2008 Woodie Awards
REACT: Is Abercrombie & Fitch Going too Far?
Stephanie Granados
Issue date: 2/11/08 Section: Opinion
This past weekend in a Virginia Beach mall, Abercrombie & Fitch posters were confiscated by police for being obscene. The ad in question has three male models and one female model. One of the male model's crack is visible and the female's breasts are said to be exposed. Is the ad obscene or were parents just overreacting? After all, it is a standing joke in our society that plumbers' cracks are always exposed, so how is it that different from the male model? Upon going to Abercrombie's Web site, I must admit that I have seen much worse just walking to class. Does this make it OK?
Abercrombie & Fitch claims to market to the 18-21 year-old rage, but kids as young as middle school have been known to buy their clothes. They even have a store, Abercrombie, with clothes specifically for the younger-aged set. The prices, however, are too high for your average middle schooler to be able to afford, so the parents have to be purchasing these items for their pre-teen. Yet, it is the parents who are claiming the ads are too racy. Are we dealing with two different sets of parents or is there just one hypocritical set?
This is not the first time that Abercrombie & Fitch has been targeted for racy ads. In 2002, they were forced to pull their line of thongs aimed at girls as young as 7 years old after parents complained. The very next year, they were targeted again due to their Christmas catalog. Models were depicted nude-the majority of the girl models' breasts exposed as were the male models' butts-or partially clothed. You must be 18 to order the magazine, but not to receive it. Essentially, it was soliciting porn to minors. Or was it?
It seems that as the years pass, Abercrombie & Fitch gets closer and closer to their last chance. This latest ad is no where close to the obscene factor of the 2003 Christmas catalog. As for the line of thongs marketed at young girls, I remain speechless. When some one goes to see a rated R movie, they know what to expect. When some one goes to a strip club, they know what to expect. When some one opens up clothing catalog marketed at teens and pre-teens they do not expect to see nude models. The same can be said about going to the mall, clothing stores are not expected to have nude models.
Abercrombie & Fitch claims to market to the 18-21 year-old rage, but kids as young as middle school have been known to buy their clothes. They even have a store, Abercrombie, with clothes specifically for the younger-aged set. The prices, however, are too high for your average middle schooler to be able to afford, so the parents have to be purchasing these items for their pre-teen. Yet, it is the parents who are claiming the ads are too racy. Are we dealing with two different sets of parents or is there just one hypocritical set?
This is not the first time that Abercrombie & Fitch has been targeted for racy ads. In 2002, they were forced to pull their line of thongs aimed at girls as young as 7 years old after parents complained. The very next year, they were targeted again due to their Christmas catalog. Models were depicted nude-the majority of the girl models' breasts exposed as were the male models' butts-or partially clothed. You must be 18 to order the magazine, but not to receive it. Essentially, it was soliciting porn to minors. Or was it?
It seems that as the years pass, Abercrombie & Fitch gets closer and closer to their last chance. This latest ad is no where close to the obscene factor of the 2003 Christmas catalog. As for the line of thongs marketed at young girls, I remain speechless. When some one goes to see a rated R movie, they know what to expect. When some one goes to a strip club, they know what to expect. When some one opens up clothing catalog marketed at teens and pre-teens they do not expect to see nude models. The same can be said about going to the mall, clothing stores are not expected to have nude models.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Rebecca Plunkett
posted 2/11/08 @ 9:54 AM CST
An old adage says that "sex sells," and so it does. Ads featuring attractive models get our attention, and if they are nearly nude or in suggestive poses, we look and then look again. (Continued…)
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