn, along with the brown color of the bill gave her an Asian look. So what's the problem with that?

Apparently the geniuses that took the test thought that A) no one ethnic group should be represented on Canada's money, and possibly B) that the stereotype of Asians doing well in science/technology should not be promoted. (Yes, god forbid that in today's sensitive world we should ever credit a group of individuals for excelling in a particular field. I mean who wants to be known for being good at something, right?)

After "the people had spoken" the image was redrawn as you see it to give the woman neutral ethnicity, which loosely translated means Caucasian. So now, bill color aside, a white woman is on the $100 and how well does THAT represent this country?

I guess it's difficult to blame the Bank of Canada for caving, cause they'd be damned if they did and damned if they didn't, but I say every once in a while, damn the focus groups. By and large I have found them to be the worst possible gauge of what should or should not be done. Think about it, you ask a group of people who would previously have no thoughts on a product or subject to sit in a room and suddenly expound on a product or subject. Of course they're going to feel compelled to say "something" to pick up their promised fee and the free lunch. That's when you end up with stupidity such as this, disguised as research.

The biggest problem I have with this woman is that I don't see enough of her. I just don't touch a lot of hundreds. They're incovenient, untrusted and who carries that much cash around. LEAVE COMMENTS.

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I'll bet this video was "focus-group" approved.