Toddlers Wearing Bras and Other Bad Stuff

In case you haven’t heard yet, J. C. Penny pulled a shirt from their stores recently after a bunch of angry mothers protested what was written on the shirt?

The long-sleeve t-shirt said, “I’m too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me.”

And if that wasn’t bad enough the online description of the shirt read, “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.”

Or maybe not.

The mad moms said the shirt was sexist (which it is) and demanded it be removed and it was, which makes me wonder about some things. If a group of women can get a shirt out of a store, imagine what they could accomplish if they kicked up a fuss about some other things!

What about beer advertisements that are played over and over during every televised sporting event?

Or rap music that encourages violence, pre-marital sex and much more.

Another thing I wonder about the moms who got the shirt taken off the market is how many of these same moms who were outraged about the shirt let their teenage daughters wear short shorts and low cut tops? Or how many of them wear revealing clothes themselves? If we truly don’t want our daughters to be judged on their looks and want them treated with respect, then shouldn’t they dress respectably. Shouldn’t we dress respectably?

What Not to Wear

I was channel surfing and dropped in on “What Not to Wear.”  I suffered through a whole episode of  two women who thought the way to attract and keep a man was to wear short skirts and tops cut down to their navels. The host and hostess of the show did a good job of showing them that they could actually be more attractive if they covered themselves up. One of these women was the mother of a teenage daughter. What was she thinking? We teach our children how to dress by the way we dress…the example we show them matters a whole lot more than what we say.

And Then There is Toddlers and Tiaras

The television show that takes tacky and wacky to a whole new level.

One episode featured a little girl ripping off her angel outfit to reveal Madonna’s famous cone-bra costume and shimmying on stage. The little girl was two years old. Yep, just two and get this girlfriend, while she’s shaking her stuff on stage her mom yelled “Work it, Mia. Work it!”  Makes you wonder what Mia will be like when she’s twelve, doesn’t it?

So how about it NanaHood friends? You have a voice. Use it! If you don’t like something, let people know! Write television show producers and tell them what you think. Did you ever hear the expression “The wheel that gets the grease is the one that squeaks the loudest?”  When something is wrong (and toddlers wearing bras is definitely wrong) then people have to squeak louder to make a difference!

Smart and Trendy Moms


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21 Comments

  1. September 4, 2011 / 2:45 pm

    Not only is this a fantastic article, but you bring up a very important point about the power of organized women! Kudos!

    Stopping in from Sunday Hop and glad to have found your site! Looking forward to enjoyable reading in the future.

    I’m not following you via GFC as Tsue 1136, also via email, RSS, and Twitter. Following on Facebook as That’s What She Said.

    Stop by if you can http://www.tsue-thatswhatshesaid.com!

    Terri

  2. September 3, 2011 / 5:51 pm

    I don’t mind the shirt so much – because it is long sleeved and come on – they’re kids. Toddlers and Tiaras I do have an issue with because they don’t show the REAL meaning of those pageants.

    New follower!

    WM

  3. September 3, 2011 / 5:18 pm

    I am amazed. That shirt is terrible and I’m glad it was removed. I’m also with you on your observation that what if moms got upset and worked towards some other big issues. Great post!

  4. teresak
    Author
    September 2, 2011 / 6:13 pm

    Thanks for posting and for being a NanaHood friend!

  5. teresak
    Author
    September 2, 2011 / 6:12 pm

    Beyond tacky, isn’t it? Thanks for commenting!

  6. janelle
    September 2, 2011 / 4:15 pm

    O my gosh! That show is so tacky. I don’t understand the butt and bra padding..for a 3 year old really? And judges think thats cute?

    anyway im your newest follower! You can find me at http://youngcouponmama.blogspot.com

  7. September 2, 2011 / 4:05 pm

    I remember exactly when I heard that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I was in my final year of college, trying to get a health insurance overbill taken care of. My boss heard me talking very patiently and getting nowhere. He hung up the phone and told me, “Nope. What you need to say is, ‘x.'” I was appalled, but gave it a shot. And, of course, got exactly what I was asking for in about one-tenth the time of my total, futile conversation preceding. I bear that in mind at all times now. It doesn’t mean I always use it, but I’m comforted by having seen its truth in action many times over.

    p.s. I cannot believe Toddlers and Tiaras exists. GAAAAH.

  8. teresak
    Author
    September 2, 2011 / 3:29 pm

    Thanks, Posh! I’m a follower of yours too!

  9. teresak
    Author
    September 2, 2011 / 3:28 pm

    I hadn’t even heard of the Bratz doll…I’m thinking thats another post! Thanks for commenting! Will be over soon to visit!

  10. teresak
    Author
    September 2, 2011 / 3:28 pm

    Thanks for commenting and may the good Lord bless you and your daughter!

  11. September 2, 2011 / 3:15 pm

    I agree with your statements. I did not objectify my daughter as a toddler nor at any other time in her life. I was a conservative example for her and always tried to be a lady. Although sometimes life interfered with my goals. My daughter is at times a little revealing for my tastes now. But under my roof my rules. We should let our voices be heard to change the styles.

  12. September 2, 2011 / 2:34 pm

    It is sad but unfortunately true it has become an epidemic and I am scared to raise my daughter in this society. Some of the outfits that I have seen marketed to pre teens and toddlers is disgraceful. I have not had the pleasure of seeing a Bratz doll….. yet. I limit this type of doll exposure from my little one. But for how long will I be able to do that? Once they start school it becomes worse. Sometimes I just shake my head and wonder what the hell is going on. All these young girls are being exposed to is sex there are no great roll models for girls growing up. They have Miley Cyrus and we all know how that one is working out. I hate that saying I am to pretty to…
    New follower from the blog hop would love it if you could come by and check out my site.
    Happy Friday

  13. September 2, 2011 / 10:48 am

    So gross. I hate that somehow female “liberation” has turned into making ourselves (and our young daughters) into sex objects and fire to fuel the lusts of men. That’s not power, it’s prostitution.
    I saw a mother with her 9/10 year old daughter at the mall yesterday… the little daughter had on an extremely short, hot pink mini skirt, skimpy top, and mile-high hooker boots. It was awful. Sexualizing children is a crime, in my opinion.
    This one really ticked me off too: My friend’s daughter had a “Baby Bratz” doll. This “baby” had on a sl*tty halter dress… with THONG underwear underneath! I could not believe my eyes.
    I do not get how this all became so mainstream. I thought parents wanted to protect their daughters and keep them pure for as long as possible.

  14. September 2, 2011 / 7:58 am

    Hi there, so glad you found me. Yes, I totally agree, it’s almost like some of these fashions promote acting like a brat. Not a good message at all for a generation that already has too much of a sense of entitlement.

    Oh, and I’m following you too.

    Happy Friday!

  15. September 1, 2011 / 10:20 pm

    I think that is great that J.C. Penney’s pulled the shirt. Good for them. I think more companies should listen to their customers. And Toddlers and Tiara’s is just vile. I can’t believe some mothers!

    I am stopping by tonight from the Blog Hop Til You Drop. I hope you have a great holiday weekend!

    Blessings,
    LaVonne @ Long Wait For Isabella

  16. September 1, 2011 / 8:14 pm

    I’ve seen this shirt everywhere and am glad to hear that there has been so much backlash about it – because it’s truly horrible. I don’t really understand how it managed to make it all the way to the website anyway. You’re telling me there were teams of people (designers, artists, editors, production, etc, etc,) who saw it and NO ONE said, “Um, what are we thinking here?” Really? That’s just pathetic.

    Thanks for joining us for Friendly Friday! Have a great weekend!

  17. Ginny
    September 1, 2011 / 7:34 pm

    I have always thought the things we have available for young girls of all ages are unreal. Barbie use to be harmless. My grandmother played with dolls as a child. My mom had tons of Barbies. I had lots of Barbies. Now the clothes for the Barbies are so incredibly skimpy. To make it even better, who has seen the Brat dolls??? The name ALONE makes me not want a child to have one. We are teaching them that being a Brat is cool. I completely agree with the mom’s upset about this shirt. Young girls are learning to flaunt their assets and to have an attitude. The most unreal part of it all is when the child grows up and has a huge attitude and no respect for their parents, the parents don’t seemed to know what happened. I can tell you what happened! Their childhood.

  18. Patty Jones
    September 1, 2011 / 7:24 pm

    Did you see the episode of Toddlers and Tiaras with the four-year-old dressed like Dolly Parton, complete with all of the enhancements (top and bottom) and a platinum wig….unreal.

  19. Melissa
    September 1, 2011 / 7:02 pm

    That baby wearing the pointed bra is sick and disgusting!

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