A lot of money is spent on back-to-school shopping, so use the power of those dollars to boycott JC Penney and tell them that promoting sexist t-shirts is not okay. Angry consumers already got the company to pull a t-shirt marketed to girls 7-16 that read, “I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me” — a t-shirt that was ironically grouped on their website with shirts by a brand called Self Esteem.
Although the company issued an apology, they’re still selling a t-shirt — again marketed to girls 7-16 — that reads “My best subjects: boys, shopping, music, dancing.” ARE YOU KIDDING US? This would have made our grandmothers mad 50 years ago.
These messages are not “cute.” It’s not cute to sexualize girls. It’s not cute to tell them to emphasize looks over brains. It’s not cute to tell them boys come first.
Let’s send a message of our own to companies who make these shirts (remember the “Eat Less” t-shirt Urban Outfitters marketed to girls?). Nothing talks louder than our purchasing power.
Read more about this here, shop with a conscience here, and please sign the petition to JC Penney below. You can also write to the company at 6501 Legacy Drive, Plano, TX 75024 or call them at 972-431-1000. They don’t seem to want to share email addresses but we found one for Kristin Hays, VP of Investor Relations — obviously, the financial side is what’s most important to them. It’s jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com.
I compare this to the extensive DOVE campaign where women are valued for their uniqueness and corporate money goes to programs that teach girls to value themselves.
It would be great if you SSS would include a corporate email address so that not only can we sign the petition, but we can directly express out CONSUMER voices to the powers that be…Let me know if you come up with that. I have started looking myself.
BRAVO YOU GUYS
Great idea — we’ll add their corporate mailing address and phone number to the post but they seem to keep a low-profile as far as email communications. Hmmm, wonder why? The closest we could find is an investor relations person — shows what’s important to them, and may be worth inundating her (Kristin Hays) with emails at jcpinvestorrelations@jcpenney.com.
Thank you for posting this! I signed the petition and plan to send them a letter soon. I have several friends who have daughters in elementary school who recently said they were disheartened doing back-to-school shopping, not just at JC Penney’s but everywhere. The clothing options for girls really sexualize them and make them appear much older than they are. I have seen some shirts similar to these, with “silly/dumb” statements on them, and am amazed and outraged that these are the clothing options we are presenting to our nation’s youth.
Just wait till Halloween. We should probably start doing something now, so some company creates an empowering costume for girls rather than sexy nurses, sexy maids, sexy …
I agree and have signed the petition! As an elementary teacher, I am so disheartened by what seems to be the trend these days, on the part of retailers, but also on the part of many parents, who seem all to willing to ignore what their children’s clothing says ( literally or figuratively). Why would you allow your elementary daughter to come to school in high heels? Why would you buy them a shirt that says “I only go for Southern Boys”, “Don’t Hate Me Because Your boyfriend Thinks I’m Prettier”, “My Boyfriend Is Cuter Than Yours”, or worse yet, “Sexy”! Yes, I’ve seen these and a lot more on 3-6th graders! And don’t even get me started on the highlighting and hair coloring before they’ve even fully developed a sense of self -not to mention self esteem!
To JC Penny: Please re-consider your messages re: what girls and young women like to study in your clothing, especially tee-shirts. It’s so important to write something that empowers young women, not sexualizes them and minimizes their abilities. I have two daughters and would not let them wear tee-shirts that disrespects their abilities as women.