This ad is causing controversy. Does it offend you?

Question

The H&M ad features two elementary schoolgirls dressed in school uniform, with the slogan “Make those heads turn in H&M’s Back to School fashion.”

It prompted a backlash on social media, where users called it “creepy,” “disturbing,” and recalled their own stories about “being ogled” while still at school.

Australian writer Melinda Tankard Reist was outraged by the ad, “Little schoolgirls generally don’t want to ‘turn heads.’ The large numbers I engage with in schools want to be left alone to learn and have fun and not draw unwanted attention to their appearance.”

H&M has apologized and removed the school uniform advertisement in Australia.

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Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Sure, these girls don't want to be  sexualized ...  But "turning heads" can be for a million reasons.  If I see a special thing (maybe a car), or something I find interesting (perhaps a fruit new to me, or a nice dress in the market, the new iphone...), I will turn my head. Same thing will happen if I see  someone  wearing an outstanding dress or  standing out  in some way. Is  standing out in a good way  bad for you? H&M, as a clothing brand, pretends obviously to make clothes people think are beautiful, so they can sell. Would you wear something that you thought was ugly and disliked? Probably not, and I don't know why school kids should. Fashion for  kids must also be beautiful  (specially if they will wear it every day, as well as being practical which pinafores are), and what a better sign of it than people appreciating it and  noticing you?  Yes, we immediately assume the ad  must have sexual connotations , but why should we guide our thought based on a small number of  pedos instead of reasoning ... Back when I was also a kid (6, 7, 8 years old) I also had preferences, and not knowing what sex was, not having watched porn (obviously...), without pedo parents, etc. I must admit the female uniform looked nice and attractive to me. I'm heterosexual and I liked girls, and some were more beautiful and attractive in my eyes than others. Was I a pedo and would I have abused those girls if I had looked at them and told them what I really thought? I don't think so, females just look good in feminine clothing... And  as much as you would like to eliminate that thought by banning these ads, you just focus on the problem, misunderstand the ad and give it more visibility.  Nor pedos nor our attraction to girly girls will cease because of that. Solving pedophilia by making girls uglier, promoting woke ads... is clearly not the way to go. Its like with robbery... Should we all walk with fear in the streets and leave our phones at home so they don't get robbed, or should we walk normally and have police take care of these guys and put them in prison? Why do you state that girls dressing in a sexual way are not responsible for being assaulted (I agree), but then act as if school girls ARE responsible for it, and should therefore dress in a certain way people are not allowed to like, so they don't get any attention, no people look at them... What should people do, look away and don't ever get close to someone in uniform? Do you thing that solves the problem? It is those people who are isolating and sexualizing children and not those that look at someone which is completely natural for social beings as we are. Making those "artificial distinctions" and reminding people (by banning ads for instance) that it is a "banned fruit" will just incentivate the small percentage of pedos, and harm everyone else. Good thinking you woke ¡d¡0τ$.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

I'm not to the level of "offended" by the add - I just think it's terrible (because it isn't effective) and because it shows a huge disconnect with the target audience. I agree that most young girls aren't looking for that kind of attention, and that the people who thought they would respond to this ad are, at best, completely out of touch, or at worst, are pedophilia-adjacent, if not outright pedophiles, to be sexualizing pre-pubescent girls.

If this kind of thing was extremely rare, I'd be more likely to chalk it up to an out-of-touch marketing department or ad agency, but these kinds of ads are becoming a lot MORE frequent, and in my opinion it's because of DEI hiring practices (hiring people without the necessary qualifications just because they are female and/or non-white) and because of the Woke agenda, where the message is far more important than the effectiveness of the product or the money it earns for the company.

The good news is that every day, companies are throwing this crap out, firing their DEI staff, and going back to merit-based hiring and requiring products and services that are focused on making money, not pushing a political agenda. DEI has cost companies endless billions of dollars, with nothing to show for it, and it's unsustainable, and will thus get tossed onto the garbage heap of history. And things will improve across the board as a result. Of course, many companies won't survive their mistakes and missteps, and that's okay too.

Amy10223 · Accepted Answer

I don't see what is wrong with the ad, except for the words "Head turning". I guess it's meant to look cute--two simply dressed school girls that would "turn heads". Thats the way I see it, and as far as I'm concerned, anything else would be ridiculous.

Alwayreckles93 · Accepted Answer

I dont care and seems like people get offended over anything now a days.

Kelley1 · Answer

Long before children know what "having sex" is they want attention and they want to be popular. They want attention from their parents, their friend, and most everyone. Children want attention at age 4 and I suspect that even infants want attention.

Therefore, nothing about that ad is offensive.

Phoenix98 · Answer

I think the head turning part was meant more towards other kids like in the sense of the other kids wanted to wear H@M to.

But I don't really see anything wrong with it. I mean I've seen actual disturbing and straight up spiteful/hateful ads get praised to the high heavens. So I don't see why this ad should be criticized.

jshm2 · Answer

It's neither "woke" nor "offensive" but just another example of bored, dim-witted people blowing up anything they can complain about, even if it's nothing.

The "head turning" should be that it's charging 30 bucks for a kids pinafore. They should be fucking shot for charging that price.

TheorionMage · Answer

ALL a matter of WHOSE heads are turning and with what implicit intentions---  There will ever be deviants amidst any broad audience who'll see 'opportunity' to prey upon the naive. Those whose stunted sexuality seeks to prey upon the trusting naive~

RavenDarkheart · Answer

I don’t think it’s that bad. I mean ads for kids school clothes have been a thing longer than I have been around.

OddBeMe · Answer

I’m troubled by your use of “attractive” or “check them out” describing children.

I don’t particularly care. But it’s a call back to the shining that’s freaking people out prob. Though they should be more freaked out by the number of dead Malayasian kids who perished in clothing factory fires making H&M crap.

Buy from used or vintage stores…

purplepoppy · Answer

It's not exactly a sexy school uniform is it? Looks more like a trainee nun You wouldn't turn any heads wearing that.

_piotr · Answer

Normal add. There is nothing wrong with it. Woke people are making again a mountain out of a molehill.

Anonymous · Answer

The ad is designed to get parents to spend money on clothes, not get the kids to say "mommy, daddy, I want this so I can turn heads". LOL They don't even know what that means. Besides, whose heads would be turning anyway? Not 12 year boys, just the pedo's in schools or, if they wear those outfits to church, your friendly religious folks.

DJB72 · Answer

Poor taste. If you can't see it, invert it. Imagine the same slogan with two prepubescent boys and a catholic priest.

slatyb · Answer

It's a double entendre, but inappropriate to use with a picture of children.

strateguy632 · Answer

i did not notice anything... nothing controversial nor offended me. i saw in reply head turn but the KIDS turned their head!

Nikki1989 · Answer

It is in very bad taste. They should have known better, but the creeps out there won't see anything wrong with it.

AviatorTom · Answer

It would take a lot more to offend me. It's not a great ad in my opinion, but it doesn't offend me. Some will always be offended by something.

sheikalana · Answer

It's a bit awkward considering there are two little girls on the picture. That's not a type of phrase I would use.

Daniela1982 · Answer

I was thinking it had to do with pronouns - Her & Male. Like mini transexuals.

exitseven · Answer

big deal, Two kids dressed for school. Liberals would like it better if there was two boys dressed up like girls.

FenixG45 · Answer

This ad offends me because it tries to make money off schoolchildren! WDAF?

Zestyassmf1997 · Answer

I think the ad is slightly distasteful. I can see why people would be creeped out.

KrakenAttackin · Answer

So now you and your thot friends are objectifying children...

CubaPirate · Answer

Yet another example of the unacceptable sexualization of kids in main stream society.

7Phoenix7 · Answer

I more disturbed by the poll options. 👀

AngryCarl · Answer

Inappropriate and creepy, like your poll options.

RedInnocent68 · Answer

I thought it was a horror movie reference…

Pete671 · Answer

Reminds me of The Shining tbh,,,

douride2 · Answer

I'm not offended it's just kind of stupid.

Agape93 · Answer

No. It's just stupid

laly520 · Answer

this isn't right

MemeSupreme · Answer

it's just weird

Lieutenant00 · Answer

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