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niyad

(112,974 posts)
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 12:51 PM Aug 2016

Batgirl 'housework': Target removes 'sexist' T-shirt and apologises

(geez, target, it didn't occur to ANYBODY in your marketing department that this might be considered sexist and insulting??? you need a new marketing department)

Batgirl 'housework': Target removes 'sexist' T-shirt and apologises

‘You present a future where our daughters need to complete their “home duties” before they can go out and save the world,’ a woman posts on Facebook


The Batgirl T-shirt for sale on Target Australia’s website. ‘What message are you intending on sending to young girls?’ a Facebook user asked. Photograph: Target



Target will remove a children’s T-shirt that suggests the duties of “Batgirls” include cleaning clothes and cars from its stores following complaints on social media. The $12 short-sleeved T-shirt for girls aged from two to seven years old features a “Batgirl to-do list” that reads: “Dryclean cape. Wash Batmobile. Fight crime. Save the world.”

A Facebook user from Northcote in Melbourne, who gave her name as Ninac Ollins, posted to Target Australia’s page late on Tuesday night to complain about what she perceived to be the sexist assumption that only “Batgirls” would do housework. “Target, can you explain why you are selling something as offensive as this in your stores currently? What message are you intending on sending to young girls? I’m insulted that you present a future where our daughters need to complete their ‘home duties’ before they can go out and save the world. We know that working mothers still do more housework than their spouses, we don’t need you to perpetuate this inequity.”

. . . . .

Target responded to Ollins’ post on Wednesday morning, thanking users for the feedback: “It absolutely wasn’t our intention to cause any offence with this shirt, so we really appreciate you all getting in touch with us to let us know your thoughts. We’ve taken this feedback on board, and sincerely apologise for any disappointment caused.” A spokeswoman confirmed to Guardian Australia on Wednesday afternoon that Target would pull the item from its stores.

. . . . .

The equivalent T-shirt for boys sold by Target bears the slogan: “Like father, like son … Yes my dad’s Batman.” One Facebook user remarked: “Assuming this is the boy’s version … Dad must have all that spare time to fight crime because Mum’s off doing the drycleaning!”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/31/batgirl-housework-target-removes-sexist-t-shirt-and-apologises

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Batgirl 'housework': Target removes 'sexist' T-shirt and apologises (Original Post) niyad Aug 2016 OP
Doesn't seem sexist to me. FLPanhandle Aug 2016 #1
Um, it doesn't say housework, it is a TO-Do List... snooper2 Aug 2016 #2
Yup... pretty much every batman movie ever made has his costume in pristine condition. LanternWaste Aug 2016 #5
Yes, because Alfred takes care of it- I do believe in one movie Robin was cleaning the batbike snooper2 Aug 2016 #7
Wow...how do people get so riled up about such nonsense? tritsofme Aug 2016 #3
Wednesday is t-shirt outrage day apparently ProudToBeBlueInRhody Aug 2016 #6
For fucks sake. linuxman Aug 2016 #4
The outrage machine needs something to do. Initech Aug 2016 #8
You've got to be kidding melman Aug 2016 #9
The shirt or the reaction? philosslayer Sep 2016 #39
That doesn't leave much time cloudbase Aug 2016 #10
It's a shame that batgirl wasn't born rich like Batman. karadax Aug 2016 #11
Seems like they were shooting for irony. Definitely not on a par with Barbie saying "Math is hard." Gidney N Cloyd Aug 2016 #12
I guess humor is non-grata around here. lunatica Aug 2016 #13
Why only the blue shirt for boys? Initech Aug 2016 #15
have always hated the blue/pink gender identification crap. pink is for flowers. niyad Aug 2016 #16
I'm with you lunatica Sep 2016 #28
Would this work? Initech Sep 2016 #31
Yeah, but I'm thinking pitchforks and blazing torches. lunatica Sep 2016 #41
It's kind of an ugly design, anyway. Warren DeMontague Aug 2016 #14
pretty much. niyad Aug 2016 #17
. . . niyad Aug 2016 #18
Just a reminder: Somewhere in the world, a young girl just had her clit chopped off. NuclearDem Aug 2016 #19
it is all of a piece. perhaps you have seen the numerous fgm posts several of us are doing? niyad Aug 2016 #20
Nah. Pretty sure this is just the stupid outrage of first world, middle-class whiners NuclearDem Aug 2016 #21
wow, way to miss the point. but do keep trying, as we really need the laughs today. niyad Aug 2016 #22
Well then, please educate me on what the point was. NuclearDem Aug 2016 #23
nope, not playing your game. niyad Aug 2016 #24
Are you just having difficulty justifying first world gender studies outrage NuclearDem Aug 2016 #26
"all of a piece" melman Aug 2016 #25
really? you don't think sexism and misogyny are at the base of fgm? niyad Aug 2016 #27
Oh please. frankieallen Sep 2016 #29
perhaps you could read the article. niyad Sep 2016 #30
Ok, you got me there, I didn't read the article. Now I've read it and stand by my original comment, frankieallen Sep 2016 #33
and you completely missed the point. niyad Sep 2016 #34
what is the point then? maybe i am missing something, but i don't think so. frankieallen Sep 2016 #37
Ever make a to-do list? The2ndWheel Sep 2016 #32
*THIS* is what some choose to get worked up about? NaturalHigh Sep 2016 #35
ah, yes, because sexism is such an unimportant little topic. niyad Sep 2016 #36
The joke to me is that someone considers this shirt sexist. NaturalHigh Sep 2016 #38
we all have our opinions. niyad Sep 2016 #40
As long it's her own cape and bat mobile I don't see the problem MrScorpio Sep 2016 #42

FLPanhandle

(7,107 posts)
1. Doesn't seem sexist to me.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 03:20 PM
Aug 2016

Men don't pick up dry cleaning?

Isn't washing the car a stereotypical male activity?

Seems a bit of an overreaction.

 

snooper2

(30,151 posts)
2. Um, it doesn't say housework, it is a TO-Do List...
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 03:24 PM
Aug 2016

You want Batgirl to go out in a nasty wrinkled cape? Or a filthy batmobile?

Don't you keep your tools used to SAVE THE WORLD in good shape? Internet SJW will be a thing of the past...someday

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
5. Yup... pretty much every batman movie ever made has his costume in pristine condition.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 03:28 PM
Aug 2016

Yup... pretty much every batman movie ever made has his costume in pristine condition and the batmobile looking as though it was just detailed.

karadax

(284 posts)
11. It's a shame that batgirl wasn't born rich like Batman.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 05:13 PM
Aug 2016

She could have her housekeeper do it all.

Curse that Commissioner Gordon for teaching his daughter to do things on her own!

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
13. I guess humor is non-grata around here.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 05:54 PM
Aug 2016

I think it's funny and cute too. It could be used on a blue t-shirt for boys also.

Initech

(100,023 posts)
15. Why only the blue shirt for boys?
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 07:39 PM
Aug 2016

Cant the boys wear the pink shirts too??? And can't the girls wear blue shirts too? Even our clothing is sexist! Why do even basic colors have to be separated by gender??? Rabble!!!

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
14. It's kind of an ugly design, anyway.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 06:54 PM
Aug 2016

Not terribly funny, or inventive, or visually interesting.

No great loss.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
21. Nah. Pretty sure this is just the stupid outrage of first world, middle-class whiners
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 09:54 PM
Aug 2016

who think a shirt constitutes gender-based oppression.

Whiners who were probably allowed to go to school, get a job, walk around in public without their husband or brother escorting them, and speak to whoever they want.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
23. Well then, please educate me on what the point was.
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 10:00 PM
Aug 2016

Because I seem to be having a difficult time understanding how a shirt that references a certain gender role is "all part of a piece" with mutilation designed to prevent a woman from experiencing pleasure.

 

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)
26. Are you just having difficulty justifying first world gender studies outrage
Wed Aug 31, 2016, 10:07 PM
Aug 2016

by people who've never actually experienced a day of serious sexism in their lives but still want to feel like they're being oppressed because it's the popular thing now?

 

frankieallen

(583 posts)
33. Ok, you got me there, I didn't read the article. Now I've read it and stand by my original comment,
Thu Sep 1, 2016, 02:14 PM
Sep 2016

I didn't see anything in there that changed my mind. I just think it's a petty complaint.

The2ndWheel

(7,947 posts)
32. Ever make a to-do list?
Thu Sep 1, 2016, 02:10 PM
Sep 2016

Home duties? It's washing a cape and a batmobile. It's not cooking for your husband with your bare feet, then going to save the world. Maybe Batgirl doesn't even have a husband? Maybe she has to take care of all that shit by herself?

Plus if it's just a Batgirl, she probably can't be driving the Batmobile to go save the world anyway.

NaturalHigh

(12,778 posts)
35. *THIS* is what some choose to get worked up about?
Thu Sep 1, 2016, 02:17 PM
Sep 2016

Gee, I'm glad all the actual problems of the world have been solved.

NaturalHigh

(12,778 posts)
38. The joke to me is that someone considers this shirt sexist.
Thu Sep 1, 2016, 02:25 PM
Sep 2016

Honestly, if this t-shirt is what we have to worry about, then real problems must have all been stamped out.

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