Thousands of angry parents have called on Target to stop selling children’s clothing that makes young girls look like “tramps”.
The retailer’s Facebook page has been flooded with more than 2500 comments complaining its clothing line for girls aged 7 to 14 is “age-inappropriate” and designed for “little hookers”.
Related: Why girls are having sex at 12
Primary school teacher Ana Amini — who has an eight-year-old daughter — kicked off the social media storm when she complained about the retailer’s sexualised clothing on the weekend.
She wrote: ”Dear Target, Could you possibly make a range of clothing for girls 7-14 years that doesn’t make them look like tramps … You have lost me as a customer when buying apparel for my daughter as I don’t want her thinking shorts up her backside are the norm or fashionable.”
The post received more than 44,000 likes and 2300 comments before it was removed from the site. But taking down the post was not enough to stop hundreds of other parents complaining about the issue.
“Come on Target. Turn this negative into a positive and bring out a range of age appropriate Tween clothes too. I’m so frustrated that I cannot buy a pair of shorts for my 12-year-old that don’t just cover her bottom … and please stop putting writing across the back of young kid’s pants. You must be able to see that this is so inappropriate. The last thing I want to do as a parent is to draw attention to her like that,” Sandra Lammas wrote.
David Clark added: “Seven onwards is an awful range. Too adult although that said not many adults get about in those clothes either. Little girls need normal gear too, they also run about, ride bikes and do the same active stuff boys do and you can’t do all that in a ‘little hooker’ line of clothes.”
Last night, Target posted a reply to the complaints defending its range, saying all products on sale had been approved by a panel of customers.
“We always appreciate your feedback on our childrenswear range,” the post read. “In most cases, before products are available at Target, they are reviewed and assessed by a panel of our customers and their feedback is incorporated into our design decisions.
Related: Designer selling high heels for six-year-olds
“We know there is a huge diversity of opinion when it comes to children’s clothing which is why we believe in taking great care in ensuring that our range is both age appropriate and something that your kids will love.”
Your say: Do you think kids’ clothing is inappropriate?
Video: Sexualising our kids
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
.png?resize=380%2C285)
Native ad body.
