Until I got to page 18. Then I was horrified!
It started out innocently enough. Pages 10 and 11 are full of Hello Kitty lunch boxes and snowsuits. Pages 12 and 13 are full of Star Wars. Who knew the light saber would last this long? Pages 14 and 15 are all super heroes. How often can Batman be reinvented? Pages 16 and 17 are rock-n-roll gifts. Pages 18 and 19 are full of Playboy....Playboy? What the hell?
Why are Playboy products being advertised in the Christmas toy section? Did I miss something. I flip through the pages again. No. Right in between Rock-n-roll T-shirts and hockey stuff is Playboy! And not just the usual Playboy stuff. This stuff is in bright girly pink and white. Directly marketed at tween and teen girls. The products include Playboy flannel sheets, Playboy 3-Pc comforter set, Playboy hanging organizer and Playboy bunny bling handbags. The page features a girl who looks to be around 12-13 years old with the bunny bling handbag over her shoulder.
The products have names like etched leopard, Leo hart bunny, Playboy Prep and bunny bling! Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am no prude. I will be the first one to stand up and defend a women's right to her own body. I completely believe what a woman does with her body is her own business. And what consenting adults do is their own business. As long as it does not involve children or animals, I don't care how you get your jollies.
But I draw the line when a men's magazine that features nude women starts direct marketing to tween and teen girls. I am also in the marketing business and I have to admit, Playboy's strategy is smart. They are target marketing their products to the 10-19 year demography.
But why? Why dumb the product down and target young girls? Easy one. To desensitize them and their parents from what their magazine is really about. The worst part is, there are parents who are stupid enough to buy Playboy products for their tweens and teens.
"What' the big deal? It shuts her up. It's not like she's posing for the centerfold."
Really? You're ok with a 12 year old girl going to school with a Playboy bunny logo on her. What do you think that tells boys about her? Or other girls? But the most important question is, what do you think it tells her? I just keep hearing PInk's song "Stupid Girls" in my head and the line "What happened to the dream of a girl president?"
I have nothing against Playboy bunnies. I admire what Hugh Hefner has built. He is a visionary and a smart business man. I don't even buy into the notion that the bunny costume is insulting to women. Once again, it's a women's body. Get your nose out of her cleavage.
The thought of a parent ordering Playboy flannel sheets and the bunny bling bag for her 12 year for Christmas upsets me. This will be one of her first introductions to what she thinks a boy wants. A Playboy Bunny, not a girl President.
I am so upset with Sears for going along with this that I threw my Wish Book in the garbage. On the inside cover, the President and CEO of Sears Canada Inc., Calvin McDonald, talks about the Wish Book as a Holiday tradition for millions of Canadian families. He talks about delivering the catalogues as a young child. Then finishes with how proud he is be part of this iconic Canadian Holiday tradition for so many families.
So, he does understand that families mean children right? He does understand that children will be making up their Christmas lists while reading the Sears Wish Book right? Is he ordering the baby pink Playboy Satin Sheet Set for his daughter? Will his daughter be sporting the bunny bling bag in the new year? Should I expect Hustler to have a two page layout in next year's Wish Book? Maybe Sears can reach that 10-19 year old male demography with some cool blow up dolls. I mean why stop at Playboy. It's just an innocent name like Nike or Pepsi.
Or is it?
Nike's advertisement campaigns target young people and inspires them to get active in sports. To "Just Do It." The Pepsi generation is happy and can do anything. (I know. I don't let my kids drink it either.)
Playboy. That's where young girls take off all their clothes and pose naked. Where you lay spread eagle on a fur rug in the centerfold, if you're lucky, with a staple in your vagina.
Where do we sign our daughters up for that? Let's start at Sears.
Is it bad parenting to buy Playboy products for your tween or teen daughter? Well, if you saw a 14 year old girl standing on the school playground when you dropped off your child and she was wearing sweatpants with Playboy written on the butt and a bunny bling bag over her shoulder, what would your first thoughts be? "There's the girl I hope my son marries!" "Boy I hope my daughter hangs out with her!"
Are we sexualizing young girls too soon? Can't they have a childhood anymore?
I know raising teenagers is hard. I know you get tired and sometimes it's just easier to say "Yes" to get them to shut up and leave you alone, but sometimes you have to hold your ground and fight. I am not a crazy church lady or a hard core feminist. I am a Mom of a 12 year old girl. I also remember what it is like to be a 12 year old girl. We negotiate every day with skirt lengths, see through blouses and eye-liner. But Playboy is out of the question. My daughter will not wear the Playboy logo.
I am so disappointed in Sears' bad judgment on this. I trusted Sears to be a family store. I welcomed the Sears Wish Book into my home as part of my Christmas tradition. Now I feel betrayed.
Mr. McDonald you snuck one past me. You threw a men's magazine into the toy pile when I wasn't looking. You are the Grinch that stole.
I am pissed at you.
I can hear you speak this Helen :) I agree
ReplyDeleteCathie
I heard you on CBC this afternoon on my drive home from work... I agree with you!!
ReplyDeletenewfoundlandlove.blogspot.ca
Thanks Rana and Cathie. I couldn't let this one go by. It means alot to have so many women and men contact me to say thank you. Every hour there's a new comment on my Facebook page.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said. I'm lucky my daughter is only 2. I can't imagine the arguments 12 year old girls will be having with their moms this Christmas. When I was 12 I had raggedy Ann and Andy sheets. Times they are a changing.
ReplyDeleteTone
Yes, we now have the Internet, and more people are so much better informed...
DeleteI'm 100% with you on this, Helen. We can we all boycott Sears by not buying their products.
ReplyDeletethere is more out there worst then this in the world. My 12 yr old daughter went right by these pages didn't faze her. Let's blog about things that matter in this world like hunger and war.
ReplyDeleteThis is a patronizing and idiotic statement. There are many important issues in the world and sexualizing young children is right up there. There is in fact a war going on. You only have to read in horror the volume and rise of child-porn in the world and listen to law-enforcement officials dedicated to eradicating the scourge.
DeletePlayboy is a magazine predominately for men to look at naked images of women - plain and simple. Sears is a catalogue aimed at families. Where do these two ideologies meet pray tell?
I've read other comments similar to yours and they are universally unhelpful. I find it very depressing that not only are we desensitizing our children a number of parents are reinforcing this decline.
(p.s. you mean "phase" not faze)
No, (s)he meant faze:
Deletefaze
[feyz]
verb (used with object), fazed, faz·ing.
to cause to be disturbed or disconcerted; daunt: The worst insults cannot faze him.
Just because it is not a 'big'issue ion sheme of things, it is an issue nonetheless that has a huge impact on many young women. So it matters.
DeleteI'm so glad it didn't faze your 12 year-old daughter to see Playboy in a Christmas gift book for minors. That doesn't indicate any sort of problem, at all. Yeah, if anything that's proof that this is a non-issue. <----SARCASM.
DeleteI mean, ARE YOU SERIOUS?? Idiotic.
If you are only interested in hunger and war, why are you reading this blog at all?
DeleteDear anonymous, what have you done about hunger & war? I have adopted two women in the Congo & put them through school & supported their families through Women for Women. My blog is bringing national attention to the sexulization of young girls. Please leave your name if you want to join in the chat.
ReplyDeleteSure ya have.
DeleteHow is that unbelievable? People support children in tough areas to get them through school and help their families, everyday. How have you missed out on the million commercials about helping a kid for a dollar a day, etc.? And why would she bother to lie about it? Geez, you're moronic.
DeleteI was drawn to this blog purely by the national coverage it had received due to your opposition to the playboy bunny logo in the sears wish book. While I personally haven't perused the pages of that particular catalogue since I was a little girl, I do remember that a significant portion of the beginning was dedicated to gifts for all ages. The toy section was always toward the back of the book. While I do agree that there is a significant amount of advertising that could be construed as inappropriate toward the younger generation, I feel that it is the responsibility of the parent to police what they see... Not the company itself. It is up to you to guide your child's moral compass. As a parent myself, I certainly hope that I have provided a sufficient background for my children to decipher what's right from wrong. Like the post from the first anonymous individual, I agree that there are certainly more important things to discuss online.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if you noticed the young model carrying the Playboy handbag? Far from a responsible, accountable adult. Just saying.. These products are clearly targeting young girls, which is wrong. Period. I agree with another comment talking about a different kind of war going on. No less important than physical wars around the world, we're talking about distorting the way girls (and boys!) see sex and sexuality. Parents can teach/threaten/manipulate their children any way they can to see things in a realistic way, but my goodness, the media, music, aggressively marketed products will hit those kids hard! We, as parents, don't need MORE to fight against/protect our kids against! Sears: you're not helping!
DeleteTo clarify... only the first part of my rant was in reply to your comment. :)
DeleteI just wanted to point out to those ego act like it's "not" a big deal, that marketing, commercials, affect what kids want a huge deal. That is why diffetrent commercials come on different channels & at certain times. Depending on the possible age group & sex of the viewers. Furthermore most tv shows, music & movies already make it seem okay to be sexual & & also encourage poor body image & so on...
DeleteI really think you've got a good story here. I'm taking a sexual behavior course and this whole idea of sexualization at such a young age is atrocious. I was in grade ten before I ever realized what playboy bunny was, and then the only person I could think of was Sharon tweed because she married that crazy KISS frontliner. War and famine are equally important, But this is what affects everyday lives. Change doesn't happen overnight, it happens in small steps and strides, then when you look back you realize everythings different. I come from a catholic family, and this stuff, would have no place in my home. It has no place in my home and I'm a grown adult.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Our society is so desensitized that you're going to get comments defending Sears or the parents who buy smut magazine gear for their 13 year old daughters. Playboy merchandise had NO business in the children's section as wouldn't beer nor tobacco brand stuff. I'd love to hear from some dads.. How would they feel about their little princesses dressed in playboy PJ's to go with matching bedroom ensemble? Something SO WRONG there. Shame on Sears!! Gives me a very creepy feeling, and I won't be stepping near their store this shopping season.
ReplyDeleteHelen, you took the words right out of my mouth! My friend (a man) even pointed it out and said "What the hell? That's not the Sears catalogue I remember". Page 18 is very prominent in that thick catalogue. Playboy's logo is "cute" enough with its bold, stylized bunny that it entices kids who don't know it represents a lurid lifestyle where women are objectified. I was really surprised (and disgusted) to see that and toyed with blogging about it myself -- but you did a fine job expressing exactly our thoughts. Glad to see your post this morning.
ReplyDeleteI was also saddened to see that every girls' toy or play set was be-pinkified or revolved around domestic roles (babies, kitchens) and beauty while the toys for boys were exciting, hardy, brain-activities. Thank God I grew up with brothers so I wasn't constantly subjected to girly princess "reach for the (low-shooting) stars" brainswashing.
Sigh. It's just not good enough in the year 2012.
Jennifer
http://jennabarnable.wordpress.com
Yes, the "pinkified" world of girls... it's hard to get around it. As my kids (girl - 4 and boy - 3) are so close in age, I try to buy gender-neutral colours and repeat that ALL the toys are for them to share. I'm blissed out to see him just as happy with a baby doll and stroller as with the train set and to see her with the tool set as with the play kitchen. They see mommy AND daddy doing the laundry, gardening and cooking (although only daddy fixes the car) and know both of us work to "have money to buy stuff"... I try to set the best example so both my kids can grow up to be productive members of society, to be a good friend and spouse someday. But seriously, sh*t like this Playboy stuff just makes me see red. It's setting back the progress of society.
DeleteCheers,
A.
I too was shocked by the Playboy merchandise in their catalog. I won't be buying from one thing from Sears, neither from the catalog nor from their store. I don't care how so-called 'mainstream' it is becoming, it's completely inappropriate to sell porn symbols to children. Just because they think everyone else is doing it, doesn't make it right, something the rest of us learned in kindergarten.
ReplyDeleteIf they chose to sell their souls to stay alive as a store, the Wish Book is the worst choice of catalogs to include it in. Perhaps if they offered services such as free shipping, like most other stores, rather than paying them a fee and then still having to go to the store to pick it up, they wouldn't need to drum up business by selling tweens porn symbols. I think they've shot themselves in the foot.
I'm curious where the customers are that are buying this stuff that makes it worthwhile for Sears to sell out their family store reputation.
My wish book has been recycled. Sears, I'm disgusted of your promotion of porn to young teens and your excuse that it's 'mainstream'. It's a slippery slope. Let's let our kids be kids.
Helen , I agree with you 100 percent, its bad enough that you walk through the malls around the country and see items such as kid thongs for sale in La Senza girl, to now have the Sears wish book; which I agree does play a part in many peoples memories of the holidays, to have it sell and promote adult only material aka Playboy for young children, tweens and teens is a shame! I am disgusted! Thank you for writing such a piece, I am sure that there are many adults out there, and teens even that would agree with your point of view! I for one do!
ReplyDeleteI guess Sears is aggressively courting trailer park shoppers now ...
ReplyDelete"Dangit, Peggy-Sue is 16 this year and she's not even with child yet. Time to take her down to Sears so she can hang out the For Sale sign!"
who are u to judge trailer park shoppers? Some people who live in trailer parks may not be able to afford a house! Not everyone can be rich like u...and Sears has been carring this logo for quiet some time..Why the bitching about it this year.. It's abvious that this lady hasn't been buying from Sears for a while . because she would have bitched 4or 5 years ago, I know cause i still buy from Sears.I have been buyingh from Sears since I was 13 and Sears has never made me want to buy things that I didn't want or my mom not wanting me to have..
DeleteI live in a trailer because I *want* to; not everyone who lives in a trailer is trashy. I agree with the above; who are you to judge anyone?
DeleteI have two teenager girls who would not be interested in what Sears is trying to sell them. They are focused on getting an education, have tremendous self worth and their ambition runs a little bit higher than the hopes that one day they can be a naked centerfold in a magazine.
ReplyDeleteSears - why not a promotion at the same time? First prize - free breast implants
Second prize- a years worth of pole dancing.
Guess I will be doing my shopping elsewhere!
Thanks everyone for all your great responses. I guess I am not crazy after all!
ReplyDeleteSo the Muslims seek to muzzle female sexuality ... so too the Christians ... just a difference in degree.
DeleteMMM..yeah, this has zero to do with that. Being female, I fail to see the connection between my sexuality and Playboy. Advertising them to young girls isn't embracing female sexuality...it's just another form of subjugation, teaching impressionable girls that taking their clothes off and making their personal sexuality fodder for mass male pleasure. Trying to re-style that as free female sexuality is a friggin' joke. And trying to pretend that someone bein disgusted by this is religious oppression is a joke, too. Why don't yo stop having thoughts that stop halfway, and think something all the way through, before you troll.
DeleteCouldn't agree more. Well, I could, because I don't appreciate the use of women's body as a commodity at any point but this is a whole different issue. As though 12 year old girls don't have enough pressures.
ReplyDeleteIt's frightening to see adolecnce continue to expand in both directions.
I'm glad you've exposed this major social ill. Why the Sears Wishbook is going to turn all our daughters into prostitutes. Really? The stuff some people get outraged over. It's no wonder none of the real problems get solved. First of all, Playboy stuff has been in the Wishbook for years. Second of all, you're not being forced to buy this stuff. Thirdly, if you buy this stuff for your kid, you're a bad parent. If you're that worried about your kids and sex, talk to them about it. Logos don't make kids promiscuous, but ignorance does.
ReplyDeleteI'll solve the world's problems tomorrow. Today I just want to stop the sale of kiddie porn products to kids. Leave your name if you want to talk.
Deleteomg you have to much time on your hands, why don!t you make better time of your ridiculous tirade
DeleteI am bringing a very serious subject out of the dark. If you have time to read my blog and leave nasty comments, don't waste my readers time. Tell me what you have done to protect or help children. Come on, lets hear it!
DeleteWhat have you done besides rant on an internet blog? If you don't want your kids to have it fine; it's been in the Wish Book before.
DeleteHow is "it's been in the wish book before" an excuse? Oh, she didn't notice the first year, so she has no right to be outraged. Please be outraged in a timely manner in future, Helen. PSSSHHHT. If it's continuing, then it's still a problem. If you don't think there's something wrong with a little girl seeing this and thinking that Playboy is a normal, acceptable gift for her and/or her peers, well, you're just ...there's nothing nice I can say here...you're just an idiot. We aren't even talking about the fact that girls much younger than that model are going to see it and think it's cool because a slightly older girl is modeling it. Sears should not be making an impression like that, regardless of whether anyone is buying it for their kids or not. If Helen's daughter goes to school and sees her friends with Playboy crap, that gets in to her mind. It's pervasive. Playboy has no business marketing to young children and expecting not to be called out on it. It'd really be nice to see dads who might have perused the magazine standing up and saying "I'm not buying your product while you continue to advertise to my children."
DeleteIt's called adult entertainment for a reason.
I haven't got my wish book yet, but when I do, it's going straight in the trash - where page 18 and the rest of it belongs. I thought sears was a family store and although I know that they carry playboy products and I'm completely disgusted that they are being marketed to tween girls! what a horrible message to girls and boys alike. My daughter is only 5 and will see the bunny as cute because she doesn't and can't really understand what it means, but I don't even want to expose her to that and have her think that it's in any way cool. I won't be shopping there again.
ReplyDeleteSo the Muslims seek to muzzle female sexuality ... so too the Christians ... just a difference in degree.
ReplyDeleteI am currently at the age when I am married, and my husband and I are talking of future plans of creating our own family. Values and morality, what our kids will and will not be allowed, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn light of that, I'd like to ask a question: where was the public outcry when I was twelve? Like it or not, this has been within the eyes of our children for decades now. I respect the decision of other to boycott the sale of Sears merchandise; after all, it is our right as consumers. However, the refusal to buy anything from a store that makes an effort to cater to the families (even if it is from a marketing standpoint and not any true altruism) is not the answer. Communication is. Voicing ones opinions is a start, but the best thing you can ever do is talk to your kids. It hasn't been that long since I was twelve, and I remember being only hurt and confused by the constant 'because I said so.' That's not a reason. 'Because I feel this company objectifies women, and I am responsible for your safety' is a reason.
At the end of the day, our anger should not be toward a company for their marketing strategies, but it should instead motivate us to understand how we can make improvement within ourselves.
Totally outrageous! How can young girls today learn to have dignity and self respect for themselves when the advertizing industry supports abuse of girls/women. What this is teaching the young girls is to have zero respect for the sanctity of their bodies so later on when they get pregnant as teenagers; because of the lack of self respect they can just go out and have zero respect for the child they are carrying and just have an abortion. Kill the female soul and spirit young and you kill your society. Women nurture the norms and mores of a society. They are the social compass. Men will live up to the expectations good or bad that are taught to them by what women will accept. When the females are taught to disrespect themselves then the males lack guidance and hence fall into primal behavior. Guess what folks, you wonder why we live in a violent disrespectful society, this is a prime example of why. If you want respect in society demand it of the advertizing agencies and huge corporations that are making money off of your stupidity and lack of self respect. And women be very careful what you buy....it speaks to your character and the type of society you want your children to grow up in. "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" Think about ladies.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great post! I heard about it on Global Edmonton news. You said exactly what I would have said.
ReplyDeleteThank you. As the parent of adult children who's sons still hold open the door for ladies, especially elderly ladies and a daughter who is confident and has self respect and dignity,those were the only reasonable words I could think to say. Mind you my children grew up without television and that was in a household where mom's first career was as an electronics technician. I knew how to build a TV but there was no way I was going to allow my kids to feast their mind on the garbage that was broadcast on it. Two of my kids have graduated University and College with honors and as a single parent that's not to bad. I'm still working on the youngest.
DeleteThe point is as parents we have to make to best possible choices and let it be known to the huge corporations what those choices and expectations are by our spending patterns.
Thanks again.
Thank you for posting about this - I too remember going through the Sears catalogue as a child, making collages, and showing them to my parents are a wish list for Christmas. Now that I am a parent too, one of my biggest concerns is how to teach my children about sexuality, especially given all the distorted messages they will receive from the media. Since when should parents need to screen the sears catalogue before letting their children look at it? THis is horrifying and disappointing, and I wrote Sears a complaint this morning.
ReplyDeleteHere is a copy of a note I sent to Sears back in 2010 with not alot of response. Thanks for taking another stab at it Cora!
ReplyDelete2010:
"I picked up the Wish Book today excited to go through it and see what is in style and on trend for this Christmas season. I am so disappointed with seeing the many items that have "Play Boy" written on them targeting the young girls. Sears has really made a mistake in thinking that the "Play Boy" insignia is a fun cartoon character to sell to little girls who don't realize that this "bunny" represents promiscuity and the exploitation of women. If the president of this company is a parent I would like to ask " Would you go into detail and explain who and what the "Play Boy Bunny" represents when your young child wants to redecorate their bedroom in "Play Boy" sheets and blankets, or wear "Play Boy" nail polish, or take their nice new pink "Play Boy Bunny" towel to beach?" I understand that each parent out there will make decisions to the best of there knowledge but why would Sears want to be associated with such a company and what is represents. Adults have many ways to access "Play Boy" items and paraphernalia there is no need to promote it through "family" catalog sales."
Here's the response from Sears:
Thank you for taking the time to contact Sears, your comments are appreciated.
At Sears Canada we service a very broad and diverse customer base, and there are times when not everyone will agree with all of the lines of specific items we select for our stores and catalogues. However, we try to respond to the demands of the majority of our customers.
Again, we thank you for taking the opportunity to write us to express your concern regarding this matter
Regards,
Kelly
So as you see Sears believes that the demand for the "play boy" logo on childrens items are the "demand of the majority of there customer base." Looks like Money is the real issue and sales are more important than the respect of our young girls & woman. By supporting Play Boy globally in selling there products they have fallen into the trap of "social ill."
That's great! I had no idea anyone else complained. Good for you.
DeleteHelen, you wrote a good article but I'm sorry to say Playboy has been in the wishbook for years, so why is it such a big deal now? Also as for the anonymous person who wrote " I guess Sears is aggressively courting trailer park shoppers now ...
ReplyDelete"Dangit, Peggy-Sue is 16 this year and she's not even with child yet. Time to take her down to Sears so she can hang out the For Sale sign!" Sorry to say but you are very ignorant, I am a young mother and wouldn't have it any other way. Playboy is the least of the problems for moms with teen girls and it sure doesn't say anything about their personality because they are wearing some clothing or a purse with the brand on it. How about you go after many of the clothing chains who promote girls to wear short shorts, and little skirts and see through shirts. I am sorry as I read this article and read the comments, I have noticed alot of people are close-minded, there are books out there that you can buy from public shopping venues, that are way worse than seeing a couple pages of Playboy stuff in the wishbook.
well if your going to complain about sears u should complain about every store in the world who sell barbie dolls what's that teachinng the girls to starve themselves to look like her and put in fake boobs..if you complain about a logo then why not complain about every toy made in the world!!! If you thing negative things about a logo then why not about the toys been made for kids.. See how stupid I sound?Well that is how I see this person's complaint about Sears selling a bunny head..Parents need to stop blaming things and people for the actions and beliefs in their kids lives. If that's the case I should be blaming my family cause I'm FAT!!! and the ads and the people around me for getting FAt..I'm FAT cause I choose the wrong foods. NOT because of McDonald's or A&W or ABC restaurant, Boston Pizza or any other food business... It's because of me not them.. Stop blaming things and companies for your mistakes or choices. get a life lady whoever complained about Sears ...Sears didn't say u had to buy it. It's there for those who CHOOSE to buy it..
ReplyDeleteWell. This week I complained about Sears selling porno gear to children. Anonymous, why don't you complain about the affect Barbies have on girls next week? Don't sit back and critize me for making a stand. You have such a strong voice. Stand up and lets hear you. Don't hide behind "Anonymous"
DeleteTotally agree with you Helen. Many young women today have completely lost what the concept of women's liberation was/is all about. It's not about being better than men as feminism suggests; it's about being equal with dignity and self respect. Generations of women fought very hard to earn equality and be recognized for their abilities and brains not just to be seen as sex objects who can do the dishes and keep the house clean. So here we are after all this time finding the big corporations reducing girls/women back to where they started.
DeleteThe appalling thing in all of this is women are literally buying into the message and paying to be disgraced. There's only one question women have to ask themselves regarding this; it is "Would a guy wear clothes promoting their body and their self as a sex object" Whether it's the Playboy Bunny Logo, short shorts or see through tops; exactly what is the message we are teaching little girls?
Am I the only one who finds it odd that Helen has absolutely no problem with Playboy - once you're an adult - but advertising it to teens is horrific? How can something be both perfectly acceptable and completely unacceptable at the same time? Are morals only for kids and as soon as you turn 18 don't you dare let anyone tell you how to live? It sounds like you are too worried about offending people like Hugh Hefner or being called a "prude".
ReplyDeleteTara, once a person becomes an adult they have a right to make their own decisions. Hopefully by the time you become an adult someone has guided you to develop your own moral compas. By then you should be educated enough to make good decisions. Ifyou want to buy Playboy, that's your choice. We live in a free country. But as parents, we have a responsiblity to protect our chilren and to give them morals. So yes, I do find it horrific when a trusted family Christmas catologue advertises for a porn magazine in the toy section. Whether Playboy is acceptable to an adult, is the adults decision. I am not judging adults who buy porn. I do find it upsetting to see children advertising the porn in their bedrooms or on their purses. Thanks for joining in the decussion.
DeleteI'm surprised at all the attention you've been getting recently for your little spat on Sears selling 'PORN FOR KIDS'....first off I've seen the catalog and I found nothing wrong with it...clearly it goes from child items like Hello Kitty and Star Wars to more adult tastes such as Comic Book heroes and Rock N Roll items before it goes into the offensive "OMG IT'S PORN FOR CHILDREN" page. I mean really??? The page before the playboy is all Beatles, AC/DC, Metalica, Bob Marley, Iron Maiden stuff.....you think parents are going to purchase an Iron Maiden shirt for their 6 year old boy? No.....most of the items on those pages are clearly for ADULTS who are into those types of things. I think it's pathetic how everyone here says "I'M GONNA BOYCOTT SEARS FOR SELLING PORN TO KIDS" again it's not porn for kids and that 'little girl holding the bling bag' looks nothing like 12 15 years old....she looks like she's in her 20's. Christ, I'm 32 years old and people mistake me for 16!!!! Besides, there are far worse things out there aimed at kids than just satin sheets and bling bags that have a logo for a porno company on them. What about Justin Bieber? His products are aimed at little girls and they're full of sexual influences and hopes of things that will NEVER in this lifetime come true....I remember seeing a shirt in a Walmart flyer two years ago for little girls that said 'THE FUTURE MRS JUSTIN BIEBER' with wedding rings decorating it. I found that rather sickening cause it's first off sending the wrong message that the little girl wearing such a shirt has her hopes set on marriage to a man who's ten times her age.....Justin is what?? 18 years old and his products are aimed at girls in the 4 to 15 age groups?? And the comment above me about BARBIE DOLLS.....gee what message does that send little girls? That it's ok to be a slave to BOYS, dress slutty and have breast implants just to be attractive? I remember when I was a little girl, I couldn't stand Barbie or her advertisements cause even then I knew she was a sexist figure with her bleach blond bimbo attitude. I didn't want that. What about games rated M for mature such as Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto that kids as young as 5 play? Don't have a problem with that I'm sure either. So why get your panties up in a bunch over this??? Sears isn't forcing you to purchase those items....it's not like they say on the page, PERFECT GIFT ITEMS FOR YOUR 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER!!!! Get a life and think about things that are MORE important than a two page spread in a catalog!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous, I wish you had left your name. I hate talking to someone who hides. I agree with you. There are lots of things that kids have to deal with that are much more serious than Playboy at Sears. So what have you done about it? Have you voiced your concern publicly about it? Have you tried to stop it? We live in a free country. We all have a right to speech. My speech is through my blog and I am very happy with the result. I saw something I know is wrong and I stood up not only for my daughter but for all girls and women. It's not ok to advertise a porn magazine on the bed of a little girl or on her purse. I am surprised as a female you find this acceptable. That's your choice. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I welcome all comments. I will always be the type of female who speaks up when she sees someone hurting or exploiting females. If you go back through my blogs you'll find one called "Half the Sky" where I encourage women to help women in third world countries. If we all sit back and say "What's the big deal?" Then nothing gets done. It only takes one person to change the world. This week I did my job, did you?
DeleteI can't believe these little chickens who come on here to tell you off for voicing your opinion, then hide behind anonymous! If you feel so strongly, fine, but why are you then too ashamed to affiliate yourselves to your opinion! Helenp-hats off to you! It is about time someone stood up for our teenagers. What is the rush to corrupt them!And for the record Play Boy is gross!
DeleteAnonymous ~ this chick is just jealous because...well look at her picture dear. No way would she fit in with the 'PlayBoy' image. Ever notice how it's the unattractive people who complain about Playboy the most?
Deletemy 6 year old boy had an iron maiden t-shirt. and ACDC and Black Sabbath...not because I am interested in thsoe things. that is the music he enjoys.
DeleteNah. I'm pretty hawt. I think this is objectionable. Cheap shot...seems you have a lot of them and little logic. It almost seems like you have Playboy stock...otherwise your position is just bizarre. You seem very angry over Helen's totally legitimate points. One wonders you don't have anything better to do.
DeleteActually Ms. Anonymous without a picture. People only take cheap shots at others when they can't argue intelligently. By the way, I am beautiful and I didn't have to go to a doctor to find my beauty. It's women like you who make other women feel bad about themselves because no matter what my readers look like, their hearts will never be as ugly as you. All women are beautiful and we take a stand against ugly people like you.
DeleteHelen Cleary-Escott
As a young adult woman who recently developed a taste for more sophisticated design, the color palette of the Playboy products are definitely marketed toward younger women and girls.
DeleteI agree and I posted a link to this blog on the Sears facebook page!
ReplyDeleteWhy is everyone freaking out about nothing this lady has an OPINION so she blogged it. That's not a crime to have a voice. Everyone is so negative and aggressive you would think your a bunch of men on steroids getting all pissed off over nothing. Relax you are all adults and don't hate act your age. You are all taking this way to personal, if you read the article she's not hating on parents its just what she wants for HER kids not your kids so take a deep breathe and relax.
ReplyDeleteI also do not understand why she can not have her opinion. I happen to agree with her, but even if I did not agree I would still respect her opinion on the subject. She does not have to solve the worlds problems or only write about hunger, war and world peace. If you do not like what you are reading, and feel so strongly about it, don't read it!
DeleteI'm going to post this one again so it's clear I'm not hiding.
ReplyDeleteTotally outrageous! How can young girls today learn to have dignity and self respect for themselves when the advertizing industry supports abuse of girls/women. What this is teaching the young girls is to have zero respect for the sanctity of their bodies so later on when they get pregnant as teenagers; because of the lack of self respect they can just go out and have zero respect for the child they are carrying and just have an abortion. Let me make it clear I'm not condemning women that have an abortion, but look at the statistics people young women today are having multiple abortions in their lifetime. Why is that; because advertisers promote promiscuity.
Kill the female soul and spirit young and you kill your society. Women nurture the norms and mores of a society. They are the social compass. Men will live up to the expectations good or bad that are taught to them by what women will accept. When the females are taught to disrespect themselves then the males lack guidance and hence fall into primal behavior. Guess what folks, you wonder why we live in a violent disrespectful society, this is a prime example of why. If you want respect in society demand it of the advertizing agencies and huge corporations that are making money off of your stupidity and lack of self respect. And women be very careful what you buy....it speaks to your character and the type of society you want your children to grow up in. "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" Think about ladies.
Helen, I agree with you and thanks for pointing this out. I have a 7 year old daughter who loves Barbie and princesses and I just want to let her enjoy this time of her life. I'm very aware of the negative aspects of Barbie and princess dolls but I try to balance that with ensuring she has a healthy self-esteem and I teach her that she can be anything she wants to be when she's an adult. I would be horrified if she wanted any of the Playboy items advertised in the Sears catalogue and would teach her why this was not a good choice. To your detractors who say there are more important things to worry about - No! Every day in our country and around the world, there are women forced into sexual slavery. It all starts somewhere and THE best thing we can do is raise our daughters well.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am a parent of three young girls (10, 9 and 6) and there is no way I would be buying or let anyone buy them anything with the Playboy bunny on it. It represents a adult magazine that has naked women in it and that is not something I want my kids to have. I know my husband feels the same way. I would be different if it was "16" magazine symbol but Playboy is a ADULT magazine, not something for my daughters.
ReplyDeleteHello? Page 18 and 19 are not in the middle of the toy section which is always in the back of the catalogue. Just how offended are you when you start off your blog by saying how pissed off you are. Do you talk like that in front of your children? I hope not.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteYou pose an interesting issue here. The context of the Playboy Bunny is one of a male-driven lifestyle. However if you've paid any attention to Playboy as a corporation, a business, over the past two decade and change, you would understand they are hemorrhaging money. In order to survive it's had to adapt - that means putting the Rabbit on everything from clothing lines to books to jewellery.
Free porn online has almost rendered Playboy's "soft" image obsolete. So you really have to pick your hills to die on carefully here.
Playboy has always been a supporter of liberalism, and when somebody says, "I only read it for the articles", they actually do mean it because such writers as Hunter S. Thompson, Chuck Palahniuk and even Margaret Atwood have written in the pages.
Playboy isn't recruiting girls. In today's day and age, the Bunny is the least of your worries. Now if Sears was advertising items with the three Penthouse Keys on them, then I'd be worried ... but not the bunny because it means a lot more than just porn.
I'm not even a mom and I'm pissed
ReplyDeleteSigned,
50 year old very non-prude female
or copy and paste the link into your browser.
ReplyDeleteI don't even have children and I am disgusted. But then I've been disgusted whenever I've seen these same young ladies (girls?) walking around in the "Pink" collection from Victoria's Secret. This is a store famous for selling sexy underwear to women and their catalog and video models. Not as bad as Play Boy, but still the same message to me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you expressed your views in this blog!
I completely agree that companies like Playboy would have no business marketing to young girls, but I'm not sure what catalog this blog is referring to? Unless they changed it or the Wishbook online is different from the print version, the model with the handbag looks as though she is either in her upper teens or early twenties, and there's nothing on these two pages that looks to be marketed directly to the pre-teen set.
ReplyDelete(And the commenter earlier who said people aren't likely to buy hard rock tshirts for their young kids...think again, because I have seen several stores offer band shirts in toddler sizes, and some places stock onesies)
(I didn't see if anyone had posted this already, but here is a link to the pages in question on the Sears Canada online Wishbook: http://www.sears.ca/virtual-catalogue/publication/2/9/ )
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have the same outrage. You assume the "message" is for the Playboy magazine, but does the 12 year old girl know that? Does the 12 year old boy know about Playboy in such a way to suggest to him that a girl wearing a bunny is up for a romp? Are they marketing to teens that follow their favorite celebrities (even young celebrities without scandal) and see them wearing the bunny? Did they watch the (rather tragic) show Playboy Club? Is Playboy trying to change a young person's though process or make money in another market since pornography is losing money ears over elbows?
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone. Check this out: http://blog.pigtailpals.com/
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I am not advertising for myself. :)
Ugh, no crib sheets? We are so bummed! (by bummed I do mean sickened)
ReplyDeleteI JUST had a similar conversation with my friends on Facebook last night about this. We recently got the Spirit Halloween catalog, and I flipped the first page or two and they had the most adorable baby costumes. I got a couple of pages in and there were the trashiest costumes...FOR KIDS. Not teens, mind you...CHILDREN. There were girls, no more than 6 or 7 modeling skirts that went all the way up to the point of being indecent. There were fishnets underneath, there were off the shoulder costumes, and the list goes on. I was FUMING. It's bad enough that a lot of teenagers go around using Halloween as an excuse to look like they're working the corners, but it's quite another story when they're targeting young kids like this. I usually make my daughter's costume (she's 3), and if that is the way things are trending, I will be doing so for a very, very long time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely about this! I have a 7 year old daughter and she is very influenced by what the older girls are wearing and doing. I believe Sears is trying to keep up with PINK by Victoria's Secrets. I see so many young girls wearing PINK across their butt. Everyone know's it comes from Victoria's Secrets. WHY do young girls who are 10, 11, or 12 years old need to purchase bikini and thong underwear? I am saddened by how society is marketing sexy clothes for these young girls. My friend has 11 year old boys, and they were talking about girls at school wearing those gummy bracelets. One son was telling the other about how some girl was wearing a pink gummy bracelet. My friend asked her son what difference did it make what color bracelet she was wearing & they proceeded to explain to her that the color of the bracelets meant what sexual acts they would perform!! For example pink means she will go all the way. There are colors for blow jobs, hand jobs, kissing, etc. They are 11 year old little girls! How disgusting and absurd is that?? Daily I am horrified at what the future holds for my two daughters, now ages 7 and 5. :0(
ReplyDeleteThere is light... There are organizations like Girls Inc. and programs out there tackling media literacy and giving girls the tools they need to navigate this 24/7 advertising world.
ReplyDeleteSo I just got my wish book today so I looked through to see what the deal was. Did any notice the acdc shot glasses on the page before? To me the girl looks more like 20 not 12. I'm not saying that young girls are not confronted with these issues but I don't believe this is one of those times. The wish book is for all ages not just children and teens.
ReplyDeleteAny chance you could add contact info for sears in the blog post re. Who to contact to voice concerns? This is troubling!
ReplyDeleteFinally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGo Here
Thanks Hilda. I am also passionate about protected our daughters.
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