This past week, popular clothing franchise 'Forever 21' has had yet another controversial graphic t-shirt epidemic. Earlier this year, they were scolded for their men's graphic tee which read, "Don't Say Maybe If You Want To Say No," which was considered to have a rapey connotation. The shirt was immediately removed from the franchise's website and any Forever 21 store that carried it. This time, the franchise is experiencing issues with a line of children's clothing that was recently released. The clothing in question is yet again graphic tee sayings for the younger male generation.
These, as well as the cover photo, are examples are the graphic tees for children that were deemed inappropriate. "It reinforces a harmful stereotype about boys that says their value and worth is dependent on how many girls or women they can ‘conquer,'" University of Kentucky professor of psychology Christia Spears Brown, author of Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue: How to Raise Your Kids Free of Gender Stereotypes, stated according to Yahoo!. "It sexualizes children at an age when they should not be sexualized," Spears Brown continued.
Conscious of losing customers due to yet another controversial "scandal," Forever 21 reacted immediately by also pulling these children's graphic tees from their website. "..We sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by the products," stated a representative for the chain store to Refinery29.
Forever 21 isn't the only franchise selling shirts deeming sayings such as these, many other stores selling both children's and adult clothing for both sexes tend to have graphic tees with similar sayings as well. Look at Spencer's line of baby clothing; they're meant for humor, not to offend. It's not fair to Forever 21 that they must get rid of their product, if the other stores can keep theirs as well. Yes, the sayings can be offensive to some, but to others they are just cute clothing sayings, especially for children. Who can resist a good pun like the "chicks are all over me" with a bunch of cartoon baby chicks across the front. It's adorable and in good taste. The other tees Forever 21 had with just the writing, maybe not so much. But again, the point of the clothing's sayings aren't meant to offend, they are meant to be humorous and/or cute for whomever adorns it. But to get back to Spears Brown's comment about the "...harmful stereotype about boys...," who's to say that the shirt is strictly for male children? Parents can buy whatever shirt they want for whatever gender child; just like with toys. Barbies aren't just made for little girls and Ninja Turtles aren't just made for little boys. Just to clarify.
Immediately taking action in order to avoid customer dissatisfaction tells a lot about Forever 21 as a company franchise, their hearts are in the right place.
