Another day. Another set of clueless parents absolutely convinced that mean old corporations are trying to oversexualize their dear, innocent darlings. This time it's American Eagle's undies offshoot Aerie, which is selling a padded bra that promises to double up the size of the twins.
Cue whining and moaning that teenage girls don't need to be concerned about the size of their bosoms, and the chorus of "OMG, what is the world coming to?" Blah, blah, blabbity blah. Can we at least pretend we have a little common sense?
It's not the store's fault you can't tell your teenage girl that not everything in a store is being sold to her. See, Aerie is marketed to women and girls. Quick peek at the company info says the target age is 15 to 25.
Now I don't know about you, but I'd say a 20-something woman has the right to decide her girls could use the "double whoa" the Drew promises. I'm past the top of their target, but I even passed a joke about it to my husband when I saw an ad in the mall on Saturday. If I want something pretty, lacy, and meant to give me some va-va-voom, I'm going to go buy it. Along with staying up past bedtime and drinking a Diet Pepsi for breakfast, that's one of the perks of being a grown-up.
Your kid, on the other hand? She's still got to get her booty to bed by midnight and eat "something more than that Pop Tart young lady because breakfast is the most important meal of the day!" She's still your responsibility. It's your job to sit her down for a little talk on age-appropriate purchases.
We don't criticize the Super Target for selling beer in the same building as the baby shampoo. We don't have a problem telling the 4-year-old they can't have the soda simply because it's in the same store as the cheddar bunnies. So let's give the righteous indignation a pass today. I'm full up.
Do you think it's the store's responsibility to make sure all its items are teen-appropriate? Even if they sell to adults too?
Image via Aerie