In 1999, I was hosting a late night network television show discussing the catalog cover of Abercrombie & Fitch that featured a naked girl lying face up on the back of a horse. Over a decade ago, this retailer pushed the boundary of sensibility and continues to do so today. As a parent, I was so outraged I banned our family from buying merchandise from the store. The ban continues.
In 2002, Abercrombie & Fitch was again in the news for selling a line of thong underwear for 8-10 year old children. Outraged once again, I dug a little deeper and found a company quote that disturbed me. It said, “We don’t sell clothes, we promote a lifestyle!”
What kind of lifestyle? The 2003 Christmas Field Guide made the answer perfectly clear. The catalog was filled with 120 pages of nudity and sexually suggestive photographs of young models, orgies, and group masturbation before we even saw the clothing. Toward the back of the catalog was an article that offered advice on having three-way sex. Page 279 advised kids who attended college not to look for someone to marry, but focus on getting as much “carnal” sexual experience as possible.
The Christmas Field Guide, targeted to 10-13 year olds, was sold in stores with an outer sleeve and warning. Once the outer sleeve was removed, no warning was visible. According to Central Michigan Life, back in 1999, the Michigan Attorney General's office even sent three young children in to a store to try and buy the seven-dollar catalog. They had no trouble purchasing it.
At the height of the holiday shopping season, amongst boycotts and protest, the catalog was pulled. The company denied bowing to public pressure, insisting they needed the shelf space for a new perfume. Interestingly, Abercrombie discontinued publication of A&F Quarterly in 2003.
So this week, when push-up padded bikini bathing suit tops were being promoted for young girls, I wasn’t surprised, but disgusted once again. The lifestyle this company is promoting is one that objectifies and sexualizes young girls, making them even more prey for disturbed men.
Parents, pay attention and talk to your sons and daughters. Boys are bombarded by sexual images and messages that certainly influence their attitudes towards women. Girls are being encouraged to act and look like prostitutes in order to be noticed. We must be intentional when it comes to discussing modesty and self-respect.
Sometimes it feels like an uphill battle, but don’t give up. The Book of Galatians tells us to not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Here’s a shout out to www.purefashion.com, a faith-based organization that is trying to do some good when it comes to combating the sexualization of children through fashion. Pure Fashion offers everything from fashion shows to training sessions to modesty guidelines for parents. Instead of giving in to the pressures of the culture, they fight for the dignity of young women and teach self-worth.
Source: CBN.com
Linda Mintle, Ph.D. is a licensed marriage and family therapist, author of 16 books, a national expert on family issues and the psychology of food and weight. She's an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School, a national speaker, writer, and news contributor. For more on Dr. Linda Mintle visit drlindamintle.com
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