Welcome to Gaia! ::


24,500 Points
  • Cool Cat 500
  • Party Animal 100
  • Destroyer of Cuteness 150
Quote:

A T-shirt being sold at Target’s stores and on its website has sparked a backlash online, as many customers are claiming the top is offensive to women.

The black shirt, which has the word “trophy” in bold white letters across the front and costs $12.99, has many slamming the retailer for treating women and girls as objects. A number of customers have been posting photos of the T-shirt, which some say they spotted in the junior’s section, on social media, publicly criticizing what they say is a sexist move on Target’s part. While the shirt has reportedly been on sale since June, it’s only recently gained steam on social media.

“Dear Target, why are you selling shirts that describe women as obtainable objects such as trophies?” wrote one user on Target’s Facebook page. “It’s honestly appalling. I’m nobody’s trophy, and I sincerely hope that in your eyes, women are more than something to be won.”

Plenty of women echoed those sentiments. “Losing outdated, ridiculous attitudes toward women could be helped if everyone, Target included, chose to stop marketing to women as though they were objects. When was the last time you saw a men’s shirt that said ‘provider’ across the chest? Let’s all do what we can to lose the stereotypes,” wrote one Facebook user. And in a tweet accompanying a photo of the shirt on display, one user added “@Target under what circumstances should any human being wear a T-shirt that indicates that they are a ‘trophy’?”

In a statement sent Tuesday to Yahoo Parenting, Target said the shirt is part of a collection for brides, despite the claim by many customers that it’s being marketed to teen girls. “It is never our intention to offend anyone, and we always appreciate receiving feedback from our guests,” wrote a spokesperson. “The [‘Trophy’ shirt] is part of a collection of engagement and wedding shirts that are available in our women’s and plus size departments. The collection also included shirts that say ‘Team Bride,’ ‘Mrs.,’ and ‘Bride.’ These shirts are intended as a fun wink and we have received an overwhelmingly positive response from our guests.”

One woman has even started a petition on Change.org demanding that Target stop selling the shirt. “The truth is that millions of women and young girls are taken as ‘trophies’ every year in war, sex trafficking, slavery, and rape,” writes Amanda R., the author of the petition. “The perpetrators see women as ‘things’ that are bought, sold, traded, and ‘won’ through force where they are then beaten, abused, tortured, raped, and murdered for the sole purpose of ‘victory.’ The word trophy should not refer to any person, man, or woman because we are not THINGS — we are human beings. Labeling any person as a ‘Trophy’ is demeaning their humanity and objectifying them as a tangible object that can be bought, used, and disposed of.” The petition, which was posted online in June, has received more than 700 signatures so far.

In response to the individual Facebook posts, Target expressed appreciation to users for sharing their opinions. “Thanks for reaching out to us! It’s never our intention to offend guests with our merchandise. This has been shared with the appropriate teams,” it wrote in response to one of the photos.

Some of those customers have posted online defending the shirt. Wrote one fan of the shirt on Twitter: “There’s nothing wrong with selling a ‘trophy’ shirt. That’s just letting people know, if you get me you’ve won.” Another added, “I would honestly buy the trophy shirt from @target. I think I’m great, and I want people to know how great I am.”

But child development specialist and body image expert Dr. Robyn Silverman says that while many customers may be able to laugh it off, the shirt sends the wrong message. “Some may say this shirt is all done in fun, but many women want to see themselves, and want to be seen, as more than just a prize someone wins and shows off to others,” she tells Yahoo Parenting. “‘Trophy wife’ typically suggests that a woman does nothing more than look pretty for the man who ‘scored’ her.”

And to the chorus of online commenters who say those who have a problem with the shirt just shouldn’t buy it, she says that isn’t a solution. “The problem can go deeper than the surface, and the solution may be more than just avoidance,” she says. “The more our young girls and boys see these messages, and there are so many each day, the more they internalize them as truth and expectation. The media does enough to demean women and box them in — I’d rather see positive words on tees that show what’s so amazing about the women wearing them rather than a label that tells them that they are simply a prize to be won.”

Source


And the shirt: (Which on the online site is oddly listed in the Junior's section and not Women's. Might need to fix that Target.):

User Image

Oh Target, I would expect this from Spencer's. Not a posh shop like you. whee
Meh, if they don't like the t-shirt, just don't buy it. After all, say Target had produced 10000 of those t-shirts, but only 100 sold within the next year (just to give some numbers), chances are, Target would not reproduce those shirts because they are not profitable.

Invisible Player

To me that is no worse than the baby onesies that say "Does this diaper make me look fat" or the like. I hate those onesies.

Eloquent Lunatic

10,425 Points
  • Perfect Attendance 400
  • Tycoon 200
  • Wall Street 200
Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Capitalism

13,000 Points
  • Forum Sophomore 300
  • Signature Look 250
  • Money Never Sleeps 200
If it were just this, I'd think SJWs were on a rampage again, but considering Target also had caped girls shirts saying "looking for a hero" and similar bullshit, as well as other shirts working into this lovely pattern. Target needs to punch one of their marketers in the face.

Twinky Dave's Senpai

Unleashed Dragon

I'm with the whole don't like it don't buy it crowd.

If a woman wants to label herself as a trophy wife for humor or if she believes it who cares. There are way more offensive shirts out there if we want to really make a big deal outta clothes with text.

Magical Seeker

3,850 Points
  • Timid 100
  • Signature Look 250
  • Bunny Spotter 50
A Redhead Angel
To me that is no worse than the baby onesies that say "Does this diaper make me look fat" or the like. I hate those onesies.
I agree.

Snuggly Buddy

29,150 Points
  • Conversationalist 100
  • Mark Twain 100
  • Conventioneer 300
Oh PUHLeeease!
People need to find other things to get their panties in a knot over.*
(* see how I worked in a sexist phrase in a thread about a sexist shirt? lol)
As others have said - Capitalism - like it buy it. Don't like it vote with your wallet. What doesn't sell is removed from the shelves.

The ranters appear to be ignoring the fact that it is women choosing to purchase these products.
If a man labels a woman "trophy" or "spoiled b***h" or "party whore" or asks her to wear super low cleavage / super short skirts / shorts to look sexy then yeah - sexist.

But if a woman chooses to label herself that or to wear clothing that draws attention to her femininity that is not sexist. Or at best it is a woman choosing to be sexist against her own sex.

I see plenty of clothing I consider offensive. The "******** You!" tshirts are an example but so is any clothing designed to look like it was made out of an American flag. Personally I find that disrespectful. But I recognize that some folks disagree and feel they are being more patriotic by embracing the colors of their flag. They buy it and wear it, I don't. Problem solved.

But if you go remove every women's clothing choice that could be considered sexist if a man demanded the women wear it then pretty soon the women's department will start looking as boring as the men's clothing department. If you don't want to be overcharged for jeans that come with holes and paint stains or sparkly shirts that proudly proclaim "b***h!" then don't buy them.

And I feel the same about men's clothing that could be considered demeaning. There is just less of it other than offensive t-shirts. When overseas I remember seeing a fat American tourist wearing a shirt that said "World's largest supply of natural gas". IMO it was a poor choice but said tourist presumably dressed himself that morning.

Sparkly Shapeshifter

12,950 Points
  • Megathread 100
  • Lavish Tipper 200
  • Person of Interest 200
Some people really are sexy trophies to their (usually older) lovers. It's a fact of life. Get over it.

Snuggly Buddy

29,150 Points
  • Conversationalist 100
  • Mark Twain 100
  • Conventioneer 300
Cold Sandstorm
A Redhead Angel
To me that is no worse than the baby onesies that say "Does this diaper make me look fat" or the like. I hate those onesies.
I agree.


Yeah, I hate kid clothing or clothing about kids that perpetuates bad stereotypes / self image.

I'm hard to buy for. One year for Christmas my daughter got me a t-shirt that said something about how I pump my grandkids full of sugar and send them home. I would have been embarrassed to wear it because personally I look down on grandparents who act to undermine what their children are trying to teach their own children. My grandson is a little bit ADD/ADHD so I particularly avoid giving him any sugar unless he can go work it off on my trampoline or playing in my yard. And even then I keep it minimal.

Fortunately the shirt was too small so wearing it was not really an option.
And my daughter and I did talk about it.
But I've also seen the toddler version of that shirt that is worded more like "Grandpa / Grandma ..."

Snuggly Buddy

29,150 Points
  • Conversationalist 100
  • Mark Twain 100
  • Conventioneer 300
So amusing (to me) thought.

If they sell a Wonder Woman or Xena Warrior Princess type outfit are they "being sexist" or are they "embracing and encouraging strong, independant, self reliant women"? rofl

Interesting Fairy

15,340 Points
  • Forum Regular 100
  • Athlete 50
  • Bunny Spotter 50
Maniacal-Marshmallow
David2074
So amusing (to me) thought.

If they sell a Wonder Woman or Xena Warrior Princess type outfit are they "being sexist" or are they "embracing and encouraging strong, independant, self reliant women"? rofl

Uh, what dose that have to do with anything?
I know tons of women who like Wonder Women and Xena, and would totally buy merch of it.
Don't really see what point you were trying to make....

Anyways, it's a really dumb shirt, and not even that clever.
Target you should know better.


User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.

Kawaii Shoujo

PantheaMarlon
Maniacal-Marshmallow
David2074
So amusing (to me) thought.

If they sell a Wonder Woman or Xena Warrior Princess type outfit are they "being sexist" or are they "embracing and encouraging strong, independant, self reliant women"? rofl

Uh, what dose that have to do with anything?
I know tons of women who like Wonder Women and Xena, and would totally buy merch of it.
Don't really see what point you were trying to make....

Anyways, it's a really dumb shirt, and not even that clever.
Target you should know better.


User Image - Blocked by "Display Image" Settings. Click to show.
I can totally see Xena screaming that rofl rofl rofl rofl

mabu janai's Husbando

Handsome Hero

I actually remember seeing this shirt at Target.

I saw it and thought, "oh, whatever" and moved onto buying a top that suited my style. :/

Quick Reply

Submit
Manage Your Items
Other Stuff
Get GCash
Offers
Get Items
More Items
Where Everyone Hangs Out
Other Community Areas
Virtual Spaces
Fun Stuff
Gaia's Games
Mini-Games
Play with GCash
Play with Platinum