to object to misogynistic song lyrics on childs hoodie

[maevesport]

Hoodie for an 8 year old boy recieved from elderly relatives as a gift has the partially changed R&B song lyrics ..."I got 99 problems but Bench aint one " on the front.Bench is the clothing brand and replaces the word "bitch" from the original lyrics.
I would not put this on my son and think its inappropriate for a little boys top.
Why would a clothing company think its cool to introduce the idea of calling women/girls b*hes to a child ???
Obviously well meaning relatives had no idea.

[squeakytoy]

And presumably your 8 year old has no idea either, so I dont really see the problem.. it says Bench, not Bitch.

[juneybean]

How are they introducing the word bitch?

[scentednappyhag]

At the risk of going a bit Louis Walsh, they've taken the song and made it their own. (I actually cringed writing that )
They aren't being offensive or sexist, just saying that their brand is good. I'm pretty meh about it to be honest.

[juneybean]

scented

[Tweasels]

But it isn't mysoginistic. It doesn't make sense but that's not the point. Unless your son starts doing some research on the origins of his hoodie slogan which is surely highly unlikely then there is no issue.

The song itself is vile though, agreed on that.

[catgirl1976]

Given the child doesn't know of the original song I don't see the problem.

[missymoomoomee]

It wouldn't bother me, its not like he has the actual lyric embazoned across his top. He would have to do an awful lot of research to link the two things together. I would place money on him hearing the word bitch in the school playground long before he associates it with his top.

[EverlongLovesHerChristmasRobin]

I wouldn't buy bench full stop.

[TarkaTheOtter]

YANBU, but I'm not keen on any branded/logoed clothes for children.

[Tweasels]

And ironically, DS probably doesn't have 99 problems just 1......His Bench Hoodie.

[maevesport]

Yes,I take the point that he would not know the song.
I guess I think its an ugly song with ugly lyrics and now its associated with a childs top and I think there is no need for it.

[Tweasels]

Just give it to a charity shop if it bothers you. It doesn't matter whether YABU or not, if you don't like it, get rid.

[winterhill]

Not much different to the FCUK campaign.

Doesn't bother me to be honest.

[catgirl1976]

It's not that bad a song. He simply says that if his friend is having relationship issues he has sympathy for him, and although he himself has loads of problems, girlfriend issues do not feature amongst them.

[maevesport]

Interesting to hear other views.
Would anyone of you choose to buy this for a son or as a gift ?

[mayorquimby]

on the plus side this thread made me put on Jay-Z
cracking tune

[catgirl1976]

No. Bench is not to my taste and I don't really like obvioulsy branded clothing full stop. Especially on children

[squeakytoy]

I wouldnt buy Bench as I think it is totally chavvy, but that is just my own personal opinion.

If it had said a brand that I do wear I would if I liked the design and colour and price.

[squeakytoy]

mayor, the AC/DC back in black mix is very good.

[mayorquimby]

just youtubed it. Nice recomendation, that is brilliant.

[QuanticoVirginia]

But loads of people have used that phrase (just google I've got 99 problems but) and added their own comment re the one thing they don't have a problem with. Nothing to do with the word b**ch unless of course they are talking about a female dog!!!


I don't even think that phrase originated from in the Jay-Z song. I 've heard load so of variations over the years along the lines of I've got a million problems but (insert person/item/product/whatever) isn't one of them

[missymoomoomee]

I wouldn't buy anything branded simply because I wouldn't pay the money for it, but my brother buys my kids branded stuff, if he bought that hoodie then I wouldn't have a problem with my son wearing it.

[mayorquimby]

"Nothing to do with the word b**ch unless of course they are talking about a female dog!!!"

which is exactly what Jay-Z is talking about.
The song is an effort to tackle issues of racism and discrimination in American culture.

[Tweasels]

I don't think the general concept of the song is the issue. It's lovely that MrZ is having a positive time in the romance department and also nice that he is chatting with and no doubt supporting his chums with difficult relationship issues.

I think maeves concern maybe, his preference for calling his women friends "bitches".

Unless he is having the sex with dogs then his terminology is incorrect.