Who says a girl can be smart and pretty? Not the latest in back-to-school fashion from JCPenney, which considered it "sassy" to market a T-shirt to tween girls with the slogan: "I am too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me." To add to the insult, the marketing quip was even more insipid: "Who has time for homework when there's a new Justin Bieber album out?"
Clearly, it's JCPenney that should have done its homework.
The shirt, on sale for $9.99 (U.S.), soon became an Internet flashpoint for its misguided messaging.
More than 1,600 people signed an online petition that read: "Under the guise of being 'cute,' J.C. Penney is promoting merchandise that encourages girls to value looks over brains; to leave academics to the boys, and to aspire to nothing more than fawning after Justin Bieber."
As further evidence of the power of the Internet mob – and those outspoken mommy bloggers – the company quickly yanked the T-shirt from the online store and issued an apology.
The department store said in its statement: "We agree that the 'Too pretty' T-shirt does not deliver an appropriate message, and we have immediately discontinued its sale. Our merchandise is intended to appeal to a broad customer base, not to offend them."
Apologies for troubling your pretty little head, ladies, but weigh in: Sassy or sexist? (Guys, we want to hear from you too.) Would you let your daughter wear this to the first day of school?
Erin Anderssen