Back to School Shocking...

I love fashion.  Basically everyone knows that.  Some of you will remember the blog posts I did based on Shari Braendel's book.  This is a blog post she did last week.  She basically read my mind.  Its amazing what stores sell for "teen girls" to wear.

 

Here's what she said:

It's Back to School Shopping (Shocking) time again. Last week, my assistant Jill Marquis, took her teenage daughter shopping and in the middle of her shopping trip I got a text from her that simply said, "Shoot Me." Part of the reason she wanted to be put out of her misery is that so much of what is available to our girls these days is simply ridiculous. When she spilled the drudgery of her shopping trip I asked her to write this blog post. Read on:

I took my fifteen-year-old daughter shopping last week, along with about a gazillion other people, in an attempt to pick up some staples for the coming school year. Now I won’t go into the trauma and drama that usually surrounds clothes shopping with a teenaged girl, that’s a whole other blog post, or maybe a book, but I will tell you about the latest fashions for teens that I saw. That’s what shocked me. And trust me, I’m not easily shocked. In the search for the ever-elusive perfect clothing, we were in a very popular (judging from the crowds) place called the Wet Seal. This store caters to young women, selling everything from jeans to intimates. A lot of the clothes were fine, that is until I turned around and saw the wall of graphic tees. Lots of shirts with cute sayings on them, right?

Not so much…here are some examples:

I’m Not Shy, I Just Don’t Like You

Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Pretty 

 

Everyone Here Is Awesome Except You

Shall I keep going?

Born This Way

Reckless

I’m Bad

 

If Your Single, So am I (They didn't even get the spelling right)

 

Wanna Make Out

 

Nobody Remembers The Nice Girl

 

This is what society is selling our young women. What starts out as a bit sarcastic quickly moves right past suggestive and into propositions. But most of us don’t look at it like that – it’s just funny, a little suggestive, a joke.

 But it’s not – the message is not subliminal, it’s a full on assault of our girls.

What do these pithy little sayings mean?

“I’m not responsible for my own actions, I’m Born This Way”.

“I don’t think things through, I’m, Reckless”.

 

“I’m Bad because I think it’s easier and more fun than making the right choice”.

“I’ll abandon my standards to be with you because If You’re Single So am I”.

 

“I have no self-worth, I’m desperate to be popular, desperate to be loved,

 so do you Wanna Make Out?”.

And, in my opinion, the worst one:

“I will do what I have to in order to be noticed, I will cheapen myself, I will give myself away, I will be mean and hateful because Nobody Remembers The Nice Girl.”

Maybe I’ve got the messages wrong, maybe I’m crazy. It’s not like that’s what the shirts really say…but that’s what I see. And I see the insidious attack on our daughters’ minds that puts their souls at risk. All that from a little tee shirt.

Mom’s, talk to your daughters, engage their friends. Ask their opinions, share yours. Starting the conversation will open their eyes – while they might think it’s about fashion, it’s really about faith. - Jill Marquis, Event Coordinator for Shari Braendel

 

Ladies, talk and talk and talk to your daughters about what they wear. But don't just give them RULES, give them REASONS. Just like Jill stated above, tell them what the sayings on the shirts mean. Ask them if it's wise to spend their (or your) money in a store that sells items like this. I simply wouldn't spend one cent in a store that has clothes like that.

Help your daughters understand that she is beautiful and amazing. I know, I know, I'm preaching to the choir, but let's all stand together and refuse to shop in places that have such degrading things for our girls to wear. One person DOES make a difference. And one plus one plus one adds up. Shari Braendal. 

 

I love you girls!

Amberly