file under: are you fucking kidding me?

[veronica_rich]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/alltherage/2011/04/j-crew-and-jenna-lyons-pink-toenail-controversy.html

I saw this on "The Daily Show" so I had to go look it up to make sure Jon wasn't having me on. Basically, it's a J. Crew ad where a woman is playing with her young son and in one photo, is painting his toenails neon pink. AND IT HAS CAUSED CONTROVERSY. About gender identity.

And you only get one guess as to what "news" network is making the most hay with this.

Further proof we are apparently far too affluent in this country with not enough adversity in our lives. Or, you know, some people are. How else would they have time to worry about such bullshit?

Comments

[beckyblack]

I'm obviously a weirdo, since my only thought was "childrens's skin can be too sensitive to be in contact with cosmetics", but I'm guessing that's not what people are getting in a froth about.

Would it have been okay if she'd painted them blue?

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

I used to insist on wearing nailpolish when I was about 6 or 7. Never did a bad thing to my skin. All children are different, of course, but most better quality cosmetics are pretty okay.

Another added benefit is that now, having gotten it out of my system, I have not worn any nailpolish since about age 14.

[beckyblack]

I go through phases with nail polish. I wear it all the time for a couple of weeks, then forget about it again for a few months.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Nah, I used to wear nail polish when I was a kid, and I didn't have any problems with reactions. I suppose some children could, but likely in the same way adults could, too.

I painted my nails blue once when I was a teenager. My grandma asked me if I'd slammed my fingers in a door too hard. LOL

[beckyblack]

I suppose nail polish isn't so bad as it has pretty minimal skin contact (unless you're as rubbish as putting it on as me that is, in which case it's more like painted fingers than fingernails.

[joyful-molly.livejournal.com]

Blessed be the country which has no other problems to worry about... *head->desk*

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

You'd think!

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

This actually is a fairly big deal to me, in that I have a daughter who is adamant that she must dress as a boy. She is regularly mistaken for a boy as a result. This is fine by me - I was like that myself. I get where she's coming from, and I am happy to "encourage my transgender child." But she has had enough trouble from other children for it without stupid adults suggesting she's somehow bringing down civilization as we know it. For crying out loud, what does it matter what clothes/adornments people choose to wear?

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

You can understand children having a reaction to such things; their brains are simple and react to what they see around them without a filter to block it from their little mouths. (On the other hand, it's fairly easy to intimidate them into shutting up about it, too, as compared to adults.) I guess even if it should be a big deal, I don't see how it applies to a five-year-old. Frankly, to me, at that age, kids ALL look like little tomboyish girls. If he remembers that nail-painting when he's 20, other than being shown the photo, I'll be surprised.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I may not have been clear enough that it wasn't the nail painting I objected to. I was objecting to the people who objected to it. Those people, I feel, would give my daughter a very hard time if I was unfortunate enough to live in a country where they had any influence.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I understood the first time. :-) I wasn't disagreeing, in fact, saying I would give a young kid a pass on criticism, or at least correct them kindly. I would mock and shame an adult who gave a kid or parent a hard time for this though.

[gobsmacked.livejournal.com]

far too affluent in this country with not enough adversity in our lives. Or, you know, some people are. How else would they have time to worry about such bullshit
I can't go to look at the news or even go to facebook to read at my friends' groups without hearing firsthand about death and torture in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Syria and then being deluged with stats about the threats to higher education and medical funding in Great Britain, Canada and the U.S., or the atomic/earthquake/tsunami crisis in Japan, deadly mudslides in Central America, etc. Obviously, however, all that is not what matters.
Noooo! It's some little boy with pink fucking toenails!!!
Thank you Faux News, for lifting the veil from eyes.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

They focus hard on the little things so they aren't forced to engage honestly about the big things as often. It's a distraction technique.

[finding-neo.livejournal.com]

I wonder if any of those people ever watched Monty Python or Milton Berle or practically any '70s comedy variety shows??? A frequent skit was the men dressing up as women!!!

Hello? I suppose they would say that's what caused so many gay men to come out in the '80s.....

It's creativity, people. Get over it.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Johnny Depp caked on eyeliner for three movies and they grossed billions of dollars, and he's a grandfather's age. Maybe it's okay since he's fathered two children and therefore proven he's straight? /sarcasm

[hippediva.livejournal.com]

I saw this last night and I swear, I had to go outside to get away from the TV. STUPID STUPID STUPID people!

Makes you REALLY want to change all cop uniforms to Barbie Pink. With glitter and unicorn badges.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I really hope someone comments to defend the bitchers. I could use a good, therapeutic reaming session here, since I haven't had one in a while. *G*

[bonnie-halfelvn.livejournal.com]

I linked to a blog on this from the lady who allowed her son to dress as Daphne from Scooby Do for Halloween.

She and the mom of the "Princess Boy" both have a lot to say. I'm glad they're still speaking out.

http://bonnie-halfelvn.livejournal.com/294155.html

[xenafox.livejournal.com]

*...Facepalm, FACEPALM FACEPALM*

Fun fact: I had a male friend over today and he dressed up as a female pink skunk for an hour.

Some heads would just explode over this if fucking NAIL POLISH causes a controversy, wow.