Okay, we'll move from all the holiday introspection into a little old fashioned feminist rant.
According to some of my friends who are the mothers of girls, there are pants available for girls that have the word "pink" written across the butt. I find these butt logo pants kind of odious in and of themselves (you couldn't walk across Vanderbilt's campus on hot days without seeing a dozen skinny young women wearing impossibly tiny "Vandy" shorts that made their butts into billboards), but these "pink" pants are worse.
Here's why:
They're masquerading as cute, innocent clothing, but the subtext--which I think is instantly recognizable to many adult men, less so to women--is a pathological eroticizing of girls' bodies. These pants are all about little girl vaginas. The husbands of my friends were very uncomfortable with their daughters wearing them, and when I told Walter about the existence of the pants, his immediate response was, "The people who make those should be arrested as sex offenders."
Walter suggested an alternative line of pants for girls that say things like, "Do you need Viagra now, Daddy?" I'd like to see some that say, "Why are you looking at my butt, sicko?"
9 years ago
17 comments:
For better or worse, not long ago Ereck bought us matching "Wisconsin" butt shorts.
I think that is Victoria's Secret's line for girls and "tweens," for what it's worth.
I buy my underwear there and it doesn't say anything on the seat, but a couple of years ago my friend Paula bought me a pair of gym shorts and had "MOMMY" written across the seat. I wear them at the beach when everyone else's say "ANGEL" or "LIFEGUARD."
I would like to report that ice hockey is seeing a much higher women's and girls' enrollment lately, so I think that is a step forward for feminism and youth,
As you object so strongly to bottoms being used as billboards, inquiring minds want to know if you've petitioned the CofC bookstore to stop peddling them to students. All talk and no action is another form of hypocrisy.
I am wondering if these means you object to my South Carolina "COCKS" shorts?
<3
This is in response to the statement that "all talk and no action is another form of hyposcrisy." When it comes to voicing an opinion that runs counter to marketers' hopes, talk IS action. It makes people think about what they're buying...and buying into. Certainly, there are issues that deserve additional action. But to have a standard that you must "do something more" every time you speak up would be both overwhelming and silencing.
you go, Christie McKaskle!
Wow, look at the conversation that my feminist rant has inspired! I've even riled up an anonymous poster--how cool!
For the record, it's okay by me if consenting adults want to make their butts into billboards--I kind of like the subversive "MOMMY" butt shorts that Eliza mentions. My real concern in this post was for little girls' bodies being eroticized in ways that they may not recognize.
Christie, your post here is wonderful--Walter may put it right into his thesis.
Christie, I liked your post, too. It's good to see the conversation sparked by Alison's rant...
Alison, you're good at getting people to think instead of just go with the flow.
My first thought is that if someone sees 'pink' on the back of a pair of shorts as code for sex-offender, I should be worried about the possible actions of that person!
Its fairly obvious that this is an academic living in a vaccuum that either needs to get tenure or peddle a book. Why else spend your time on such meaningless drivel????
Why don't you post under your real name, you incoherent coward?
There are valid reasons you obviously wouldn't understand for remaining anonymous. How typical of a liberal to attack the messenger and not address the message. It is a choice. You do understand that don't you? Speaking of cowardice, you win in spades. Confront the issue or tuck tail.
Anonymous #1
The issue is that you insulted my friend, and you're not man or woman enough to take responsibility for what you say. Fucking coward.
Sorry, anonymouses, my anger got the better of me and made me no better than what I purport to condemn. I humbly apologize.
Anonymous #2 (not me) may have insulted your friend but Anonymous #1 did not. Anonymous #1 made what s/he believed was a valid point. For heavens sake if Alison was upset enough to publish her rant than she should at least advise the management of the CofC bookstore that she believes "butt shorts" are offensive to female wearers. Her other defender in this forum claimed word-of-mouth criticism was a defense against marketeers but how realistic is that considering the limited exposure exposure of this blog? On point, one might ask you why a male champion was compelled to ride to Alison's rescue. Can't Alsion, a female, speak for herself? Finally, your broadbrush profane attack was an unfortunate lapse in judgment on your behalf. Your belated apology is acknowledged but inquiring minds wonder if you've ever considered an anger management course?
Seacrest out.
Anonymous #3 wants to know who here believes in things like 'free thought', 'unconditional acceptance', and [quoting Blake]: 'without contraries there is no progression'
MAN I love this Anonymous debate!
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