Comments on: Skechers’s Sexist Snake Oil for Girls

By: Citly

Citly — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:23:52 +0000

I like the “get in shape while having fun” premise… But I dislike almost everything else.

I agree these things should be marketed to both girls and boys – only then could you say it’s about being healthy.

Also, I have nieces in that age range, and I’d be concerned about them getting injured due to “cute” shoes. What, are Shape-Ups the new kiddie heel?

By: Sunday Hustle « The Curious Cabinet

Sunday Hustle « The Curious Cabinet — Sun, 22 May 2011 08:13:04 +0000

[...] Skechers is sexist and hates cupcakes – Uh, wow. This advertisement is all kinds of creepy. Don’t run from cupcakes, girls!. But maybe run away from a Candy BBQ. [...]

By: rodriguez

rodriguez — Mon, 16 May 2011 16:33:59 +0000

Tell the kid. I’d say tell the child directly that these shoes are exploitation.

If the child doesn’t understand the bigger issue or can’t get an intro to the bigger issue, then I fall back on the economic explanation. Regular shoes x cost this, but your choice product y costs this plus that.

But sometimes you will lose those arguments.

Lately I’ve been trying to convince my 18yo daughter that “Lolita” dresses are not compatible with feminism and I am not going to win that argument.

By: Verity Khat

Verity Khat — Mon, 16 May 2011 15:47:15 +0000

Vomit. That’s all I have to say.

And now I have that HORRIBLE fucked up song STUCK IN MY HEAD!

@Brennen: Most kids imitate older kids and adults that they think are cool, so it’s a sickeningly effective marketing strategy.

By: Brennan

Brennan — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:13:59 +0000

Ugh. I don’t know what’s worse–the fact that this is a product that exists or the fact that it’s being marketed to *seven-year-olds* by cartoon stick-girls who all look about 16.

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:07:25 +0000

For anyone who is interested these shoes were inspired by balance boards which are a) really fun and b) actually do work to increase muscle tone in the lower body. When I worked with special needs kids we used them for physical therapy all the time and the kids had a total blast.

By: Marie Anelle

Marie Anelle — Sun, 15 May 2011 21:04:03 +0000

As a mom, the answer is no and always will be no. In addition to addressing the messages a particular thing sends, I’ve also made sure that K has quite a secure sense of self. While other 5 year olds are wishing for other hair colours and body shapes (yes, it starts this early), she knows she is awesome. I hope that it continues.

By: Rainne

Rainne — Sun, 15 May 2011 20:33:46 +0000

@Skada – Start with the fact that the shoes are actually bad for you. Back that up with the evidence from Consumer Reports and others who have researched and shown that Shape Up shoes can actually cause injury. Tell her you love her too much to get her something that might cause her permanent damage like that. Then, if she’s old enough to understand, you can try to talk about body image issues in the media and advertising.

By: mischiefmanager

mischiefmanager — Sun, 15 May 2011 20:24:40 +0000

I tried to educate our kids from early on about being aware consumers. I let them know when I thought an ad campaign was being inappropriate for some reason and I told them there were certain products I wouldn’t buy and certain places I wouldn’t shop because of their policies and ads.

It’s so much more pervasive now than it was 15 or 20 years ago. The idea that the way businesses behave can drive a wedge between parents and children makes me furious.

By: Ms. M

Ms. M — Sun, 15 May 2011 20:07:25 +0000

Ugh, what a depressing ad campaign!

As a parent, I just say no. Then again, I have two boys who don’t care what they wear. They don’t wear anything that seems to be a fad.

Pressure is a lot heavier on girls. I remember feeling like I was going to be the laughingstock of school if I didn’t have a certain type of clothing. In my family’s case, we just didn’t have the money for fads, so I never would have gotten something like these shoes.