Padded Bikini Tops for 7-year-olds

(picture from FOX News and originally on abercrombiekids.com. It is not there today.)
Um, I have a seven-year-old boy and I cannot imagine one of his little friends-who happens to be a girl-strutting around in one of these. I would seriously be horrified. It's a pretty sick idea to get kids this young dressing in a sexual manner. If you agree or don't agree, feel free to object to my comments, but I wasn't about to post this story without saying it's just wrong. (thanks to Audrey for emailing it to me :))

Abercrombie said it will not remove the item, but it will re-categorize it. Here's a statement posted on FOX NEWS:

"We've re-categorized the Ashley swimsuit as padded. We agree with those who say it is best 'suited' for girls age 12 and older," it stated on the social networking website.

The company last week attracted criticism from moms and child development experts who were aghast over the garment and the damage it could potentially do to young girls in making them feel inadequate with their pre-adolescent bodies.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/03/30/abercrombie-fitch-removes-push-girls-bikini-description-following-outcry/#ixzz1I78GA7kX

FROM ABC:

Would you buy your pre-teen daughter a push-up bikini top? One major retailer hopes you will. Abercrombie & Fitch, a popular store among teenagers, recently introduced the "push-up triangle," marketing the swim top to girls as young as 7 or 8.

But of the parents "GMA" spoke to, the reaction was unanimous -- no one would buy one for their child.

"I thought it was a joke when I first heard about it. Then, I realized, it's so crazy, it must be true," Dr. Michael Bradley, a child psychologist, told "Good Morning America" on Saturday.

Bradley said the American Psychological Association has warned in the past that retailers were going after young girls. "They're targeting girls as young as age 4 to be sexualized creatures," Bradley said.

In response to the public outcry, Abercrombie renamed the top on its online store the "striped triangle." The padding remains, however, as does the outrage. Many viewers wrote in to the "GMA" shoutout board and Facebook page.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Abercrombie and Fitch Controversy

I got this message from a newsanchormom.com reader:

"I've read your blog and thought you may be interested in this story, both professionally and as a blogger. My wife and I are associated with Nationwide Children's and are in the process of organizing a non-profit child advocacy. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the attached story." Dave Osborn

The story is about the clothing store Abercrombie and Fitch giving $10 million toward the construction of a new emergency room for Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Some are outraged the Abercrombie name would be seen in the ER because they believe the store promotes teens wearing racy, provocative clothes.

Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood said research shows racy marketing campaigns can be linked to more kids having eating disorders, low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

CNBC ran the full story this week.

What do I think? I used to wear Abercrombie clothes when I was in high school and I didn't think they were that racy. Then, I had my own kids and I think I am more conservative or maybe the clothes are skimpier now. I have seen 12-year-old girls in skirts that don't cover their behinds. That is just wrong. I think there's a big difference between tweens wearing these clothes and someone who is a senior in high school or in college. I can see why parents of tweens are upset with the advertising. Of course middle school kids going into high school want to wear what their peers are wearing. It's only natural. That would be a hard battle as a parent.

Here's the link to the Abercrombie and Fitch photo gallery. The first shot is of the back side of a boy, showing his behind. Then you see a girl with long hair who doesn't appear to be wearing a shirt. Hmmmm..

However, the picture I posted above doesn't bother me.

What do you think about Abercrombie's marketing campaign? Is is too racy?

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

P.S. Because I used the words Abercrombie & Fitch, some of the google ads are inappropriate. I apologize and will try to fix that. The ads are not picked by me. The computer just looks for words that match my text. Apologies!