Student 'girlcott' protests Abercrombie t-shirts

[k]

Apparently there are women who still need validation of their sexuality, feminity and value through whatever degrading means they can get it.

That's the problem...some do not see "milf" as degrading, but a compliment.

I've had debates w/ some women who claim that dancing in adult strip clubs is actually empowering for those women.

 

[Ampoliros]

I can't imagine what person ever thought it was a good idea to make shirts like that. Honestly, could you imagine a design meeting of some vague sort -

"We'd like to make shirts that focus on sex and degrading women, secure in our vague comfort that no one will find them offensive and organize a boycott."
[side note: The girlcott thing was a clever play on words to help promote the idea. Neat message by the girls, if only for the fact that I actually learned the background of the term. Huzzah.]

 

[BeautyForAshes]

That's the problem...some do not see "milf" as degrading, but a compliment.

I've had debates w/ some women who claim that dancing in adult strip clubs is actually empowering for those women.

I have ran across women that think this way too. Unfortunately, there are aspect of the porn industry (ie MILF genre) that have become popular with today's young women - which isn't suprising. I mean, Hugh Heiffner and his two girlfriends have their own reality show (not to mention parties where celebrities throw fits to get an invite), the women that participate in mainstream "wrestling", the fact that you're not a "star" unless you've done a Playboy spread, etc.

I guess the idea of enpowerment is that these women aren't being "forced " to do it, but shoot does it really matter?

Its sad, really...

 

[k]

I have ran across women that think this way too. Unfortunately, there are aspect of the porn industry (ie MILF genre) that have become popular with today's young women - which isn't suprising. I mean, Hugh Heiffner and his two girlfriends have their own reality show (not to mention parties where celebrities throw fits to get an invite), the women that participate in mainstream "wrestling", the fact that you're not a "star" unless you've done a Playboy spread, etc.

I guess the idea of enpowerment is that these women aren't being "forced " to do it, but shoot does it really matter?

Its sad, really...

No, they are not being "forced" in terms of traditional concepts of coercion. However, some are unable to get beyond the scope of their own panopticons to be able to see their life long training. Men are trained not to cry because it is a display of weakness, which is why it is not only okay for women to cry, but they are expected to cry. There are so many double standards it is absurd, and as a society, we simply accept them. For instance, if a man takes his shirt off while walking down the street, it is accepted, and if he is attractive, then it is "cool." If an equally attractive woman were to do the same act, she would be called a **** and probably get arrested.

We are trained along gender lines so while some women may consider their actions to be empowering (and maybe some are to their own selves in terms of material possessions) they are at best, complicit in the patriarchal subjugation of women as a class.

 

[comana]

We are trained along gender lines so while some women may consider their actions to be empowering (and some are to their own selves in terms of material possessions) they are at best, complicit in the patriarchal subjugation of women as a class.

I believe it is the men who are being controlled here. Beautiful, sexy women have alot of power. Use the tools you have.

 

[k]

I believe it is the men who are being controlled here. Beautiful, sexy women have alot of power. Use the tools you have.

That is the illusion. Women are being controlled, and those who are controlled the most are those who think the exploitation of their own sexuality is uplifting. Beautiful, sexy women is where the term "Trophy Wife" and other degrading terms are born.

How are the men controlled?

What is the "power" those women have?

 

[Kelly]

I believe it is the men who are being controlled here. Beautiful, sexy women have alot of power. Use the tools you have.

One look at all the female actresses who have become skeleton thin for the sake of 'beauty' proves this to be false.

 

[Kelly]

A&F is pulling the shirts from the shelves.

 

[k]

A&F is pulling the shirts from the shelves.

I'm making a shirt that says, "NOT Abercrombie's *****"

There is something that is just not right about stores like that...

 

[Harpuia]

Yeah, and where's the feminists who are against conservatives "degrading" women regarding pro-life issues when you need them?

*crickets chirp*

Do the feminists honestly even care?

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Haha, I just got it. Girlcott....

Yes, I'm slow folks.

 

[wanderingone]

Haha, I just got it. Girlcott....

Yes, I'm slow folks.

shhh... don't get Billy upset about the word play again

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

For some reason, everytime I read the title, I kept seeing girlscout.

 

[Harpuia]

Ok, I'm not trying to demean any feminists on this board with my last post, but I'm trying to state is that why do the feminists concentrate on issues such as abortion where a baby is involved, and consider not having their right to choose "demeaning" or "turning back the clock", yet liberal companies like A&F continuously try to demean women like this, and those same feminists just stand idly by?

Seriously, do they like... pay them or something?

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Ok, I'm not trying to demean any feminists on this board with my last post, but I'm trying to state is that why do the feminists concentrate on issues such as abortion where a baby is involved, and consider not having their right to choose "demeaning" or "turning back the clock", yet liberal companies like A&F continuously try to demean women like this, and those same feminists just stand idly by?

Seriously, do they like... pay them or something?

Probably because Feminism is all about choice. The companies are not forcing girls to wear these shirts. They are giving girls the opportunity to choose to where these shirts. Feminists may not like the fact that girls choose to regard their bodies as sex objects, but they respect the choice.

 

[k]

Yeah, and where's the feminists who are against conservatives "degrading" women regarding pro-life issues when you need them?

*crickets chirp*

Do the feminists honestly even care?

I am a Feminist. All Christians should be.

 

[k]

Probably because Feminism is all about choice. The companies are not forcing girls to wear these shirts. They are giving girls the opportunity to choose to where these shirts. Feminists may not like the fact that girls choose to regard their bodies as sex objects, but they respect the choice.

Not exactly true...many well published Feminists argue that women who wear these shirts (or similar apparel) are unable to see how they perpetuate their own subjugation.

 

[wanderingone]

Ok, I'm not trying to demean any feminists on this board with my last post, but I'm trying to state is that why do the feminists concentrate on issues such as abortion where a baby is involved, and consider not having their right to choose "demeaning" or "turning back the clock", yet liberal companies like A&F continuously try to demean women like this, and those same feminists just stand idly by?

Seriously, do they like... pay them or something?

I'd say the boycott was a feminist action. (Especially considering the organization working with the girls on this girl cott http://www.wgfswpa.org/) Feminist websites and newsletters have been taking note of more than A & F's degrading t-shirt messages for years, A & F has had problems regarding their treatment of women and "minority" employees, ethnically insulting t-shirts etc... I think they create the garbage for the publicity..but feminists haven't stood idly by on this company.