Girls t shirt from next that says, you are not properly dressed without a smile

[LardLizard]

Wtf !!!!

Nobody has said anything about it being offensive. The issue with it is that women and girls are encouraged to be nice and compliant and smiley. "Give is a smile, love" is something most women have heard from strangers. "Cheer up, it might never happen" So it's really not a message that we want to be sending little girls. That they are only acceptable when looking happy and smiley. Obviously, one t shirt is not a big deal (particularly if it doesn't exist!) but if it's part of an ongoing socialisation of girls to be compliant, and to take on stereotypical "feminine" behaviour of that sort then it's best avoided, no?

I remember a time when our tshirts all just said ‘I shot JR’ and we all got along.

But that t-shirt does exist and is in sale for men/boys @BetrandRussell

• someone actually linked to an actual t-shirt with those words on, for men.

This debate reminds me of the time my militant feminist lecturer introduced herself, and feminism, to class full of fresh faced freshers like this:
“Boys! Put your hands up if you’ve cleaned the bathroom this week”

“See!! See!!! It’s still a huge problem”

She didn’t stop to ask the girls if we had cleaned a bathroom. none of us had we were all living in college and had cleaners every day

it took me a long time to realise that actual importance of feminism after that ridiculous introduction. focussing on issues that don’t even exist just wastes energy that could be spent on actual real problems.

Some people love to be offended...I’m sure someone out there is offended becuase the sky is blue.

Nobody is "offended".

"focussing on issues that don’t even exist just wastes energy that could be spent on actual real problems."
This always puzzles me. How much energy does it take to notice and comment on the tiny things that perpetuate sex stereotypes?

Your tutor was obviously bonkers. Did her saying something clealy bonkers really mean that it then took you a long time to realise that feminism was important? What was the rest of her talk like?

I once saw a man at Glastonbury wear a tshirt that said 'I fucked your girlfriend' ...brilliant!

Er, now Malificent, I am not easily offended but that is every level wrong. What a wanker (probably quite literally, can’t see the ladies queuing up for that).

you’ve missed the point betrand - this t-shirt has been shown to be sold for men . It’s exactly the same as the cleaning bathrooms at uni example.

I thought we were now talking about a hypothetical t shirt! There really are plenty like it marketed at girls. And the principle is an important one.
What was the rest of your bonkers tutor's lecture about? Why do you think she had such a profound effect on you?

But if there are also t-shirts like it marketed at boys I am baffled what the hand wringing is about

@BertrandRussell well the OP is obviously.

There isn't any "hand wringing" Honestly.

And yes-this t shirt, it turns out, is marketed at both men and women. But that is incredibly unusual. I would put half my overdraft on at least 90% of people, when shown the slogan out of context, would think it was a girl's/women's one.

Despite the fact it derives from a song about men?

Despite the fact it derives from a song about men?

Exactly! Although any excuse to twist and turn into an opportunity for offence and picking on women.
You can find offense in anything if you look hard enough or are determined to see it.

Some people love to be offended...I’m sure someone out there is offended becuase the sky is blue.

I'm offended at the sky being blue as it's grey here today and it's not fair

“Despite the fact it derives from a song about men?”

I didn’t know it was before this thread told me! But I suspect that is why this particular T shirt is marketed to men as well as women. My own teenage ds would certainly wear it in a sort of knowing post ironic way. The oceans of similar slogans aren’t marketed at boys and men, though.

Could we possibly stop talking about hand wringing and pearl clutching and taking offense? It’s quite difficult to talk about these things if people ratchet up other people’s responses like that.

You're the one doing that when there is nothing here to be offended about.

ooh,ooh 80s - 1982 I think?

That's the film, the stage show is 1977

No-nothing to be offended about, I agree. But definitely something to be talked about, surely? Do you not think the messages that we send little girls are important?

Yes. But this isnt the message you have decided it is. You don't get to put your own slant on everything and then berate other people for not being on board with it. You're just wrong on this one. Try the next.

Berate? Honestly?

I am lol at the idea that having random men chat to you on the street and having men shout "smile love" at you, is "being targeted by paedophiles".

?

If only the bar was so low! I'd love it if older men "chatting up" underage girls was something that the police took a dim view of but sadly not.

I love the was also that people are pretending that small girls wearing this will be taken to be telling men to smile "because that's what the songs about!"

The other thing claimed that the phrase "You're never fully dressed without a smile" isn't saying that you should smile an awful lot while you're out and about is a bit bonkers too.

As it is, seems the tshirt is imaginary which means the OP is very weird.

ho hum

yes, berate, with your pass ag asides and patronising sneers. It's no suprise to you that a lot of people find your posting irritating and a little offensive, I'm sure?