Comments on: Do you shop at T.J. Maxx so you “get to eat”? http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/ Sat, 25 May 2013 17:12:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Hannah http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1578 Hannah Wed, 04 May 2011 22:16:43 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1578 Oops, I meant to say "since we so often do the opposite." :) Oops, I meant to say “since we so often do the opposite.” :)

]]> By: Hannah http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1577 Hannah Wed, 04 May 2011 20:06:17 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1577 Most ads "seem harmless," which is the point. Many of us feel that ads are cute or harmless, which is why they're able to have the impact that they have. Ads tell us what we need, how we feel, etc., and do so in a way that seems innocent to most. I'm not affiliated with about -face, but it's my understanding that one purpose of this site is to be critical of advertisements that target women so that we can arm ourselves against the tricks and tactics of the media. It's not about attacking certian companies, it's more about empowerment. There is nothing wrong with viewing media through a critical lense, sense we so often do the opposite. Most ads “seem harmless,” which is the point. Many of us feel that ads are cute or harmless, which is why they’re able to have the impact that they have. Ads tell us what we need, how we feel, etc., and do so in a way that seems innocent to most. I’m not affiliated with about -face, but it’s my understanding that one purpose of this site is to be critical of advertisements that target women so that we can arm ourselves against the tricks and tactics of the media. It’s not about attacking certian companies, it’s more about empowerment. There is nothing wrong with viewing media through a critical lense, sense we so often do the opposite.

]]> By: Suzyn http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1576 Suzyn Sat, 30 Apr 2011 00:20:39 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1576 I agree that while the sentence DID jump out at me, the ad was done in sarcasm, and after all, in the ad, the actress is a fashion student, so perhaps to a fashion student that would be a 'need' rather than a 'want'. Not the greatest priorities, but who in our 20s HAD great priorities? In any event, with all the ads and media out there that do their utmost to make us feel not enough, worthless or downright ugly because we're not all 6 feet tall, weighing 90 pounds and blonde (there are so many different kinds of beauty out there, including the tall blondes *smile*), this one seems pretty harmless. I agree that while the sentence DID jump out at me, the ad was done in sarcasm, and after all, in the ad, the actress is a fashion student, so perhaps to a fashion student that would be a ‘need’ rather than a ‘want’. Not the greatest priorities, but who in our 20s HAD great priorities?

In any event, with all the ads and media out there that do their utmost to make us feel not enough, worthless or downright ugly because we’re not all 6 feet tall, weighing 90 pounds and blonde (there are so many different kinds of beauty out there, including the tall blondes *smile*), this one seems pretty harmless.

]]> By: Miriam http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1575 Miriam Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:55:40 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1575 I am not "up in arms" as one commenter put it. I think that I can take a joke quite well, my issue is that one sentence was jarring to me. I wasn't even watching the commercial but that sentence jumped out at me. I think that saying ads like this shouldn't matter and detract from the "larger cause" is divisive. I don't like young college women being portrayed as vapid clothes-horses regardless of whether or not it is a joke. TJ Maxx needs to sell clothes but it justs seems they could have gotten their point across without the comment on food. If you disagree, fine but I think microaggressions like this often get glossed over as "unimportant in relation to the bigger issue". Microaggressions are very real and in some ways very powerful even though the entire point is that they should make the person offended feel like they are overreacting. I am not “up in arms” as one commenter put it. I think that I can take a joke quite well, my issue is that one sentence was jarring to me. I wasn’t even watching the commercial but that sentence jumped out at me. I think that saying ads like this shouldn’t matter and detract from the “larger cause” is divisive. I don’t like young college women being portrayed as vapid clothes-horses regardless of whether or not it is a joke. TJ Maxx needs to sell clothes but it justs seems they could have gotten their point across without the comment on food. If you disagree, fine but I think microaggressions like this often get glossed over as “unimportant in relation to the bigger issue”. Microaggressions are very real and in some ways very powerful even though the entire point is that they should make the person offended feel like they are overreacting.

]]> By: BEYOND ANOREXIC http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1574 BEYOND ANOREXIC Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:44:07 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1574 I read the ad another way too--that it's not just referring to money and being able to find bargain prices that allows girls to eat, but about the fact that maybe, just maybe, these jeans are made to fit REAL girls with real bodies that might have a bit of fat on them and that TJ Maxx makes their jeans big enough that girls don't have to starve themselves to fit into them. What a luxury! Can you imagine??? I read the ad another way too–that it’s not just referring to money and being able to find bargain prices that allows girls to eat, but about the fact that maybe, just maybe, these jeans are made to fit REAL girls with real bodies that might have a bit of fat on them and that TJ Maxx makes their jeans big enough that girls don’t have to starve themselves to fit into them. What a luxury! Can you imagine???

]]> By: Liz http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1573 Liz Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:43:13 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1573 I agree with Mandy. It was sarcasm, a joke, and I'm sure she doesn't actually buy clothes instead of food. Mandy said it better than I could, but if we bitch about every little thing, even things that we admit are probably not meant to be taken seriously, then how can we expect our bitching about anything to be taken seriously? I agree with Mandy. It was sarcasm, a joke, and I’m sure she doesn’t actually buy clothes instead of food. Mandy said it better than I could, but if we bitch about every little thing, even things that we admit are probably not meant to be taken seriously, then how can we expect our bitching about anything to be taken seriously?

]]> By: Bridie http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1572 Bridie Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:24:52 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1572 Dying children all over the world NEED food, NEED clean water, NEED shelter NEED medicine... She "NEEDS" designer clothes. Let just let that sink in for a minute. I think I need to go bang my head against a wall... Dying children all over the world NEED food, NEED clean water, NEED shelter NEED medicine… She “NEEDS” designer clothes. Let just let that sink in for a minute. I think I need to go bang my head against a wall…

]]> By: Mandy http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1571 Mandy Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:57:35 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1571 Of all of the ills in society and the media in particular, I have to respectfully disagree with this post. I think to go after TJ Maxx for this one line is splitting hairs, and represents a kind of reactionary thinking that makes it hard for the general population to take seriously the concerns of women and how we're represented in the media. It is my personal opinion that being this up in arms about a comment clearly meant to be a bit sarcastic shows a serious need for a sense of humor and doesn't contribute much to the substantive dialogue about women in the media that exists so often on this site and elsewhere. Perhaps this writer was searching for a Friday post, but at best this is grasping at straws. Of all of the ills in society and the media in particular, I have to respectfully disagree with this post. I think to go after TJ Maxx for this one line is splitting hairs, and represents a kind of reactionary thinking that makes it hard for the general population to take seriously the concerns of women and how we’re represented in the media. It is my personal opinion that being this up in arms about a comment clearly meant to be a bit sarcastic shows a serious need for a sense of humor and doesn’t contribute much to the substantive dialogue about women in the media that exists so often on this site and elsewhere. Perhaps this writer was searching for a Friday post, but at best this is grasping at straws.

]]> By: Jasmine Jingles http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1570 Jasmine Jingles Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:18:22 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1570 The line “Designer clothes that I absolutely need, and I still get to eat!” surprised me when I first watched this commercial. Not only does this commercial draw attention to putting fashion ahead of food, but it confuses wants for needs. For so many individuals, it is difficult to understand the difference between want and need. You NEED food to live. You WANT clothes to fit in. The big question at hand is, if we don't like the ads TJ Maxx and other companies are feeding us, how can we take action and create change? I'm planning on sending TJ Maxx a letter, expressing my concern with their latest ad campaign. And submit the ad to NEDA's Media Watch! The line “Designer clothes that I absolutely need, and I still get to eat!” surprised me when I first watched this commercial. Not only does this commercial draw attention to putting fashion ahead of food, but it confuses wants for needs. For so many individuals, it is difficult to understand the difference between want and need. You NEED food to live. You WANT clothes to fit in.

The big question at hand is, if we don’t like the ads TJ Maxx and other companies are feeding us, how can we take action and create change? I’m planning on sending TJ Maxx a letter, expressing my concern with their latest ad campaign. And submit the ad to NEDA’s Media Watch!

]]> By: michellek http://www.about-face.org/do-you-shop-at-t-j-maxx-so-you-get-to-eat/#comment-1569 michellek Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:28:06 +0000 http://about-face.org/blog/?p=4784#comment-1569 Great point, Rachel. And such an relevant reference. Great point, Rachel. And such an relevant reference.

]]>