If you're not aware of this yet, Jenna Lyons, President and Creative Director of “J. Crew” is taking a crapload of flack today. For what, and from whom you ask? For painting her young SONS toenails hot pink in an ad in the newest released “J. Crew” catalog. The flack ‘disher’ is Dr. Keith Ablow. He says, and I quote"Yeah, well, it may be fun and games now, Jenna, but at least put some money aside for psychotherapy for the kid-and maybe a little for others who'll be affected by your 'innocent' pleasure. If you have no problem with the J. Crew ad, how about one in which a little boy models a sundress? What could possibly be the problem with that?" End quote. Wow, I tell you what, WOW!
I find Dr. Ablow’s attitude deeply disturbing and extremely narrow. Perhaps if our boys weren't groomed to be emotionally shackled when they were young, they wouldn't need therapy when they grew up! How about putting money aside for the women and children who are adversely affected by men who were raised to be emotionally stymied? I am deadly serious about this. These narrow, damaging views on gender roles and expectations are the reason I took TV away from my kids 15 years ago! I dressed in a man’s tuxedo one year for Halloween, does that make me guilty of penis envey? Hardly. Like my plumbing the way it is thank you very much. It was just plain fun to do something different. Why wouldn’t a young boy be curious about nail color or dresses? The problem comes when you make him feel bad for having a natural curiosity. Why is it worse for a boy to be curious, than, say a girl who may think she’d like to be a carpenter?
When my three year old son asked Santa for a baby doll, he got it. At the time “Santa” was single and free to make the decisions in whatever way she felt best. “Santa” brought the baby doll - and a rocking chair and bottles. The “MEN” in my son’s life threw fits. They accused me of making him soft, turning him into what they called a WUSS. Being raised in an all-female household, my son had his nails painted AND played in a dress Dr. Ablow! Our message to him was clear, "you are great and lovable just the way you are!" None of the men in his life were, or are, capable of telling him that. My son is grown and has a daughter of his own. He’s as masculine as they come. He’s a much better father and "CARE" giver, than ANY of the men in his life could ever hope to be. His daughter knows her daddy loves her. He is not afraid to show love and nurture. He doesn’t need psychotherapy and I don’t believe Jenna Lyons son will either.
My hats off to you Jenna AND son, BooRaahh! Don't give Dr. Ablow a second thought. The following is the link for the article if you care to read it yourself.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110413/ts_yblog_thelookout/hot-pink-toenailed-boy-in-j-crew-ad-sparks-controversy
I find Dr. Ablow’s attitude deeply disturbing and extremely narrow. Perhaps if our boys weren't groomed to be emotionally shackled when they were young, they wouldn't need therapy when they grew up! How about putting money aside for the women and children who are adversely affected by men who were raised to be emotionally stymied? I am deadly serious about this. These narrow, damaging views on gender roles and expectations are the reason I took TV away from my kids 15 years ago! I dressed in a man’s tuxedo one year for Halloween, does that make me guilty of penis envey? Hardly. Like my plumbing the way it is thank you very much. It was just plain fun to do something different. Why wouldn’t a young boy be curious about nail color or dresses? The problem comes when you make him feel bad for having a natural curiosity. Why is it worse for a boy to be curious, than, say a girl who may think she’d like to be a carpenter?
When my three year old son asked Santa for a baby doll, he got it. At the time “Santa” was single and free to make the decisions in whatever way she felt best. “Santa” brought the baby doll - and a rocking chair and bottles. The “MEN” in my son’s life threw fits. They accused me of making him soft, turning him into what they called a WUSS. Being raised in an all-female household, my son had his nails painted AND played in a dress Dr. Ablow! Our message to him was clear, "you are great and lovable just the way you are!" None of the men in his life were, or are, capable of telling him that. My son is grown and has a daughter of his own. He’s as masculine as they come. He’s a much better father and "CARE" giver, than ANY of the men in his life could ever hope to be. His daughter knows her daddy loves her. He is not afraid to show love and nurture. He doesn’t need psychotherapy and I don’t believe Jenna Lyons son will either.
My hats off to you Jenna AND son, BooRaahh! Don't give Dr. Ablow a second thought. The following is the link for the article if you care to read it yourself.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110413/ts_yblog_thelookout/hot-pink-toenailed-boy-in-j-crew-ad-sparks-controversy