I know you can't fight cool -- and some labels just reek of prestige. I see Abercrombie and Fitch labels everywhere (it's the brand that's meant to be sported to indicate you've arrived). When we had exchange students in from France last year, all the families met at the malls so that they could take home suitcases full of the best name brands, and that's when I learned that a slinky little t-shirt from A&F was ridiculously expensive.
So now there's a "New College" line, in case their goal hasn't been obvious enough:
The first A&F T-shirt pictures a young girl opening her blouse - exposing herself. A&F titles the image: "Show the Twins". The second picture is of a female running nude. A&F titles it: "Female streaking encouraged." The next Abercrombie & Fitch T-shirt is entitled: "Female Students Wanted for Sexual Research"
Abercrombie & Fitch does not merely sell a popular line of clothing -- they sell a lifestyle. And because A&F clothing is popular among teens and college kids, the influence of their sex-as-recreation lifestyle is widespread.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention reports that Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a major public health challenge in the United States. CDC estimates that approximately 19 million new infections occur each year� almost half of them among young people 15 to 24 years of age [Is that the "research" the stupid t-shirt is talking about?].
And feminists wonder why women aren't taken seriously. Images here, as well as information on how to grumble. I doubt you can stop them from being their boorish selves, but you can reconsider those more innocent "billboards" you let your own kids wear to prove they're hip. It's not a lifestyle we can afford to ignore.
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