“Stop sexualizing our children!” pleads all Moms & Dads

A Letter to Victoria’s Secret from a Father

An open letter to Victoria’s Secret regarding their choice to make an underwear line aimed at young teenagers. (Read about it here)

Dear Victoria’s Secret,

I am a father of a three year old girl. She loves princesses, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins and drawing pictures for people. Her favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pistachios.

Even though she is only three, as a parent I have had those thoughts of my daughter growing up and not being the little girl she is now. It is true what they say about kids, they grow up fast.

No matter how hard I try I know that she will not be the little ball of energy she is now; one day she will be a rebellious teenager that will more than likely think her dad is a total goof ball and would want to distance herself from my embarrassing presence.

I know that this is far down the line and I try to spend as much time as I can with her making memories of this special time.

But as I read an article today posted on The Black Sphere, it really got me thinking that maybe the culture that we currently find ourselves in is not helping the cause.

Recently I read an article that Victoria’s Secret is launching a line of underwear and bras aimed at middle school aged children. The line will be called “Bright Young Things” and will feature ” lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on them, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.”

As a dad, ‘This makes me sick’.

I believe that this sends the wrong message to not only my daughter but to all young girls.

I don’t want my daughter to ever think that her self-worth and acceptance by others is based on the choice of her undergarments. I don’t want my daughter to ever think that to be popular or even attractive she has to have emblazon words on her bottom.

I want my daughter (and every girl) to be faced with tough decisions in her formative years of adolescence. Decisions like should I be a doctor or a lawyer? Should I take calculus as a junior or a senior? Do I want to go to Texas A&M or University of Texas or some Ivy League School? Should I raise awareness for slave trafficking or lack of water in developing nations? There are many, many more questions that all young women should be asking themselves … not will a boy (or girl) like me if I wear a “call me” thong?

I want my daughter to know that she is perfect the way she is; I want my daughter to know that no matter what underwear she is wearing it does not define her.

I believe that this new line “Bright Young Things” thwarts the efforts of empowering young women in this country. “Bright Young Things” gives off the message that women are sex objects.

This new line promotes it at a dangerously young age.

I implore you to reconsider your decision to start this line.

By doing so you will put young girl’s self-esteem, self-worth and pride above profits.

Sincerely,

Rev. Evan Dolive
Houston, TX

Response to DAD

MOMPRENEURMOGUL SAYS: “Victorias Secret has a new line of underwear they want to launch for tweens called “Bright Young Things” which put the words “Call Me” & Wild on lace underwear for middle school girls.

If you read my blog you know I don’t flip out often; but honestly, I’m so over companies sexualizing the young girls of the world. But we too have a part to play.

I was hoping it wasn’t true but of course another company bites the dust.

Is there something in your twisted and numb minds that tells you it’s OK to market underwear that say “Call me” to 12 year olds?

Or even 15 years olds? Apparently there is.

The new brand called, “Bright Young Things,” includes lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on it, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.

Chief Financial Officer Stuart Burgdoerfer of Limited Brands, of which Victorias Secret is a subsidiary, announced the company’s new marketing demographic at a recent conference, claiming about younger girls:

“They want to be older, and they want to be cool like the girl in college, and that’s part of the magic.”

Magic?! Are you a total and complete ( fill in your own word I’m trying to keep my post clean) Mr Burgdoerfer? Do you think it’s Magic? When a 15 year old gets pregnant? NO I’m pretty sure that it’s not.

And they don’t need to be OLDER. When can our daughters just act the age they actually are? They will grow up soon enough we don’t need you pushing your sexual products on our babies. Or are you determined not to let that happen Mr. Burgdoerfer? What’s next? I don’t even want to know.

I’m not sure if you have a daughter of your own sir. But if you did have a 12 year old I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want her wearing lace panties with the words “call me” on them. And if you do sir than you have deeper issues than your idiotic marketing campaign.

I’ll include other links to this post at the bottom so you can see for yourself what has been said. But please if you are as tired as I am of companies sexualizing our children please tell them to stop the line. I mean honestly teen girls don’t need to be wearing sexy underwear they want to show off. As a parent I don’t want them showing any underwear off! I am so thankful that my daughter is only 2 years old. But for all the parents of tweens out there I really hope this bothers you as much as it bothers me. But unless you use your voice then this line will come out and land on the bottoms of middle school girls around the country. And that will be a very sad day.

Listen if you are a parent and you are reading this the only way that this type of stupidity will stop is if you stop it with your wallet.

Lisa Cash Hanson@Mompreneurmogul

Tweet them. I’ve made it easy for you here: Tweet this:

@VictoriasSecret “Bright Young Things Call Me” for middle school girls #stoptheline stop sexualizing our children! Please