I’ve mentioned demeaning t-shirts in the past, but I figured it was worth another mention. Shirts like the one here are becoming more and more prevalent, at least it seems that way from the number of online stores selling them and ads on sites. Fortunately I haven’t seen many people wearing the sort of demeaning and derogatory shirts I’ve seen mentioned in blogs online.
The terribly sad thing is these shirts target teenagers, youngins right at that age where they are developing their perceptions of themselves and all that. Here we are allowing them to be shaped and reinforced by t-shirts that embrace sad stereotypes and oppressive roles we’ve worked so hard to overcome. We are putting shackles on our own feet now.
I agree with your point about these being marketed to preteens and teenagers, I could see this on a 20 something, as a joke type thing, but I think a teenager being sold this message is wrong. When i was a teen it was the t-shirts with “Girl Power” and empowerment messages, I’m wondering what caused the reversal? Maybe like all other clothing styles, adult themed clothing is getting made in smaller and smaller sizes.