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

[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.