Nowadays, we use t-shirts as forms of communicating something, complete with messages and even graphics. Shirts' messages can be short and sweet, inspiring, funny, serious, provocative, intelligent, witty, sarcastic, or make other pop culture references that will elicit a giggle to passers-by who glance at the shirt someone is wearing. And usually the more clever they are, the more consumer interest they earn.
Being an elementary teacher, I've come across plenty of shirts that say cute, silly things. Others say more questionable things that make me wonder why the parent bought the child the shirt in the first place.
Of all the ones I've seen of questionable taste, 2 come to mind very strongly:
1. "This is what trouble looks like." (with an arrow pointing up at the child's face)
And so far, most controversial of all, and the reason behind this post:
2. "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me."
http://j.mp/rdEWMM
This 2nd shirt has caused a HUGE reaction among consumer parents. I've found I have different reactions to it as well, with each reaction coming from a different perspective.
As a consumer: "That's a stupid shirt. Who'd wanna buy that?"
As a teacher: "How DARE they?!"
As a male feminist: "Dear God, they're sending the WRONG message to girls!"
As a teacher witnessing parents' behaviors: "If a child is wearing it, it says more about the parent than the child."
In this capitalistic society we live in, where you can make money on just about anything, we as consumers have the right to decide if we want to buy anything or not. If you don't like a product, don't buy it. It's a t-shirt with what was clearly intended to be a silly, (cute?), sassy message, nevertheless, a message that has the strong potential to convey to girls that being beautiful and smart are mutually exclusive.
It also adds fuel to the flame of the pop culture in reality TV of people who behave abhorrently in certain social situations. These TV shows depict people in some of the most mindless and immature dramatic situations. In these shows, girls are more interested in how they look, and use that to advance in their world.
Forget school, forget starting a career. I need to look like a badass. Watch me as I buy new clothes, party, drink and pass out, fight with my roommates, and divulge my feelings on camera where I badmouth those around me...and then act like we're really besties.
These people are put on camera, sent into our living rooms, and glorified. It's my belief that many Americans who watch shows like Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of [Wherever], Bridezillas and other such reality shows do so because they want to feel better about themselves by watching others act so stupidly. I'm basing my judgments on these shows on clips I've seen of each. I have no interest of investing any of my time in watching even a single episode from start to finish...because it'd only upset me. I'd be annoyed, embarrassed and disappointed knowing that TV producers know that Americans are entertained by such mindless, stupid TV.
The one show I haven't seen, even clips of, is Keeping Up with the Kardashians. I can give the K sisters credit in their support for LGBT rights, and I know they're very fashionable and rich, considering that Kim's wedding cost a reported $3 million (heard that on the radio). But I've never seen even a clip...only pictures on magazine covers. And all 3 sisters posed in the international NOH8 photo shoot campaign.
I know it's only one girl, but she was my former student who was very opinionated...about everything, was slightly proud of her streak of getting into trouble, and one of her idols was Kim Kardashian. She was also in 5th grade, now she's in 6th. At this age, and these are the things on her mind? It worries me as an educator.
Since Snooki is a household name now, I wonder what she and her Jersey Shore cast mates would think about this JCPenney t-shirt? Would they say, "Omg, this is SO CUTE!" Or would they respond harshly to it?
I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me.
Because of the immediate, intense reactions that consumers had and discussed in their blogs online and elsewhere, JCPenney immediately pulled the shirt from its inventory and discontinued it. They also issued a statement of apology reaffirming their commitment to consumers to put out high quality merchandise that serves to benefit society in style and fashion.
This whole thing really affirms the expression "You are what you wear."
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