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“I’m sexy enough…to keep you waiting” is the new slogan of the Candie’s Foundation/Seventeen Magazine gear to combat teen pregnancy.
I am so pissed that my anger is coming from multiple directions. Let me see if I can make any kind of sense.
First, nothing like throwing the word sexy all over the chests of teenage girls…
Then of course there is sexy/virgin complex that we keep pushing as a society. I could go into it more, but Jessica Valenti does a much better job.
And I’m going there…but is this a shirt focused on being a tease? My confusion comes from the usage of the word “sexy” by the Candies Foundation. It appears they want sexy to mean strong and empowered…perhaps even (shock) a feminist. Instead, they decide to play with a word that according to one definition means “Arousing or intending to arouse sexual desire or interest.” See my confusion?
Upon further investigation into the website, I learned this is part of a larger “be SEXY…it doesn’t mean you have to have sex” campaign. I’m guessing it was quite successful (sarcasm much) because it was advertised with women who 1. Are not teenagers and 2. Have had sex (we know this because a few are mothers).
Sigh but I guess I can’t expect too much from a campaign whose new spokesperson is Bristol Palin…
Instead, I’d like to give a hi-five to H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS Campaign. In this campaign:
Some of the biggest celebrities from the world of fashion, music and style will be joining H&M and Designers Against AIDS (DAA) for Fashion Against AIDS, to help fight the disease and raise youth awareness. Katy Perry, Dita Von Teese, N.E.R.D and Yoko Ono are among the artists who will collaborate with H&M on designs for T-shirts, T-shirt dresses, vests and bodies. 25% of the sales price will be donated to youth HIV/AIDS awareness projects. The collection, in 100% organic cotton, for both guys and girls will go on sale in H&M’s youth DIVIDED department from May 28 2009.
I just purchased:
I love Cyndi Lauper...You’ll find me wearing it out this weekend ☺
yea I just finished reading Jessica Valenti's book (it was really great) and she does an excellent job articulating why "the sexy/virgin" complex is so stupid. Shouldn't women be perceived as sexy because they are sexy, smart because they are smart, and responsible because they are responsible? Why is it that people are always trying to base it on whether or not the person is a virgin?
Also, if I don't say so myself, they second shirt pictured here actually IS quite sexy.