Hey, I know her! Cool!
And, that fifteen seconds of reflected fame out of the way, let me say, as the daughter of an 12-year-old …
1. I'm appalled to think this was acceptable humor 15 years go. (And that some would consider it acceptable humor today, for that matter.)
2. If I'm reading the story correctly (and if Hallmark is being honest about it), I can't ding them too much for this card being on the shelves. They claim it was (a) from an acquisition and (b) hasn't been produced in 15 years. Which, depending on the Hallmark store one goes into, is perhaps believable.
Should Hallmark be responsible for regularly scouring the content of their shelves (perhaps on a bi-annual basis) for old content that should be shredded? Hmmm. Maybe. Maybe not. I think what's more telling is how they react when someone does spot it and complains about it. Which they seem to be doing a good job of.
(Note: Hallmark is, of course, within their rights to print whatever the hell they want on their greeting cards, whether it's making young women anxious over their breast size or making fun of people with funny-colored skin. I would object strongly to any legal sanction against them. But certainly a social — commercial — sanction would be perfectly legit if people found their cards, or their handling of such kerfuffles, objectionable.)
Reshared post from +Jeff Zimmerman
Hallmark has a birthday card telling 13 yr olds they should have bigger boobs. God help us..
Embedded Link
Outrage at Hallmark birthday card for 13-year-old girls which says they’d get a boyfriend if they had ‘bigger boobies’
The company rushed to apologise for the gaffe, claiming the card was produced 15 years ago and assuring customers they would track down remaining copies.
Google+: View post on Google+
While I think I pretty much agree with you on each point, Dave, it should also be remembered that this was in England….where they seem to have a more 'relaxed' view on sexuality, etc. At least that's the impression I get from their t.v.shows and news stories. Again, not to condone the card, just a point to keep in mind.
It's a little strange how Americans are making a huge deal about a card yet will sit and watch shows like "Dance Moms", "Toddlers and Tiaras", and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" which debase/degrade young girls waaaaay worse than a greeting card ever could.
I know of plenty of people who raise a fuss over those shows.
But, by the same token, I think we hold greeting card companies to a higher standard than Lowest Common Denominator TV. Perhaps irrationally, but …
I also don't think the issue here is over a "relaxed attitude toward sexuality" — it's not that a card was printed that mentioned "boobies", but that it said:
'You're 13 today! If you had a rich boyfriend he'd give you diamonds and rubies. Well, maybe next year you will — when you've bigger boobies.'
Which is not about sexuality per se, but about body image, and use of sexuality (or at least big boobies) for prestige and love and wealth, and a lot of other things that aren't, to my mind, appropriate for a 13-year old. And possibly not for an 18 year-old, but we consider them adults and able to fend off those sorts of social programming on their own.
Nope, I agree. Not appropriate for any age, in my opinion….regardless of the reason.
I know plenty of people who object to those shows, as well, but I was meaning the rest of the viewing population who have seemed to make shows like that a success. Or, at least, successful enough for a glut of copycats.
Well, then maybe there's a market for "Dubious greeting cards that debase and degrade both the sender and the recipient" shops. I don't think that's the demographic that Hallmark has tried to play to, but perhaps there's a buck to be made there … 😛
Maureen comments, drolly, on the whole kerfuffle: http://maureenjohnsonbooks.tumblr.com/post/37660498988/hallmarkgate-or-a-lesson-on-how-the-internet-works