Comments on: WTF of the day http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:12:24 +0000 hourly 1 By: CartoonCoyote http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146766 CartoonCoyote Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:49:50 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146766 That last sentence should read, of course, "What would Mr. Hicks <em>have</em> said..."; yes, I'm pedantic and proud of it! That last sentence should read, of course, “What would Mr. Hicks have said…”; yes, I’m pedantic and proud of it!

]]> By: CartoonCoyote http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146764 CartoonCoyote Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:36:39 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146764 This reminds me of Abercrombie & Fitch's children's thongs; does anyone remember the outcry when those hit the market? What kind of person would you have to be to have come up with such an idea in the first place? <em>"By the way, if anyone here is in advertising or marketing, kill yourself. No, this is not a joke: kill yourself . . . I know what the marketing people are thinking now too: 'Oh. He's going for that anti-marketing dollar. That's a good market.' Oh man, I am not doing that, you fucking evil scumbags."</em> What would Mr. Hicks said of these particular 'fucking evil scumbags'? This reminds me of Abercrombie & Fitch’s children’s thongs; does anyone remember the outcry when those hit the market? What kind of person would you have to be to have come up with such an idea in the first place?

“By the way, if anyone here is in advertising or marketing, kill yourself. No, this is not a joke: kill yourself . . . I know what the marketing people are thinking now too: ‘Oh. He’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market.’ Oh man, I am not doing that, you fucking evil scumbags.”

What would Mr. Hicks said of these particular ‘fucking evil scumbags’?

]]> By: hexy http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146756 hexy Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:28:44 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146756 When I started growing body hair, I was horrified. To me, it was the last fucking straw... I started menstruating at nine, was the tallest in my class, and the first to need a bra. The hair made me hideously depressed, and elicited many comments from me to my mother that "I didn't WANT to grow up". So yeah, I can understand girls being won over by the "childlike" label. I also think it's horrendous that people would cash in on that. Full disclosure, though: These days, I shave my legs and armpits, and get a (mostly) brazillian wax. No-one's taking that precious, so-sensitive bare "down there" skin away from me.... but I AM an adult, and I readily admit it's a largely sexual thing, ,even if it's sexual with ME in mind rather than my partners. Young girls should just be left to develop without yet another piece of body hate piled on top of the mountain they're already fed. When I started growing body hair, I was horrified. To me, it was the last fucking straw… I started menstruating at nine, was the tallest in my class, and the first to need a bra. The hair made me hideously depressed, and elicited many comments from me to my mother that “I didn’t WANT to grow up”. So yeah, I can understand girls being won over by the “childlike” label. I also think it’s horrendous that people would cash in on that.

Full disclosure, though: These days, I shave my legs and armpits, and get a (mostly) brazillian wax. No-one’s taking that precious, so-sensitive bare “down there” skin away from me…. but I AM an adult, and I readily admit it’s a largely sexual thing, ,even if it’s sexual with ME in mind rather than my partners. Young girls should just be left to develop without yet another piece of body hate piled on top of the mountain they’re already fed.

]]> By: outlier http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146747 outlier Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:00:09 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146747 Here is the quote from their website: <a href="http://girl.com.au/brazilian_waxing.htm" rel="nofollow">The Brazilian bikini wax is an acquired taste and is not for everyone. Some women can endure the pain while others it's just too much to bare. For those of you interested in modeling it's a must, but I'd recommend a lead up before you take the plunge. [snip] So why does it appeal. Nobody really likes hair in their private regions and this removes it.</a> They either removed the "childlike appeal" part, or the news article misquoted it. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if some of the reporting on this was hype. The site has a bridal section...clearly not for 10-14 year olds. I'm also not sure how "childlike appeal" is supposed to equate to "sexual appeal." BTW, removing pubic/body hair isn't specifically done for sexual reasons (tho there may be exceptions). For the person who asked whether 10-year-olds had pubic hair: Yes, it's rather common. In girls, body hair growth is one of the changes that occurs earliest, a few years ahead of menarche. Here is the quote from their website:

The Brazilian bikini wax is an acquired taste and is not for everyone. Some women can endure the pain while others it’s just too much to bare. For those of you interested in modeling it’s a must, but I’d recommend a lead up before you take the plunge.
[snip]
So why does it appeal. Nobody really likes hair in their private regions and this removes it.

They either removed the “childlike appeal” part, or the news article misquoted it.

Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the reporting on this was hype. The site has a bridal section…clearly not for 10-14 year olds.

I’m also not sure how “childlike appeal” is supposed to equate to “sexual appeal.” BTW, removing pubic/body hair isn’t specifically done for sexual reasons (tho there may be exceptions).

For the person who asked whether 10-year-olds had pubic hair: Yes, it’s rather common. In girls, body hair growth is one of the changes that occurs earliest, a few years ahead of menarche.

]]> By: harlemjd http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146706 harlemjd Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:59:54 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146706 aside from being insanely creepy, this is just bad marketing. what pre-teen girl wants to do something that is going to make her look "child-like"? she most likely wants to look OLDER (or isn't brainwashed by marketing, and therefore still isn't interested). Yes, you demented ad people get us to spend millions trying to look younger, but that generally doesn't start until at least 26. aside from being insanely creepy, this is just bad marketing. what pre-teen girl wants to do something that is going to make her look “child-like”? she most likely wants to look OLDER (or isn’t brainwashed by marketing, and therefore still isn’t interested).

Yes, you demented ad people get us to spend millions trying to look younger, but that generally doesn’t start until at least 26.

]]> By: Cola Johnson http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146655 Cola Johnson Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:47:26 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146655 It's so horrifying it makes me want to cry. My sister is 11, and I'm always wondering what I can do to counter the negative messages she receives every day. And I didn't have pubic hair at ten. =< It’s so horrifying it makes me want to cry.

My sister is 11, and I’m always wondering what I can do to counter the negative messages she receives every day.

And I didn’t have pubic hair at ten. =<

]]> By: Haydin http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146615 Haydin Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:19:39 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146615 I was once at a bar talking to a cute guy. I raised my arm while dancing and he noticed my unshaven armpit hair. Then he started asking me if I don't ever shave, and I explained that yes, I didn't ever shave. Then, he thought it was appropriate to tell me that I should shave my genitals because "I like smooth p***y lips hugging my c**k as I slide into you." I told him that that wouldn't be an issue, because we would never be in that position, and got away asap. I was once at a bar talking to a cute guy. I raised my arm while dancing and he noticed my unshaven armpit hair. Then he started asking me if I don’t ever shave, and I explained that yes, I didn’t ever shave. Then, he thought it was appropriate to tell me that I should shave my genitals because “I like smooth p***y lips hugging my c**k as I slide into you.” I told him that that wouldn’t be an issue, because we would never be in that position, and got away asap.

]]> By: Alara Rogers http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146608 Alara Rogers Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:32:36 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146608 As a 12-year-old I found my own pubic hair disgusting. (Still do.) I do not *like* the fact that some of the markers our bodies display of our adulthood are unpleasant, itchy, wiry, or painful. I don't like stinky B.O., I don't like menstruating, and I don't like pubic hair. And because my hair grows down the side of my legs, it embarrassed me so badly that I stopped swimming as a teen (I *loved* swimming as a child) because I couldn't find any bathing suits that didn't go out of their way to display that part of my body in loving detail, and I didn't want to have to shave it. But I'd never have gotten a wax at that age. (Or any age. Ow!) And if someone had told me at 10 that my body needed to be sexually appealing, I would have had the same reaction *my* ten year old has anytime someone mentions the word "sex" to her -- I would have gone "Ew!" and made a mock retching noise or pretended to hide my head in my arms. 10 year olds should not be sexually appealing, and they should not be worrying about if they are or not. As a 12-year-old I found my own pubic hair disgusting. (Still do.) I do not *like* the fact that some of the markers our bodies display of our adulthood are unpleasant, itchy, wiry, or painful. I don’t like stinky B.O., I don’t like menstruating, and I don’t like pubic hair. And because my hair grows down the side of my legs, it embarrassed me so badly that I stopped swimming as a teen (I *loved* swimming as a child) because I couldn’t find any bathing suits that didn’t go out of their way to display that part of my body in loving detail, and I didn’t want to have to shave it.

But I’d never have gotten a wax at that age. (Or any age. Ow!) And if someone had told me at 10 that my body needed to be sexually appealing, I would have had the same reaction *my* ten year old has anytime someone mentions the word “sex” to her — I would have gone “Ew!” and made a mock retching noise or pretended to hide my head in my arms. 10 year olds should not be sexually appealing, and they should not be worrying about if they are or not.

]]> By: Miss Debater http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146607 Miss Debater Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:27:45 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146607 If I may just toss one more "are you fucking kidding me???" into the ring-- <strong>ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???</strong> This is so far beyond merely perverse I'm not even sure what to say to it. If I may just toss one more “are you fucking kidding me???” into the ring–

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME???

This is so far beyond merely perverse I’m not even sure what to say to it.

]]> By: Seraph http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146597 Seraph Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:58:34 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/01/14/wtf-of-the-day/#comment-146597 Do ten-year-olds even have pubic hair, as a general rule? Christ, this is disgusting. Do ten-year-olds even have pubic hair, as a general rule?

Christ, this is disgusting.

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