Pole Dancing Doll

Because dancing on poles is adorable.

Shave The Baby

Is this really how they want kids to learn about pubic hair?

Kid’s Nipple Tassel T-Shirt

(for more inappropriate kids’ shirts, see Terrible T’s)

Breast-Feeding Doll

For the prepubescent girls who just can’t wait to breast feed.

Baby Stilettos

Because all girls should be obsessed with shoes, even if they can’t walk yet.

Stuffed STDs

Nothing quite like snuggling up to Chlamydia during nap time.

Toy Tattoo Gun

Because it’s a habit you need to develop early.

Source:

Thanks to Michelle from California for this article!

“The 7 Most Inappropriate Products For Children” (Alex Leo) The Huffington Post. September 14, 2009

The books chronicle years of Simmons’ research, including case studies and informal exercises with young girls. “A really great exercise,” she says, “is to ask girls to sit the way a typical guy sits and then ask girls to sit the way a typical girl sits. And you will see two completely different postures. Guys have way more permission to take up space in every sense of that phrase. There just aren’t the same rules as there are for women, and that’s going to lead to a different consciousness and a different set of concerns.”

The problem isn’t confined to American society, either. “The very first countries to translate Odd Girl Out were all Asian,” Simmons says. “I think that there is a huge, huge indirect aggression problem in Asia. It has to do with the Asian culture’s very inflexible expectations of women and girls.”

The Curse continues meditation on this trend of suppression, and takes it a step further to advise parents on how to raise their daughters differently. By letting them be honest about their full range of emotions, however unpleasant, we can guide them out of mean-girl culture and into well-adjusted womanhood.

Source:

“When Being a Good Girl is a Bad Thing” (Frances Romero) Time Magazine Online. August 31, 2009

TODDLERS

Cotton on Kids
Negative reactions to this line caused Cotton on Kids to discontinue it.
To read more about the dispute, check out Articles [1], [2] or [3].

“My dad poked your mom” Deek’s Digs / “Future Trophy Wife”: Shirts 4 Squirts

Deek’s Digs / T-shirt Hell : Does the font have to be made of penises, too?

“I’m this Many” / “I enjoy a good spanking”
(Clothing Company Unknown)

“I’m proof my mom likes to fuck“: Offensive T’s

KIDS

“Horny, Twenty-Four-Seven” & “Future Trophy Wife”: Zazzle.com

“Peanutbutter Motherfucker”: Artist Jim Shaw made this limited edition t-shirt in 1996, via DefectiveWear.com

“Little Losers” line, JayJays

“Mr. Agro
Mr. Pimp
Mr. Asshole
Miss Gold Digger
Miss Wasted
Mr. Drunk
Miss Floozy
Miss Bitch
Mr. Well-Hung”

Nipple Tassel T-shirt for Tots, Twisted Twee
See the article where the fashion designer defends this shirt.

ABERCROMBIE KIDS

You’d never know this site is for kids.

Abercrombie Kids Homepage

“Fun” for kids to be flirting already?

Fleece that gives kids a cute butt… because they should be worrying about that.

The only denim skirts are miniskirts. (As of the Fall 2009 Line)

TEENS

Judging by the stores and/or the young models, these clothes are assumed to be targeted at teens.

“Freshman 15″, with 15 guys’ names: Pandagon
Check out the review of this product, at Feministing.com

Zazzle.com / TshirtHell.com

“Kiss my ass, It’s Irish”: Uniqwear / Hollister

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH (again)

A&F came under fire in 2005 for their “Attitude Shirt” line for teens. A “Girlcott” was launched by the Women & Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania. As a result, Abercrombie discontinued some of the items. [6]

Here are the shirts in question:

“I need (a girl with a) good head (on her shoulders)” / ”Who needs brains when you have these?”

…by first looking at my chest to read this.

“Show the Twins”
“Female Students Wanted for Sexual Research”
“Buck Fuddy”
“Math Tutor + Bed – Clothes ÷ Your Legs = Anatomy Lesson”

Sources:

[1] “Cotton on Kids’ Risque T-shirt Slogans Under Attack” (Cheryl Critchley) News.com Australia. July 22, 2009
[2] “Cotton On Vows to Withdraw Offensive T-Shirts” (Stephen Lunn) The Australian. August 14, 2009
[3] “Cotton On Hit by Social Media Backlash – What Are the Lessons for Your Business” (Patrick Stafford) SmartCompany.com. August 17, 2009
[4] “Designer Defends Nipple Tassels on Tots T-Shirt” (Tom Henderson) ParentDish.com. August 18, 2009
[5] Abercrombie Kids
[6] A&F Girlcott Incident – Wikipedia
[7] Cotton on Kids
[8] Deek’s Digs
[9] Shirts 4 Squirts
[10] T-shirt Hell
[11] Offensive T’s
[12] Zazzle.com
[13] DefectiveWear.com
[14] Twisted Twee
[15] JayJays
[16] Hollister
[17] Pandagon
[18] Uniqwear

The award show was hosted by pop group The Jonas Brothers, above.

COUNTDOWN TO THE TOP 5 WORST MOMENTS:

5. Britney’s Lifetime Achievement Award, at age 27

While Britney Spears has certainly had a long career full of highs and lows, giving the 27 year old a lifetime achievement award does seem a bit premature. Has she already accomplished everything she ever could? Is her life over, now that she’s approaching 30? [1]

4. Robert Pattinson: It’s Ok When He Says It

The Twilight star, and winner of Choice Male Hottie award, took time in his acceptance speech to hit on his young fans. “The hottest hotties, the hottest teens, are the Twilight fans,” said the 23 year old actor. It’s hard to imagine any other man, in any other context, making that comment without being considered creepy. [1]

3. Nude Photo Scandals

She wasn’t too amused by Dane Cook’s joke, but he deserves some credit for just coming out and saying it. There were at least 3 female nominees this year with nude photos online.

Vanessa Hudgens, nominated for Choice Female Hottie, has been hit with nude photo scandals twice. Actress for Choice Reality TV show The Hills, Audrina Patridge, had topless photos leaked online last year. And the most recent addition was winner of the Fresh Face Female award, Ashley Greene, of Twilight success, whose full frontal photos reached the internet just this week. [2] [3] [4]

2. Miley Cyrus Pole Dancing on Stage

Why was there a stripper pole on stage at the Teen Choice Awards? Young people can make poor choices (see #3), but this was clearly the work of someone older, who knew much better. Even Britney wasn’t doing this at 16. [5]

1. Miley Cyrus’ Little Sister Pole Dancing Backstage

Why was there a stripper pole backstage at the Teen Choice Awards? Hopefully, it was for structural purposes, and not intended for dancing – it’s hard to imagine the show’s producers could make such a big mistake, twice. Nevertheless, a photo of 9 year old Noah Cyrus (far left) pole dancing with her friends was leaked this morning, and with it, we have collectively reached a new low. [5]

Sources:

[1] “Best and Worst Moments of the Teen Choice Awards” (Leah Collins) Canwest News Service. August 11, 2009

[2] “Vanessa Hudgens Embarrassed by Joke at Teen Choice Awards.” Splash News//LimeLife. August 11, 2009

[3] “Topless Photos of Audrina Patridge Hit the Web.” Us Magazine. March 19, 2008

[4] “Ashley Greene Wins: Nude Photos Scandal and a Teen Choice Award” Associated Content News. August 11, 2009

[5] “Miley and Noah Cyrus Work the Pole” CelebJihad.com August 11, 2009

A signed release was obtained by the parent of this child for
use of her interview in investigative journalism reports, as well
as film documentary segments.

We are in compliance with UN Economic and Social Counsel
Official “Rights of the Child” Decision, E/CN.4/1993/NGO/1,
January 15, 1993, p. 2

Sources:

Mower, Alfred Glenn. “The Convention on the Rights of the Child:
International Law Support for Children.” (p.36-37) Greenwood
Publishing Group, 1997.

As schools desegregated during the American Civil Rights movement, Mattel fashioned their doll as a slave-owning southerner.

“SLEEPYTIME GAL BARBIE”, 1965

During the surge of feminism in the 1960’s, Mattel released this doll with a pink bathroom scale that read 110lbs, and a book entitled How To Lose Weight. The book only had one page, advising “Don’t eat.”

“COLORED FRANCIE”, 1967

Even though “colored” was the politically correct term during the Civil Rights movement, people questioned whether specifying the doll’s race within her name was counter-productive for equality.

Similarly, her blonde hair and very Caucasian features came under fire, until Mattel admitted that Francie dolls were actually “regular” Barbies dyed brown. With so much negative attention, the company quickly regrouped and released a second edition Francie with modified facial features and hair color.

“GROWING UP SKIPPER”, 1975

Barbie’s little sister “grows up” by rotating a dial that pops out plastic breasts. Critics feared this over-simplified the maturation process and equated female “adulthood” with breast size.

“ORIENTAL BARBIE”, 1981

Asian American girls felt what African American girls did in 1967 with “Colored Francie”. Even though Mattel and Barbie finally acknowledged diversity, the doll’s ethnicity was her only defining quality.

“HEART FAMILY MIDGE”, 1985

Barbie’s pregnant best friend came with a removable stomach containing a fully formed fetus. Parents were upset because it misinformed children of the childbirth process, and in such a graphic manner.

“NATIVE AMERICAN BARBIE”, 1993

As with “Colored Francie” and “Oriental Barbie”, here was another non-Caucasian doll whose persona was based entirely on a racial stereotype.

“TEEN TALK BARBIE”, 1994

Shouting “Math is hard!”, Teen Talk Barbie sparked a national discussion about girls’ education, and critics accused Mattel of predisposing girls to act ditzy.

“OREO FUN BARBIE”, 1997

With this odd cross-promotion of products, critics wondered if Mattel implied African American girls should be “black on the outside, white on the inside.”

“COOL SHOPPIN’ BARBIE”, 1997

This Barbie loved to shop, but had no career and never paid bills. She came equipped with name-brand credit cards, the same ones children see their parents use. People speculated this doll promoted an irresponsible and unrealistic perception of money and consumerism.

“HAPPY FAMILY MIDGE”, 2002

This recreation of the 1985 doll was now a teenage version of Barbie’s pregnant friend. Parents said this glamorized and trivialized teen pregnancy. Many stores pulled it from their shelves.

VEGAS “SHOWGIRL BARBIE”, 2008

With a career based entirely upon her appearance and sex appeal, some say that Showgirl Barbie is only a step away from having Stripper Barbie or Playboy Bunny Barbie.

“BLACK CANARY BARBIE”, 2008

Giving Barbie a makeover as the DC Comics heroine “Black Canary” was Mattel’s attempt to cash in on the growing comic book craze. She was unofficially deemed “Dominatrix Barbie”.

“TOTALLY STYLIN’ TATTOOS BARBIE”, 2009

While some parents objected to Barbie having any kind of tattoo, others were simply mad it was a lower back tattoo (a.k.a. the “tramp stamp”) with her boyfriend’s name on it. In fact, Mattel announced in 2004 that Barbie and Ken were “no longer dating but remained friends,” so to be more specific, it’s a tramp stamp with her ex-boyfriend’s name on it.

Sources:

Mattel’s “Barbie Collector Official Site” / Barbie’s History

Fashion Doll Guide (Suzanne Prochaska) 2006-2009

“Barbie and Ken: It’s Over” (Catherine Donaldson-Evans) FOX News, 2004