JCPenney Pulls "I'm Too Pretty to Do Homework" Shirt
Outraged consumers called the shirt sexist.
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Department store JCPenney has pulled a shirt from its shelves after consumers complained it had a sexist message.The shirt, which was intended for girls 7 to 16 years old, says, was made by the brand Self Esteem.
It says, "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me."
The description accompanying the shirt, which was sold online, said, "Who has time for homework when there's a new Justin Bieber album out? She'll love this tee that's just as cute and sassy as she is."
JCPenney received complaints from shoppers who thought the shirt promoted sexist stereotypes by suggesting that girls' looks were more important than their brains.
Laura Todd started a petition on Change.org Tuesday asking JCPenney to pull the shirt off its shelves, quickly garnering over 1,500 signatures.
The petition 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."
More than 1,500 people signed the petition.
The company had removed the shirt from its website by Wednesday morning.
The Los Angeles Times reports that JCPenney sent Todd an email saying: "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."
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