This has GOT to stop.
Posted June 17th, 2009 by Gina Robison-BillupsHave you heard about the Calvin Klein ad in New York City that shows a young girl in a threesome/foursome with young men?
Moms are outraged, and they should be.
With child pornography and child slavery on the rise, we can look to folks like Calvin Klein for glorifying sex with young girls.
This is totally inappropriate. The girl is topless kissing one guy while the other guy has his hands down her pants.
For those of us who have daughters who are sought after daily by predators on MySpace and other internet sites. This ad really just says to kids, “Girls are here to be used for our pleasure.”
Even Oprah Winfrey has said that there is something in America that silently feels that something is all right with abusing women and children sexually; otherwise, we’d be more outraged and enforce tougher legal action. This ad proves Oprah’s theory that somewhere in the minds of people, child pornography, abuse of women, and child prostitution are really okay…and that it’s the girl’s fault anyway – so she deserves it.
It turns out Calvin Klein has done this before. I found this CNN Alert from August 28, 1995:
Calvin Klein strips ads
NEW YORK (CNN) — Fashion designer Calvin Klein apparently is bowing to public criticism. He will stop running his new controversial advertising campaign featuring teenagers in suggestive poses. Critics have denounced the ads as child pornography.
In a full-page ad in The New York Times on Monday, Klein says the ads will be canceled partly because they have been misunderstood. “We continue to believe in the positive message of these ads,” the ad said.
Did the Calvin Klein folks think that 14 years later with our over-sexualized TV programming, people would be more tolerant of “soft” child porn in ads?
Is he right?
I don’t think so. Moms around the country are coming unglued over this. It’s been reported to me that they are calling in by the droves. But the battle has to continue, and we continue to fight this misguided idea that our girls (and boys) are objects to be used. Parent complacency – not bombs, drugs, alcohol, or sex – is what will undermine and destroy our children. Parents cannot be complacent in these situations, and think it will “just pass”. There’s already an uphill battle to fight for women’s self-esteem. This is a crushing blow to the esteem of young girls.
To voice your opinion and stop this ad: Call 866-513-0513 and make a comment below!
Maybe moms should really show Calvin Klein how they feel about this ad and stop buying his products. Then he will know that you don’t mess with moms.
Gina Robison-Billups
Founder/President
The National Association For Moms In Business
www.MIBN.org – Moms In Business National
12 Comments
July 7, 2009 at 4:04 pm by Geralyn Bywater McLaughlinHere is a great resource…the work of writer/researcher/teacher Gail Dines. Loads of information for action
http://stoppornculture.org/resources1.html
Check out Stop Porn Culture
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June 19, 2009 at 9:39 am by JoyousCalvin Klein is only the tip of the iceberg, the larger portion is where young girls are encouraged to compete against each other in increasingly lewd dress and conduct in order to gain affection.
In a culture where entertainment has become the measuring stick for many young girls we can’t attack one ad without also taking into account television shows like The Bachelor where women prostitute themselves to “win.”
Somewhere along the line we need to start teaching our girls how to respect themselves, as strong, independent, accomoplished women and that true love is not cheap or a spectator sport.
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June 18, 2009 at 6:58 pm by stephanie bovaI saw an ad for Rick Warren’s outfit, a picture of a billboard that said “YOUR LIFE MATTERS.” Maybe Calvin Klein should put out a billboard like that to make up for the other one. Including “your life matters” no matter whose jeans you are wearing, and preferably you are decently dressed regardless of the jeans. Calvin, do art work for some tasteful porn museum.
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June 18, 2009 at 6:53 pm by stephanie bovagross. Erotica, doesn’t belong on a billboard. Artistically arranged, though. I’m glad my granddaughter isn’t exposed to this but truth to tell she probably wouldn’t be interested.
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June 18, 2009 at 11:51 am by JenniferRegarding the Calvin Klein ad, I must ask, what were the parents of this child thinking? Do they not need to assume some responsibility? No amount of money is worth subjecting your child to that degrading behavior.
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hsl Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 10:54 am
@Jennifer,
The model is apparently a 23 year old–so there have been a lot of people on some sites who seem to think that makes the add okay and no problem! W
No matter the age of the people in the photo, the intent of the image is the same and the affront to all who are forced to see it when they are in the area of the ad is just as despicable…maybe more so, since all the people involved appear old enough to be complicit in the act.
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Any Good Parent Would Be Bothered By This! As A Mom Of Two Daughters Under Two, Today Is Scary. Let Alone When They Turn Teens In 10 Or So Years. This World Is A LOT Scarier Than It Was 10 Years Ago – Or Maybe That’s Because I Was In My 20′s Then And A Lot More Naive – No, Both – It Is A Lot Scarier & Something Needs To Be Done.
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RevDox Reply:
June 18th, 2009 at 11:59 am
@Shanni Einer,
The world is scarier than 10 years ago?
No, you are more scared. “The world” exists only in our interpretations of it.
If you think today’s world is scary you ought to spend some time reading history books.
The world gets better every day.
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Our world has been changed by movies, television, magazines, etc., but the internet and cell phones have monumentally changed our world!
ALL PARENTS should monitor internet and cell phone use and remove privileges when abused.
One of the biggest mistakes our school board made was to allow students to bring cell phones into our schools and classrooms. This has been a MAJOR headache in the high school where I work because we are constantly dealing with illegal use of the phones. Kids use them when they shouldn’t to get caught and suspended for a nice “vacation”…which is ridiculous.
I feel for parents who are raising youngsters today and in the future. You have your work cut out for you.
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June 18, 2009 at 8:21 am by Leslie M.All I can say is that I am glad to see that there are parents as bothered as I am by all the images and messages our children (and ourselves) are subjected to on a daily basis. I can’t even take my daughters through most checkout lines at the grocery stores anymore without them seeing the magazine covers, almost all of which have the word “sex” on them in big letters somewhere. Frustrating.
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June 17, 2009 at 9:52 pm by Amy M.I consider myself to be a very open-minded person, but as the mother of two teenaged boys and two young daughters I am sick of all the images that they are exposed to daily. I wonder how they will ever have healthy relationships if they expect all girls to behave in the ways that are portrayed on MTV (and television in general), and in clothing ads.
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June 17, 2009 at 5:43 pm by faith ShaheenOur daughters need to live up to good standards. Ads like this contradict
any teachings we do that encourage self worth.
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