A boy, pink nail polish and oh my?
In this J. Crew marketing feature, executive Jenna Lyons is shown painting the toes of her son. And that apparently has caused a controversy among commentators and parents, who are accusing the retailer of contributing to a culture that encourages gender identity confusion, according to Fox News.
“This is a dramatic example of the way that our culture is being encouraged to abandon all trappings of gender identity,” psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow wrote in a FoxNews.com Health column about the ad.
Media Research Center’s Erin Brown agreed, calling the ad “blatant propaganda celebrating transgendered children.”
“Not only is Beckett likely to change his favorite color as early as tomorrow, Jenna's indulgence (or encouragement) could make life hard for the boy in the future,” Brown wrote in an opinion piece Friday. "J.CREW, known for its tasteful and modest clothing, apparently does not mind exploiting Beckett behind the facade of liberal, transgendered identity politics.”
I'm going to leave the politics alone. But their arguments about gender identity is too simplistic for my taste. I don't know anything about transgender identity issues but I'm going to go out on a limb and say allowing a boy to paint his nails or toes is nothing more, nothing less.
Should girls not play with cars and other action figures because that's what boys do? Who decides what's acceptable?
Is this getting overblown? Would you let your boy paint his nails?
Comments
No wonder the world is in the shape its in------- Why in the world would you want to paint a boys nails to begin with ????? Did they want a girl instead. Parents are responsible for raising their kids and help molding them.
Posted by: Donna Hull | April 13, 2011 12:41 PM
Whoa..."exploiting behind the facade of liberal, transgendered identity politics"...that's some heavy stuff, Ms. Brown. Last time I checked, nail polish is pretty easy to remove - we're not talking about tattooing the kid's forehead.
Frankly, I'm not sure why its anybody's business who paints their nails and what color. It doesn't appear that she's holding her son down and forcing him to paint his nails. I agree with Hanah - I wore blue jeans, liked to camp and played with matchbox cars when I was a little girl and I somehow managed to grow into a well-adjusted, gender-specific, pink nailpolish-wearing woman.
Posted by: Emily B. | April 13, 2011 1:14 PM
Could go with the pc response here, talking head crap that means nothing. Instead just go with the gut response - Where in the hell is the kid's father. Probably not in the picture. Literally or figuratively.
Posted by: ruth | April 13, 2011 2:18 PM
I have a daughter, and if someone suggested to me that she couldn't do 'Boy Things' I'd be furious, so why can't boys do 'Girl things' if they want to?
Posted by: magsmagenta | April 13, 2011 2:36 PM
THis would be funny if not sad..what moron thinks colors affect gender....my manly 6ft4in tall sports loving hubby bought a sweater in bermuds nice multy colored summer swaeter...wore it into work and got crap all day cuz pink was in it....wont wear it again just to avoid that again.......and why??????? How about we focus on real issues in child rearing
Posted by: LIsaw | April 13, 2011 2:39 PM
Dear sweet Lord people are crazy. It's just nail polish! These are no doubt the same people that believe the world is going to end in 2012.
Posted by: KGM801 | April 13, 2011 2:55 PM
What's wrong with a boy painting his fingernails? Why do we have such a problem with little boys playing with barbies and girls with trucks? Because society pushes gender norms upon every member and every person is affected. It's up to education to correctly inform us why we have these stereotypes and norms exist in our society and how it becomes detrimental and sets every gender up for failure.
Posted by: Ashley | April 13, 2011 3:35 PM
Check out John Stewart from last night. They led with this and it was hilarious
Posted by: Herbert | April 14, 2011 8:34 AM
I have 2 son and i wouldn't let them polish their toes if they become grown and choose 2 want 2 do that that sumthin they got 2 live wit and ansswer not 2 me but a higher power! But i am their mother and polish is 4 girls not boys but who am i 2 judge the next person 4 each its own
Posted by: shante | April 14, 2011 9:12 AM
I've had friends when I was younger, boys, who would paint their nails. In fact, my best friend who is STRAIGHT painted his nails his favorite color: Pink. He loved the color pink because it was bright and cheery, I remember him saying. We are both 21 now, and I see no sign of gender confusion.
I really have to question them. If you think about it, back in old times, it was actually MEN who painted their nails and did makeup. Women adopted later to make themselves more manly in certain rolls(such as the first woman pharaoh), but then it stuck for mating purposes. So can you still tell me it's "wrong" and will cause problems?
If you must need further proof, my older cousin of 22 for his 4th birthday wanted a barbie. He wanted a barbie that he could cut the hair of. My mom got it for him and he played with it lovingly. What did he play with later on in life? Cars. He LOVES cars. And you know what? He is not only straight but still very much male. A rather chauvinistic male, but a male nonetheless.
Posted by: Ariana | April 14, 2011 2:18 PM
Here's a question: who is interested in policing gender boundaries, and why? Who benefits from strictly enforced gender roles?
Not the children, I can tell you that much.
If you want to raise a son who's terrified of appearing unmanly, by all means, ban the nailpolish. They'll get the message loud and clear: your worth as a man is dictated by how clearly you can separate yourself from all things female. Your daughters will get the message, too.
Posted by: Nina | April 16, 2011 9:18 AM
Boys do not need their toes painted give them a toy truck and a youth Bible, let God be God and doo not doo that. It is nasty!! Wrong messages mom do not help the child, Adam was Adam not Eve, Silly!!!!! Thanks!
Posted by: Velma | April 18, 2011 5:08 PM