December 6, 2009 10:11 PM
GAP commercial - little girls growing up too fast
What do you think of this? On the one hand, there's a lot of cuteness, on the other hand so much exploitation. . . . .
Comments
I have a very negative opinion of the Gap after their adult commercial this year that said "Go solstice" and talked encouraged us to "86 the rules, and do what just feels right!"
It was very disparaging of any sense of sanctity around Christmas and it left a very poor taste in my mouth.
Posted by: lauren | December 6, 2009 10:42 PM
I just saw this tonight with my kids. I will say that I didn't care for my boys watching the girls around their age dancing with a few of those moves... Why do they need to put those in there?
Posted by: Marian | December 6, 2009 11:55 PM
I saw it last weekend, and my husband and I just turned and looked at one another. I think it's inappropriate. So much sass in such little girls. :(
Posted by: Carey | December 7, 2009 12:32 AM
Ugh. We all know that sexualizing little girls is a bad thing, encouraging them to grow up too fast is a bad thing, so we do we continue to do it? I won't be shopping at the Gap anymore, especially not for my five year old daughter.
This reminds me though, Barbara. I've been meaning to ask you...when you get time will you post some movie suggestions for girls to go along with your list for boys?
Posted by: Shannon Miller | December 7, 2009 1:14 AM
I don't like how they are telling their parents what they want and don't want. They are acting like bratty teens and way too young an age. I never buy from Gap anyway, too expensive for me. I have always thought that kids that little don't need clothes that nice for their ordinary wardrobe.
Posted by: Julie | December 7, 2009 1:46 AM
All I can think about when I see this is the song I think they are imitating--certainly not one that is appropriate for little girls, or big girls for that matter. And the whole idea that "I'm not going to wear this anymore because it's old" is not one I'd want my daughter to emulate. Materialism at its best (or worst). Gotta have the newest, cutest thing... And then there are the dance moves. Sigh. It doesn't surprise me, though. The clothes are cute. There. I said something positive.
Posted by: Laurie | December 7, 2009 2:53 AM
I searched for this commercial to see what other people were saying about it's cuteness... and I found all of these ridiculous comments instead.
Let me just say, I am so glad I didn't have such a closed minded, uptight mother as some of you are coming across as.
When -I- saw this commercial, along with my guy, we both turned to each other and giggled. It's a cute commercial with cute clothes, for goodness sakes!
It's nothing but innocent sassiness and there is certainly not any inappropriate dance moves. Give me a break!
Posted by: Alisha | December 7, 2009 4:48 AM
How sad. Just sad. Materialism, sass, sexualizing young girls. Everything about this commercial is disgusting. Reminds me of the Tide commercial with the girl complaining about hand-me downs and making fun of her mother.
This is why we don't watch tv in our house. =)
Posted by: sandy | December 7, 2009 7:15 AM
I wish we didn't try to force our children to grow up so quickly--they grow fast enough on their own.
Posted by: Karen | December 7, 2009 9:38 AM
How old are you Alisha? Late teens, maybe early 20's?
I saw this commercial for the first time last night and thought the clothes were cute and colorful, my girls would wear them but I'd most certainly not allow the length of the skirts and such. Even my two older daughters picked up on the "Not going to wear it" mantra and said that they got the message of not having to hand stuff down to their younger siblings which would cost mom and dad a ton in clothes if they did that.
As for the dance moves... I found a few of them inappropriate. I just don't feel it necessary for little girls to be gyrating their hips in a manner that reflects sexual provocativeness. There are *SO* many dance moves that young girls can do that are absolutely adorable that don't sexualize them.
Posted by: dirtdartwife | December 7, 2009 10:52 AM
While some people may think that sassiness is cute in little girls (not me, btw), what do you think it looks like as the little girls grow up? Not so cute.
Posted by: April C. | December 7, 2009 11:39 AM
I watched it 4 times and tried to figure out what was so offensive about this? Sassy, yes, but sexy - no. The clothing was modest. The dance was commercial, fun and hip. The rhythm and the rap were catchy - designed to bring a smile and sell clothes. I'm a mom of 3 teenage sons and have strong feelings about provocative dress and behavior in girls, and I just don't see a problem here.
Posted by: Nancy | December 7, 2009 12:13 PM
Oh my. I am so glad we haven't replaced our tv and turned off the cable..
Not that I A)live near a GAP anymore, or B) buy their clothes new (thrift store? Sure. New? not happening).
But this is ridiculous. We wonder why our preteens are acting like teenagers did 20 years ago. We wonder why there are little girls wearing words splashed across their rear ends (DIVA, Princess, etc, anyone?)...
No thanks. This is repellent. And there is no need for it. I wish that they (companies/advertising execs) would just stop with this sort of garbage...
Posted by: Rachel @ Off to the West | December 7, 2009 1:00 PM
I felt like Lauren did after seeing the adult commercial that was just terrible re: Christmas. I saw this kid version the other day and while I'm not sure the actual moves or clothes bother me, I'm so tired of young girls carrying around a bossy, sassy, older attitude. There's so much sweetness lost in girls under the age of 10 these days, it's sad.
Posted by: Elle | December 7, 2009 2:07 PM
There is nothing innocent or cute about being sassy.
As a pp mentioned, sass is extrememly unbecoming in teens, or any age group for that matter.
Posted by: Carey | December 7, 2009 2:45 PM
Some commenters found a few of the moves sexual in nature-I don't see it. Perhaps my sensitivities have been dumbed down by commercial brainwashing-yikes! Their outfits are cute!Usually my kids wear last year's trends because they are on this year's clearance tables. I do love the quality of GAP clothes. With a large family, you have to love clothes that can take many washings and still be handed down:-)
Posted by: Kate | December 7, 2009 3:00 PM
Rachel, I think you meant to say "have replaced our tv." I don't have a TV either, but we have to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. It's not the mere presence of the TV in our homes that sends these materialistic and sexual messages to our children. Jesus said that it's not what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out. This commercial could be a great opportunity to teach our girls about Whose side we're on if they just happened to see it incidentally in the middle of some other program. It's not wrong to have a TV or to watch it sometimes, as long as we are aware of the antithesis and we are using it to teach our children.
Posted by: Laurie | December 7, 2009 3:06 PM
I don't want to start an argument, but I'm with Nancy and Kate. After reading the comments, I watched this 3 or 4 times, I didn't see any gyrating or offensive dance moves. I thought the clothing was modest & cute. Sure, it may be too pricey for me to buy my DD, but it's a commercial. For the Gap. Of course it's going to feature expensive, trendy clothing. That's how they make their money. In our extended family, we do hand me downs. My fourth son is now the ninth boy to be wearing most of his clothes, and they all come from Gap or Gymboree - the expensive stuff tends to last longer that's just a fact. I buy my DD a few quality pieces each season (to be handed down to girl cousins) and would not have a problem with with these girls are wearing. As far as the content of their previous commercial (which was in response to a threatened boycott), I look to my Church and my family to instill the values of the season to my children, not the stores at the mall.
Posted by: Danielle M. | December 7, 2009 3:28 PM
I didn't find the dance moves here provocative OR age-inappropriate. They seemed like they were having fun! I think the idea that "sass" immediately becomes a bad thing, instead of an exhibition of confidence, self-esteem, and joy is a bit premature. This seemed like something most 5-6th grader girls would put together on the playground or lunchroom using cheers and handclaps, and silly dance moves.
Posted by: mary mack | December 7, 2009 4:16 PM
UGH. My girls don't want to 'forget those girly dresses' thank you very much. We'll just stick with our 'girly dresses' and not worry about how 'cute these boots' are. ARGH.
These little girls come across as very sassy and demanding.
Love Samantha
Posted by: Samantha | December 7, 2009 6:25 PM
I think it's adorable! My 7 year old dances like that around the livingroom and I don't consider it "sexual" at all.
Posted by: Jenny | December 7, 2009 6:27 PM
I thought the clothes were super cute, I would buy them, and do dress my daughter similarly. We like bright colors and cute fluffy skirts and wild prints. I do think that there is something up with little girls (8-9-10 years old) acting more like teenagers, I REALLY don't like that. I heard someone say lately that it was inappropriate for a 6 year to hold their mothers hand and for a 10 year to play with dolls......huh? I do think that this commercial was, while not necessarily inappropriate, pushing the grow up fast idea.
Posted by: Amie | December 7, 2009 6:48 PM
I just thought this planted seeds of rebellion.....
Regarding children's clothing: I like The Children's Place for quality and affordability..
Posted by: Lisa | December 7, 2009 8:41 PM
Loved it - if I had a daughter I would have gone shopping today. :)
Seriously, I have a fairly sensitive "ugh-meter" when it comes to kids acting suggestively or just older than they should, and this didn't ring bells with me. My 9 year old son has the same sensitivity, and when I showed him the commercial he just shrugged and said "girls are silly - whatever". He didn't have the uncomfortable feeling he's had before when confronted (accidentally) with something inappropriate (a glimpse of "dancers" at a televised basketball game, for instance). Not. a. big. deal.
Posted by: Tari | December 7, 2009 11:44 PM
Ok, I guess I'm in the middle. :) Personally, I love the clothes and boots, the song and the dance. But my six-year-old daughter? Still totally into frilly dresses. Sooo... I think I'm going to let her stay there a while longer, since she would also like the music and the dancing. Reason #457 why my husband and I don't let our children watch regular t.v.
I didn't see it as sexual, but I did see it as sassy and really, why diss girls who like frilly dresses? And you know what? Until you, dear child, buy your own clothes with your own money, you do NOT tell me what you are wearing. My house, my money, my rules. You may choose from what is available in your very own closet. That's how it was when I was growing up and I think it worked out fine. I didn't wear brand name clothes until I had my own job and my own apartment. Now I buy my brand-name clothes second-hand. So can you, dear child. :) IMHO.
And, my husband watched it and had no opinion. :)
Posted by: lucy | December 8, 2009 1:25 AM
I love this.
LOVE IT!
How often do you see young girls screaming at the thought of the pink, frilly frocks, and cheering for boots, comfy sweaters, and bright colors!?
How LIBERATING! Culture sends enough messages to young girls about what "feminine" means... it's so so good to see something that allows them to be KIDS - to have fun, cheer, clap, and giggle.
Awesome.
Posted by: meredith | December 8, 2009 2:18 AM
The clothing is cute & the dancing is not much more extreme than what some of the girls in my dance studio did when I was a child. But, as a mom of 3 girls, I would not want my child to even for a moment to think it might be acceptable to speak to an adult in the manner that these girls are speaking.
My children are allowed to have their own opinions, but they will be respectful about it.
Posted by: j dan | December 8, 2009 3:22 PM
I love this commercial. My daughter has been out of the "girly" dresses for a few years now. I didn't see the commercial or the clothing as provocative at all. And I get the whole "my house, my rules", but I don't see the point in forcing kids to wear something that makes them uncomfortable. Sure, the clothing must be age-appropriate and modest, but I wouldn't dream of making my daughter wear a frilly dress if I could just as easily let her wear a twill skirt, boots and a colorful sweater with matching tights. Pick your battles.
Posted by: Kelly | December 8, 2009 11:11 PM
I do not care for this commercial. The dancing around doesn't bother me, however, the disrespectful tone coming from little girls does. I agree with Samantha....they do come off as sassy and demanding. Not cute.
Posted by: Tess | December 9, 2009 10:51 PM
I have vowed to never again shop at the Gap after their adult and children commercials. Yes the commercials are annoying and distasteful, but I really don't care for their clothes anymore. I thought the little girls seemed very bratty. I would not want MY daughter to act like that. No, it isn't provocative in the slightest, but they did stick their butts in the air on one dance move, which isn't too bothersome. They were just very bratty.
Posted by: Alex | December 10, 2009 2:16 PM
I think this commercial is brilliant. If my granddaughter were a few years older, I could see her wanting to wear those clothes. Who wouldn't? Those girls look like they are having so much fun! It is colorful and energizing. I'm not a big fan of the short shirts, but it is the style these days (I used to wear them, too, back in the day) and they are wearing winter flat boots not heels. Plus thick funny tights and overall just joyful stuff. I've watched this ad 20 times to study it. I still can't catch all the words, but I think GAP posted a winner here. Hurray for active girls who are having fun with other girls. I do not see these clothes or dance moves as provocative.
Posted by: ginger | December 20, 2009 9:28 PM
