Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
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Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
Claire Shipman
ABC News
March 28, 2011
Would you buy your pre-teen daughter a push-up bikini top? One major retailer hopes you will.
Abercrombie & Fitch, a popular store among teenagers, recently introduced the "push-up triangle," marketing the swim top to girls as young as 7 or 8.
But of the parents "GMA" spoke to, the reaction was unanimous -- no one would buy one for their child.
"I won't be buying them for my 8-year-old," one parent said.
"I thought it was a joke when I first heard about it. Then, I realized, it's so crazy, it must be true," Dr. Michael Bradley, a child psychologist, told "Good Morning America" on Saturday.
Bradley said the American Psychological Association has warned in the past that retailers were going after young girls.
"They're targeting girls as young as age 4 to be sexualized creatures," Bradley said.
In response to the public outcry, Abercrombie renamed the top on its online store the "striped triangle." The padding remains, however, as does the outrage. Many viewers wrote in to the "GMA" shoutout board and Facebook page.
"Padded bathing suits for young school girls is vulgar," one person wrote. "Geez, we live in a scary society. I hope parents tell their children they are perfect the way they are!"
It's hardly the first time the racy company has strayed into controversial territory. A few years ago, Abercrombie offered thongs for the 10-year-old set with the words "wink, wink" stitched on the front. The company's advertisements have also raised concerns over the years for being too revealing.
And Abercrombie isn't alone. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart was criticized for its plans to introduce a line of make-up products directed at girls aged 8 to 12.
Abercrombie & Fitch Still Selling Padded Bikinis
Tweens spend roughly $24 million on beauty products each year.
Bradley said the consequences on young girls may be many.
"We're shaping their beliefs," he said. "We're actually teaching them that this is their primary value in this culture."
He also said it can shape their behavior, harms their body image and can add unnecessary anxiety.
The onus does lie with the parents, however, to keep their children out of the swimsuits, Bradley said. He advised to use the moment as a teaching moment if your child really wants the product. He said to avoid a shouting match by asking questions that spark a discussion.
"These guys really should be ashamed," said Bradley. "I hate to get this in their faces like that, but it's just wrong. It's hurting people."
Abercrombie has showed no signs they plan to pull the product from its store's shelves.
Claire Shipman
ABC News
March 28, 2011
Would you buy your pre-teen daughter a push-up bikini top? One major retailer hopes you will.
Abercrombie & Fitch, a popular store among teenagers, recently introduced the "push-up triangle," marketing the swim top to girls as young as 7 or 8.
But of the parents "GMA" spoke to, the reaction was unanimous -- no one would buy one for their child.
"I won't be buying them for my 8-year-old," one parent said.
"I thought it was a joke when I first heard about it. Then, I realized, it's so crazy, it must be true," Dr. Michael Bradley, a child psychologist, told "Good Morning America" on Saturday.
Bradley said the American Psychological Association has warned in the past that retailers were going after young girls.
"They're targeting girls as young as age 4 to be sexualized creatures," Bradley said.
In response to the public outcry, Abercrombie renamed the top on its online store the "striped triangle." The padding remains, however, as does the outrage. Many viewers wrote in to the "GMA" shoutout board and Facebook page.
"Padded bathing suits for young school girls is vulgar," one person wrote. "Geez, we live in a scary society. I hope parents tell their children they are perfect the way they are!"
It's hardly the first time the racy company has strayed into controversial territory. A few years ago, Abercrombie offered thongs for the 10-year-old set with the words "wink, wink" stitched on the front. The company's advertisements have also raised concerns over the years for being too revealing.
And Abercrombie isn't alone. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart was criticized for its plans to introduce a line of make-up products directed at girls aged 8 to 12.
Abercrombie & Fitch Still Selling Padded Bikinis
Tweens spend roughly $24 million on beauty products each year.
Bradley said the consequences on young girls may be many.
"We're shaping their beliefs," he said. "We're actually teaching them that this is their primary value in this culture."
He also said it can shape their behavior, harms their body image and can add unnecessary anxiety.
The onus does lie with the parents, however, to keep their children out of the swimsuits, Bradley said. He advised to use the moment as a teaching moment if your child really wants the product. He said to avoid a shouting match by asking questions that spark a discussion.
"These guys really should be ashamed," said Bradley. "I hate to get this in their faces like that, but it's just wrong. It's hurting people."
Abercrombie has showed no signs they plan to pull the product from its store's shelves.
TexasBlue
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
This is what's wrong with society these days. Maybe it's my old fashioned thinking, but this is insane. Then people wonder why we have a pedo problem.
TexasBlue
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
I agree with Tex. Whoever buys this stuff for their daughters has serious problems!
BubbleBliss
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
This is seriously sick shit. What one earth would possess someone to manufacture something like this???
And what kind of a sick parent would buy their 7-year-old girl something like this?
And what kind of a sick parent would buy their 7-year-old girl something like this?
dblboggie
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
Now the fashion industry wants 7 year olds to feel anxious about their bodies. Good going guys, creating a whole new generation of paedophiles and anorexics.
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
The_Amber_Spyglass wrote:Now the fashion industry wants 7 year olds to feel anxious about their bodies. Good going guys, creating a whole new generation of paedophiles and anorexics.
Seriously.... what the hell is wrong with these people?!?!
dblboggie
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
I can see it now. My neighbors 7 yr old is going to start saying, "Look at my boobs!"
TexasBlue
Re: Padded Bikini Top For 7-Year-Olds Draws Parents' Ire
TexasBlue wrote:I can see it now. My neighbors 7 yr old is going to start saying, "Look at my boobs!"
If your neighbor has a 7-year-old who has a sexual concept of "boobs" then child services might need to get involved there.
dblboggie
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