Teens' T-Shirts Too Tantalizing

Parents Concerned The Clothes Send The Wrong Message

(CBS)  If you want to read something really steamy, you may not have to look any further than your daughter's wardrobe. Sexually suggestive T-shirts are very popular among teens and can be found in trendy clothing stores all over the country.

One extols the virtues of the wearer's backside. It reads: "Yes I have a nice ass."

"Not appropriate for my daughter. No," one mother told The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith.

Her daughter said she would never wear a shirt like that, but her friends probably would.

"That's the culture sucking them in," a father said.

Another shirt read: "Spank me, it's my birthday."

"I would wear that," a teenage girl said.

None of this surprises the people like Amanda Freeman, a vice president at the Intelligence Group, who keep track of teen trends.

"This is a generation that has no interest in privacy and so they're willing to publicize what they think and feel and whether it's provocative T-shirts that have political references or sexual references — whatever they think that's what they want to wear," she said.

In a message-driven world, a T-shirt is a way to let the world know who you are or at least what you're thinking. It's also a way for girls to get attention from guys.

"You know, kids have always looked for attention and part of what teens do is say, 'Look at me' and they are starting to form their identity," said David Walsh, president of the National Institute on Media and the Family. "But kids also are always ones to push the limits. That's the job teens have. It's the adult's role to set limits so they have something to push against. So adults have the responsibility to draw the line and say, 'That's over the line, you can't wear that.' "

Walsh said parents need to draw the lines while trying to avoid a battle and sometimes agree to disagree. Parents also need to set ground rules and not count on teachers to tell kids what is inappropriate.

"We have to be willing to say no when necessary," he said. "We can't just rely on the schools to do that. One of the things that's easiest is let schools do the heavy lifting, but we need to team with schools … The message we want to give our kids is we want them to treat others with respect and we want them to be respected, not to be seen as a toy."

[darlives]

Wow such passionate thoughts out there. I think that there should be some balance. If you wear something too provocative there is the possibility that you may recieve too much unwanted (unneeded) attention. Don't allow yourself to get used or abused. However if you wear a funny t-shirt and you can handle the responses it's then just a t-shirt. The key is knowing exactly what you present yourself to be and the reaction that you may get from another be it a welcomed one or an unwelcomed one and what you are prepared to deal with--more importantly what you can deal with. The more attention paid to the idea of it all the more interest it will garner. As long as my children aren't wearing t-shirts offering to sell or loan their bodies out or filled with suggestive or dirty language I wouldn't be upset about them wearing fun t-shirts.

[exusmcsgt]

"parents don't know how to lay down the rules" states the crux of the problem.........

[srinivas001]

T-shirt is wonderul meadium for freedom of expression but too much misuse (sexual provocation) would lead to soical choas. commerical companies should not take advantage of teenagers pyschology.

as "gmond" agrued, provocative clothing many not be a issue. but if it goes on at this pace, soon we will have T-shirts with messages "i would like to f*** your mother, sister, wife,". it is not serious problem? don't our gmond consider this as a serious problem?

[zahadum]

@ liberalmedia:

'... who would wear a shirt that said "spank me"?'

like i said: a hottie who is not afraid of her bod or her sexuality.

the assumption that a girl that wants to to be provocative sexually has somehow less worth than a girl who wants to be be provactive in other ways (intellectually, artistically, socially, atheletically etc) is an arrogant one -- it is made by those who are, i am willing to bet, resent any girl who is understands that you are only young once, and that a life filled with regrets is no life at all.

mostly, though, it is just a t-shirt! (like letterman used to say when being a 'tease: "it's just a JOKE!")

like most other bold staements by teens, the words these girls proclaim ('spank me' & 'look at my ***') are not (regrettably ;-) meant to be taken seriously ... they are form of bravado.

but there's no reasoning with the blind i guess: they (cant) see what they (dont) want to see.

[liberalmedia]

Another viewpoint, aside from the whole "decency" aspect, is this: what kind of person would wear a shirt that says "spank me it's my birthday"? That's not even clever. Even if I were still a teen, I'd think that is pathetic.

If I saw someone whose shirt extolled the shape of their buttocks, I would think how sad it must be for that person to define themselves based upon their physical appearance. Any chances of someone seeing a person as an intelligent, reasoning adult go right out the window as soon as one sees "spank me its my birthday".

Meanwhile, the designer who puts a lame statement on a $5 T-shirt and sells it for $25 laughs all the way to the bank.

[roach9703]

Words are a time for dialog not pontification. I have two teenage daughters. Unless, the words are inflamtory, and on dress that is clearly immodest, leave these teenagers alone! Yes, argue, discuss, but let your kids make mistakes whose consequences are somewhat managable. They will learn that looney dress, odd articles of facial wear etc. have consequeces. They will learn about themselves and the realities of relating to other people and society as a whoe.

[cantshutup]

I don't see nothing wrong with shirt. It just a shirt that we like 2 wear it dont mean nothing yall just taking it like something bad is going to happen to us.We wear it because it is fun and funny. It make people look and laugh at the shirt.Posted by loveroxy

not only does this little moron need to pay attention in English class, she needs to consider her self-worth...dressing like a stupid *** only makes you cool to boys who want to use stupid ***...and one day she'll wish she'd valued herself more than she did...i feel sorry for these kids who don't have parents with enough sense to bring their kids up with a little moral fortitude...

[zahadum]

these whinners are sooo lame!

they dress up their prudish neurosis as 'parental responsibility'.

humbug!

they reason they are obsessed about controlling their kids sexuality is because they are terrified of their own (wanning) sexuality.

if some hottie wants to affirm the obvious - 'spank me' or whatever - then she should be congratulted for having the courage to publically express her sexuality.

these cranks just want to deny the basic fact that it is normal for sexuality to be a big part of (teens) identity.

it is just embarrasment - they are jealous of their kids sexual freedom. it reminds them of everything they either didnt have for themselves when they were in school, or else it hurts them too much too think about what they have lost forever.

in either case, it is just soooo lame to complain about their kids clothes / hair / jewlery / friends / ***/ music etc etc.

if their kids have nothing else to hang on to, then maybe these parents shoudl start taking some 'responsibility' for the cause rather than trying to cover up the effects!

[davelyoung1]

I wrote something about a plumbing item called a *** valve and it was filtered. It has been around since 1790 and now it is wrong for somehow to use it. I think people should not be censoring their standards on others, but teach our children about things like manners, honor, pride, and honesty. Where telling the truth is socially imperative. If America needs to censors our clothing, then the Taliban have arrived here.

[thebrandon1]

I'm with stupid too.

[brucesmall]

Ah, for the days when parents had actual spines and the ability to say no, and mean it.

[gmond]

What a waste of space. Every generation has had provocative clothing issues. Move on to something really newsworthy.

[texas172006]

man a shirt is just a shirt rather you have words on it or not. my school doesn't allow plain shirts. and now they want us to stop wearing shirt with sexual or other type of shirts.

[a2fly]

loveroxy......geeze.....just wear a colored t shirt and forget the graphics. You need to learn to read and write first. Be able to complete a whole sentence.

[hockeymanvt]

Controversial messages on clothing are an excellent opportunity to "parent". You "parent" best when you listen to what your kids are saying and hope to learn a bit about what they are thinking and feeling. AFTER you learn a bit about their thoughts it is the time to explain how you think and feel. You might be surprised to learn that, if given a bit of time and space, they really DO care what you think.

[mommoelling]

I am a mom of six children ranging in ages new born to 19 years old. Fighting over what is appropriate to wear is not one of our problems. From early ages, when my children would started expressing a oppinion about the clothes they wore,we set the boundries. We also explained why we set the boundries at thoses points. The boundries are not change or bent to acommodate a person and we a parent also keep with in the boundries. Saying "No!" is a good thing for parent to do. Regardless of the tears, outcry and nassing of teeth.

[jj891]

wow loverorxy...you REALLY made things worse by your statement and didnt make a good argument at all.People might look at you and laugh but it isnt because they think your t-shirt is funny.You will realise once you grow up and have children of your own,by that time I am sure things will really be down the toilet in society.

[loveroxy]

I don't see nothing wrong with shirt. It just a shirt that we like 2 wear it dont mean nothing yall just taking it like something bad is going to happen to us.We wear it because it is fun and funny. It make people look and laugh at the shirt.

[jj891]

No,it goes a little deeper than that when your 16 year old daughter wheres a t-shirt that reads " your boyfriend us a better kisser than mine"
What kind of message or we sending to these children of the future?That nothing is sacred?

[shutupmurtha]

jh6379, YOU ARE RIGHT. its just a shirt with words on it... you left that part out. Its just a shirt with words suggesting that the person wearing it is sexually generous. In this case it is just teen girls that are wearing these shirts.

Maybe the parents should not let these kids wear these simple cotton constructions as jh6379 would refer to them. .....Some public schools in my area have already banned any printed image or words on t-shirts.

Words have meaning, but I dont think the government should do anything to stop this, I think the parents should teach their children moral values so the kids would not want to do it.


You can use your argument for alot of things jh6379....


Porn is just ink on a page or flashing light on a tv screen or computer monitior.

Bullets are just metal and lead

Marijuana is just leaves

Tabacco is just a plant

Cancer is just flesh

Nuclear Bombs are just Uranium, fuel, and a detonator made from various materials.