Stella Nikiko Roostanto 1369096 Critical Reading and Thinking Response paper #1 16 September 2013

Abercrombie is introduced in 1998, by American casual clothing line, Abercrombie & Fitch. The brand is targeted to children and preteenager age 7-14. But being a clothing line for younger consumers doesnt mean they always produce children appropriate clothes. One of the most controversial of all is when they release padded triangle bikini tops, or push up bikini tops for their young consumers in mid-2011, starting in small size, which fits girls 56-58 inches tall. According to CDCs National Center for Health statistic, girls usually reach this height by about age nine. Parents protested on the sexually-allusive underwear, and this shows the society still values propriety. Abercrombie might have other intention when they decided to release the product. Despite that, it sends really bad signals to adult men about young girl being appropriate sexual object. Wearing bikini is usual in in America, but children wearing push up bra is rather shocking. Abercrombie had somehow create an image that it is okay for young girls wearing bra that makes them look hot for having fake boops, which they eventually will get at the right age. And even though children are entering puberty faster and younger than before encouraging them to be sexual-minded faster is untenable. Abercrombie stated that they produced the tops out of good intention. Said it would be cute to see small girls wearing padded bikini, trying to be more woman-like. But just the opposite, these tops are telling young girls not to love themselves. It is shaping young girls belief. It is setting another stereotype of how girls should look like when they grow up. Teaching them that to be a real woman, big bust is necessary. Therefore, the padded bikini tops will help you to get it, by adding the size up. It is simply eliminating the fact of some girls are genetically small chested. Would that make them feel insecure about their appearances. Clothes, especially children clothing, when be worn should help children to feel good about themselves, no matter what size they are. The brand has been successful, despite all of the controversies they received. But in a lot of other ways, some good, some bad, it is still reflecting the same sexual concept as Abercrombie and Fitch.