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J.C. Penney’s is getting some push back for marketing this unbelievably idiotic t-shirt to girls. Girls size 7-16 can wear this “comfy jersey, cotting, washable, imported” shirt. And parents will be pleased to know that it’s only $9.99! Down from the original price of $16.99. As the marketing material from J.C. Penney’s says, “Who has time for homework when there’s a new Justin Bieber album out? She’ll love this tee that’s just as cute and sassy as she is.”
A tee that’s just as stupid as you want your daughter to be, sounds more like it.
I’ve previously written about my disdain for egocentric T-shirts (See, for example, ‘I’m #1.’ No, You’re Not. And Take Off That Egocentric T-Shirt.) I argued that self confidence is earned through hard work. Egocentric shirts that suggest to your daughter that she’s a princess or number one are bad enough on their own. Overtly teaching your daughter to value surface-level appearances over hard work and smarts? That’s insane.
And while I think J.C. Penney’s deserves every bit of opprobrium it’s going to receive for marketing this shirt, I’m much more appalled that there is a market for this shirt.
This shirt would have never made it to market if parents made better buying decisions. Indeed, there are over a dozen “likes” recorded for this shirt at the J.C. Penney’s web site. What parent in his or her right mind “likes” such a shirt?
So let’s condemn both J.C. Penney’s for selling such harmful idiocy and those parents who think that a shirt such as this even comes close to being a good idea.
And a final note. The shirt, in terms of its design and aesthetics, is just wretched. There is no need to present such horrible design to a child. It’s messy, looks like it’s from the 1980s, and is of embarrassing low quality. Even if the content doesn’t offend you, the design should appall you.
 | ‘I’m #1.’ No, You’re Not. And Take Off That Egocentric T-Shirt |
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99 days ago
[...] decisions when it comes to families, specifically when they were caught hawking horrendously sexist shirts for little girls. But since the company has announced their partnership with Ellen DeGeneres, JC [...]
I had a student with a “I’m too pretty to think” shirt that yes, was bought by her mother…both she and her mother thought it was “cute”. She did not understand why I did not, but at least she asked. Oh, BTW, I was her HS Science teacher (I also taught Math classes, I think I had her for Algebra). I just wish the messages for young women were better.
On top of reminding parents that it’s not okay to push this message, we should be teaching our kids (by example and directly, I suppose) to not want to push this message.
I know some kids who would find this cute, but when I express my disgust with it, they’d get it. The next time the situation comes up, they’d be the first to express their disgust.
They’ve learned: “pretty” people don’t get special treatment, nor should they want it.
I’m tempted to refer to the South Park episode “The List”, here…
226 days ago
[...] got into some pretty hot water for selling a sexist T-shirt, aimed at girls, that reads: “I’m Too Pretty to Do Homework So My Brother Has to Do It For Me.” Now they’re airing a commercial that’s equally as sexist and, well, as dumb as [...]
226 days ago
[...] your daughter to excel in school and pursue her interests, every time you turn around there’s a t-shirt telling her she’s too pretty to do math. If there’s not a follow up shirt listing “boys” as her number one interest, than [...]
233 days ago
[...] story. What a lovely sentiment for a little girl who is already being inundated with messages that she’s too pretty to do math, allergic to algebra, and should perhaps don a lingerie [...]
242 days ago
[...] via wardrobe that she’s not smart enough to handle arithmetic has landed in stores. Akin to JCPenney’s “I’m too pretty to do math” comes this reiteration from Forever 21: “Allergic To [...]
I agree on all counts and wanted to add that this also made me think that it still sends the message the people who are attractive are also less intelligent. And kudos to you for going beyond and pointing out how ugly the shirt is no matter what the message. It is cheap and badly designed.
254 days ago
[...] JCPenney is in hot water today for marketing a t-shirt to little girls that promotes outrageously se… But while they’ve been busying yanking that shirt from their online availability, we find that this gem is still available. [...]
254 days ago
[...] JC Penney was selling the above t-shirt in the little girls department. Because it’s always a good to instill the idea that girls only have to be beautiful little [...]