I’m kind of mortified that JC Penney still hasn’t removed its sexist “My best subjects (boys, shopping, music, dancing)” t-shirt, despite an uproar by consumers and bloggers across the country. Sure, they pulled the one that read, “I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother does it for me,” but we think the fact that they’re still selling this one is pretty much a big fat middle finger to girls everywhere. Girls whose mothers, um, shop. And who have a choice of stores in which to do so.
In case they don’t understand why everyone’s making such a big fuss over this — it’s just a cute little t-shirt, right? — we’d like to point them in the direction of a revealing article written by 12-year-old Rachel whose best subjects are, like millions of girls out there, apparently quite a bit deeper than the ones touted by JC Penney’s demeaning t-shirts. You can read her essay, Marketing Pressure Hits Girls Hard, by clicking here.
Elin Stebbins Waldal has put together a stunning video of media images that bombard our daughters every single day. You will recognize many of them and, although, when you see them individually, you may just sigh, when you see them one after another after another, you get a sickening feeling that our society is slowly being poisoned.
Elin is the author of Tornado Warning: A Memoir of Teen Dating Violence and Its Effect on a Woman’s Life, and she knows that the sexualization of women by the media can lead to abuse.
Please watch the video, share it with your daughter, write a letter — together — to one of the advertisers or companies depicted in it. And please post comments, and let me know your feelings. Let’s change the messages we’re sending to the next generation. “Cute” t-shirts focusing on girls’ looking like sex objects turn into ads featuring women looking like this:
Until we demand respect, and until we love ourselves enough to treat ourselves thusly things will not change. Come on Ladies, let’s recognize how truly beautiful we are and stop settling for something less!!
Thanks SSS!!
Shame on all of us if we don’t respond to what the media is doing to girls/women everywhere. Our voice will be heard loud and clear. Thank you SSS.
LOVE that you ran this — kudos to you.
I get somewhat frustrated with women who are always finding wrong and nitpicking about what they perceive as slights against women. One does not have to buy any product that offends them because there are plenty of products out there- I do not find this t-shirt offensive and think that you are over-reacting to the situation and to JC Penney’s right to sell this t-shirt. Teach your daughters to be strong and respectful and be careful of how you act or re-act in various situations- you may be doing more harm then good – perhaps you are promoting other kinds of stereo types against women. I love women, I love my daughter, and I love my son. If my daughter bought this shirt it would be more about teasing her little brother then saying anything about her strength of character or her self-confidence.
Hideous t-shirts, JC Penny needs to be upbraided for this . In the early 70’s, when I was a member of the National Organization for Women, we held letter-writing events and slammed a business with hundreds of letters against this kind of thing. Women have clout, with their wallets and their voices. Use it women! And teach your daughters and sons to recognize sexism for what it is, a dehumanization of a person.