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MNHQ

URGENT! Asda have signed up to our Let Girls Be Girls campaign - and would like to consult you quickly!

296 replies

HelenMumsnet · 14/04/2010 17:55

Hello.

As we hope you've already seen, George at Asda were one of the first clothing ranges to sign up to our Let Girls Be Girls campaign.

And now they've phoned us to ask for our help.

The press (who are all over this story today) have contacted Asda to point out that they're selling this T-shirt for girls.

Asda would love to know whether Mumsnetters think it's OK or not.

They say that, as they've signed up to Let Girls Be Girls, they'll take action if we have a negative reaction to the T-shirt.

Please post your comments ASAP - Asda are biting their nails...

OP posts:
EccentricaGallumbits · 14/04/2010 18:59

Again. it's narsty and cheap and ugly and all that but not 'sexual' in any way.

it's not pink, or glittery or princess or anything.

but it is still doing the 'i'm a girl therefore i have to be pretty' thang.

MaryBS · 14/04/2010 19:01

Another vote for not offended

Chandra · 14/04/2010 19:03

I don't like it, if the girl is gorgeus she doesn't need a sign across her chest explaining the obvious, and if she is not... well, just make us wonder about mum's biased views

I don't think it is bad in terms of sexualising childhood, but I think it is not really good to help girls realise that they value for what they are rather than for their looks.

shazzg · 14/04/2010 19:03

IT'S NOT THE WORST EXAMPLE OF HORRID MYSOGYNIST,LOOKS OBSESSED CRAP BUT IT'S QUITE GRIM AND UNNECCESSSARY - IS THERE A BOY'S ONE FOR SALE I WONDER?

FabIsGoingToGetFit · 14/04/2010 19:05

shazzg - please don't shout.

BertieBotts · 14/04/2010 19:06

I don't like it personally but don't think it's inappropriate. I am sure I used to have a t-shirt for DS which said "gorgeous" on it in some form or other.

I saw a horrible boy's t shirt the other day in Asda which was a picture of some stairs, and a dark doorway underneath (like cupboard under stairs) with a pair of eyes in. It was annotated "Little monster" "naughty step" "me hiding" or something like that. I was - I can't even begin to say what is wrong with this!

SpawnChorus · 14/04/2010 19:07

Agree with SPB et al. It's not to my taste at all, but I don't think it sexualises young girls. It's slightly punky and 80s retro, but not pink / glittery / leathery / crop top / high heel / raunchy slogan mini slut

I'm assuming that the skirt isn't really short though...hard to tell from the photo.

Well done to Asda for signing up to this campaign!

kickassangel · 14/04/2010 19:08

not overtly sexual, but 'gorgeous' does tend to be a word used for children or females, rarely adult males, so once again linking the whole 'women are just like children who need big strong men to protect them' ideas together.

one thing i would just say - SKORTS. I have no probs with girls wearing little dresses or skirts, but dd, age 6, regularly dispays all, cos she likes climbing/jumping etc. they also sit on the floor at school a lot. Thank goodness for the trend for leggings under dresses, or bike shorts under skirts.

like others, i would love a range of plain, unadorned t-shirts, leggings & shorts, in various colours, that you can then add the 'pretty' bits to that you like

matumble · 14/04/2010 19:08

not keen at all

MsSpentYoof · 14/04/2010 19:13

I think that it would look quite grown up on a small child, so indeed defeating the object of this campaign.

TBH, when I first looked at it I thought it looked tacky but simply because of the slogan, then when I tried to imagine a young girl in it, how the top would be baggy but the skirt would be clinging to her not yet developed hips I realised that yes, it is still sexualising young girls, simply because the style is much too old for the age range it has been directed at.

Ladies, try and imagine what this outfit would look like in action and where it would cling.

inappropriate imo

CuppaTeaJanice · 14/04/2010 19:14

My godson has a t-shirt with the slogan 'Handsome is an understatement', so yes there is a boys version, although I'm not sure if it was from Asda or not.

I'd be more concerned about the sea of pink that hits you everytime you walk into a girls clothing department, and all this princessy crap that seems to be around.

onebadbaby · 14/04/2010 19:16

Tacky and horrible - screams cheap! - but not offensive.

MaineGirl · 14/04/2010 19:18

its not a sexualised t-shirt at all, just not the kind of thing i would buy but then thats not been asked here just if its sexualising young children.

hellymelly · 14/04/2010 19:20

Well I would only put my daughters in that if every other item of clothing they own,including pyjamas,was covered in some repulsive substance.It certainly is tacky,- I think it is borderline re the issue under discussion,I hate the constant focus on girls' looks.Brilliant would have been a better word than gorgeous.Not as bad as the truly terrible sex themed t-shirts but not completely acceptable.I wouldn't be horrified to see a child in this but I certainly wouldn't be asking where it was from.

pinkteddy · 14/04/2010 19:24

Another 'No' vote from me. Please Asda, can we have some nice girls clothes in the older age range (eg: 9-10) that aren't too grown up. Another vote for trousers over the waist too. Every pair of trousers dd wears shows her 'builders bum'. Horrible, she is only 6 but very tall so needs to wear older age clothes.

strandedatsea · 14/04/2010 19:24

agree with mspentyouth - probably ok for older child but not 4/5 year old.

but good for Asda for signing up and taking the campaign seriously (are you wooing the middle-class shoppers back after the Walmart docu?)

nickytwotimes · 14/04/2010 19:25

It's borderline imo.
Thin end of wedge etc wrt girls being valued for looks.

Personally, I am more offended by the presence of pink to the exclusion of all other colours for wee girls, but that's a whole other thread.

JoeyBettany · 14/04/2010 19:26

I wouldn't buy it for my dd. I wouldn't buy anything inviting strangers to comment on her looks.

Bluebell99 · 14/04/2010 19:27

I don't like it but am not offended by it. (my dd was wearing a t shirt yesterday with the slogan "prettiest of them all" but it was more stylish with appliqued letters . But the skirt looks as if it would be very short?!

OracleOfDelphinium · 14/04/2010 19:29

Cheap, tacky and tasteless - but not sexualised IMO. Personally, I think Asda (and most other places) are so full of cheap and slightly tarty-looking tat that I wouldn't single this outfit out as a particular offender. But I detest slogan t-shirts anyway, along with football t-shirts, 'character' t-shirts, etc, etc, etc, etc.

My DD is six and, like Pink Teddy's, is very tall and wears age 9-10 clothes. There's nothing at all for her in Asda.

MrsShu · 14/04/2010 19:29

does pink teddy's have that ' in the wrong place all the time?

brimfull · 14/04/2010 19:31

i don't like the t-shirt

I think it sexualises in that it asks the reader to judge the looks of a child

BicycleBelle · 14/04/2010 19:32

Horrible, horrible, horrible. Reinforces the constant obsession that only looks matter. And the outfit is yuck also.

pinkteddy · 14/04/2010 19:35

What on earth do you mean mrs shu?

Kbear · 14/04/2010 19:35

don't like it, wouldn't buy it for my DD = hate slogans, never buy anything with slogans on, especially hate attitude ones and sexy ones.... yuk

and while you're here ASDA.... can you size your clothes more realistically - not every child is slim and petite. The clothes for young girls are cut for a teenage figure (ie hips and boobs) and not straight up and down like little girls.