I have seen several links to articles on Facebook about the new Victoria's Secret line aimed at teens. By about the fourth one, my blood began to boil just a bit. Honestly, I must say that my frustration isn't aimed at the CEO or designers at Victoria's Secret. It only takes one look at the business they've built, from stores to fashion shows, to see how smart they are, how good they are at their job. Their number one objective is to figure out what the population at large wants, design it and watch their stock and bank accounts rise. And in my opinion, they've nailed it!
Most people seem shocked and/or outraged that they would target teens. Last time I checked the majority of teens are still at home, under the roof and rules of their parents and they aren't purchasing most of their own clothing. The majority of those parents dressed their young daughters in bikinis and thought it was cute. (I don't understand the thinking that girls of any age are "cute" when out in public dressed in what equals a bra and underwear. I cannot get over the pictures on blogs and facebook of young girls in bikinis.) As they grew older, they allowed them to sport short shorts with writing on the bottom and strapless, short prom dresses.
The majority of households have cable in which most shows, whether reality or sitcom, revolve around immodestly dressed young women. Not to mention the music world with its videos and Super Bowl half-time shows. We are allowing Hollywood to dictate what is appropriate dress for girls and it saddens me.
I read one letter written from the father of a three year old to Victoria's Secret asking that they rethink their decision to open teen stores. You can read the letter HERE. I thought it was a good letter but one part left me unsettled: "One day she'll be a rebellious teenager..." Why is it so assumed that teenagers need to be rebellious? I know that the teenage years can bring "finding oneself", hormones, confusion, etc... but rebellion? It is almost as if parents are just "buying" into the idea that their teen will rebel.
A little side note: I might be opening a can here but I have a really hard time when I see little girls getting manicures, pedicures, ears pierced, wearing bikinis. In my opinion, those are grown-up things. I feel like our culture is speeding up childhood, especially for girls.
I feel like this post has been a jumbled release of feelings and frustrations for me. My blog, my thoughts, my convictions. Take it or leave it! :)
Made for Love - Actively Engaged
1 week ago
i totally agree 100%-- we did pierce our girls ears early on and i totally regret it- i just think it would have been a great thing to do for a 10 year or 13 year b-day-- but yes-- hello? who does the laundry and pays for these clothes? skinny jeans? shorts that just cover the essentials?? do you know how hard it is to find shorts that go past the mid-thigh?? it's like finding a needle in a haystack.
ReplyDeletewe as parents should be PROTECTING our girls- and encouraging and teaching them to guard their purity-
argh.
Very well articulated! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteWhich explains why I buy my girls shorts from the boys section
ReplyDeleteHaving been raised in an atmosphere of extreme modesty, I see this from a different angle. I was raised in a way that led me to believe that my feminine curves were sinful. As I got older, I was ashamed by my body and covered it by wearing clothing that was several sizes too large. God created the female body and called it good. If you search the roots of Deut 22:5, you will find that the original text actually means that women are to wear fitted clothing.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we are over-sexualizing our daughters. But there is also something to be said for teaching them to like their curves as they develop. How I wish that my mother had taken me to a store like Victoria's Secret and taught me the thrill of a new pair of lacy panties or how a pretty bra can make being a woman fun...especially on those days when being female is anything but "fun." Maybe a VS store geared towards teens will help moms have the important conversations with their daughters before they turn into "rebellious teenagers."