A Letter to Victoria’s Secret From a Father

/ Rev. Evan Dolive

An open letter to Victoria’s Secret regarding their choice to make an underwear line aimed at young teenagers. (Read about it here)

Dear Victoria’s Secret,

I am a father of a three year old girl. She loves princesses, Dora the Explorer, Doc McStuffins and drawing pictures for people. Her favorite foods are peanut butter and jelly, cheese and pistachios.

Even though she is only three, as a parent I have had those thoughts of my daughter growing up and not being the little girl she is now. It is true what they say about kids, they grow up fast. No matter how hard I try I know that she will not be the little ball of energy she is now; one day she will be a rebellious teenager that will more than likely think her dad is a total goof ball and would want to distance herself from my embarrassing presence.

I know that this is far down the line and I try to spend as much time as I can with her making memories of this special time.

But as I read an article today posted on The Black Sphere, it really got me thinking that maybe the culture that we currently find ourselves in is not helping the cause.

Recently I read an article that Victoria’s Secret is launching a line of underwear and bras aimed at middle school aged children. The line will be called “Bright Young Things” and will feature ” lace black cheeksters with the word “Wild” emblazoned on them, green and white polka-dot hipsters screen printed with “Feeling Lucky?” and a lace trim thong with the words, “Call me” on the front.”

As a dad, this makes me sick.

I believe that this sends the wrong message to not only my daughter but to all young girls.
I don’t want my daughter to ever think that her self-worth and acceptance by others is based on the choice of her undergarments. I don’t want my daughter to ever think that to be popular or even attractive she has to have emblazon words on her bottom.

I want my daughter (and every girl) to be faced with tough decisions in her formative years of adolescence. Decisions like should I be a doctor or a lawyer? Should I take calculus as a junior or a senior? Do I want to go to Texas A&M or University of Texas or some Ivy League School? Should I raise awareness for slave trafficking or lack of water in developing nations? There are many, many more questions that all young women should be asking themselves… not will a boy (or girl) like me if I wear a “call me” thong?

I want my daughter to know that she is perfect the way she is; I want my daughter to know that no matter what underwear she is wearing it does not define her.

I believe that this new line “Bright Young Things” thwarts the efforts of empowering young women in this country. “Bright Young Things” gives off the message that women are sex objects. This new line promotes it at a dangerously young age.

I implore you to reconsider your decision to start this line.

By doing so you will put young girl’s self-esteem, self-worth and pride above profits.

Sincerely,

Rev. Evan Dolive
Houston, TX

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2,835 thoughts on “A Letter to Victoria’s Secret From a Father”

  1. If I am not mistaken, I have seen shopping bags from Abercombie that says “abercrombie kids”. I know you have to be 18yrs old to buy their catalog b/c the pics are so explicit. I can’t imagine that they have for “kids”. so other stores out there are doing lines for younger kids that have a much more “older” look to it. I have 3 kids and they youngest is a girl. it is scary out there and the looks I see at the malls.

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  2. I agree with the father of this young girl, let children be children and please stop trying to make them grow up before they should. These kids do not need to know about sex or being a sex symbol, they need to be empowered, you should be lifting their self-esteem to be proud young women. I find it revolting to see these words on grown womens behinds, let alone on a child where they should never be seen. Let our kids be kids and enjoy playing with toys and using their imaginations, and not dressing them like adults.

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  3. Y are u going to vs for ur child anyway that is a store for 18+ college students is aimed at the pink line. If u have a problem then don’t let ur kid shop there problem solved

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    • Dmims-the problem is…did you even read the dad’s letter? I think you may have stopped half way through…he is saying that he read online that VS is going to be marketing toward CHILDREN! Problem isn’t solved when they’ll see it and want it bc they’re for girls their age!

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  4. I also agree with this fathers’ letter. I hope VS reconsiders this line… and if they do not, I hope they do not use young girls to advertise on their TV commercials. I dislike all their current commercials now… it is not appropriate for any woman.

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    • I toally agree with him we are saying that our middle school girls are being to Victoria secret is wrong in thinking about middle school kids they are just figuring out the girl boy thing and leave it alone !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    • refuse to buy VS everyone!!!! Maybe the children of “stars and celebrities” will find the VS line appealing. Good ole cotton briefs is what a playful little girl needs….she can climb trees, dig in the dirt, ride a bike and so much more in those traditional briefs. Cotton is far superior to nylon…If the masses refuse to purchase VS products they might change their minds, but I doubt it.

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  5. I just realized that u are a teenager? A grown mature woman would of never took what a father was trying to say completly out of context.

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  6. I completely support the authors stance in his letter to VS. Introducing sexuality to young children derails their chance of a healthy childhood.

    I propose this line of underwear be taken out of production, and VS write a letter of acknowledgment to this effect in a full page ad of every major newspaper, explaining that they realized that they wanted to support healthy childhoods.

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  7. There are two main view points given here. 1. Parents are in control and should not allow pre-teens to wear such VS underwear. 2. VS should not be pushing pre-teens into sexy underwear. These view points are not exclusive to each other. Both should be followed. While parents can control what their children wear, they cannot control what messages their children see and hear by way of advertizing. Of course a caring parent can instill good moral values, and self respect, but if advertizing didn’t work to form our thinking, companies wouldn’t pay thousands of dollars to use it.

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    • At that age, it is difficult in today’s society for a parent to control what their children wear. Many at say the age of 11 or 12 currently babysit and pay for the things they want, or use birthday/holiday money. Many sneak and hide such items so that their parents cannot find them. I feel that if the industry did not offer them to sell to such young clientele, the desire to want them would not be as great. That is the kind of apparel you look forward to being able to buy when you “grow up”. There is already and epidemic of young girls feeling the need to entertain the idea of sexual relations at a young age, why push the thought more than it already is? where is the chasity and morals in the world? Have they not looked at the amount of pregnancies between the ages of 11 and 13? It is insane. You can’t really blame it on the parents because they work. Most are home by 5 or 6. Unless they are homeschooled, no parent is around their child all of the time..most families in todays economy cannot afford it. The have to work to pay the bills. So again…..why push the issue?
      If they feel they must have the line, then the person in my opinion should either have a valid ID stating they are 16 or older, or have a parent present. This way, it is not on them, it really is on the parents.

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  8. And just how many 12-year-old girls go out and buy their own underwear? If you don’t want your daughter to wear VS’s pre-teen line, don’t buy it for them. If they somehow manage to come home with some frilly things you disapprove of, take them away and explain why you feel like it’s inappropriate for a girl her age to have such items. Do you honestly expect corporations to do your parenting for you?

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    • Well, Oburi, since you don’t seem to be grasping the issue, let me tell you: the social pressures especially among teenagers are usually the main reason why they go against their upbringing, education and even better judgment (if they have some at that age). And yes, at 12 they do have money, not only from babysitting jobs, but birthday gifts etc. No one expect corporations to do the parenting, but we don’t need to let them blatantly destroy the parenting that we HAVE done.

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    • The point is of course parents must still do their jobs but they are not the only influencers of children. Remember peer pressure? Remember thinking your parents weren’t cool because they wouldn’t let you do/have the things your friends did/had? When really it was perhaps your friends’ parents that weren’t doing a good job and yours were? This father is asking VS to have some integrity and stop this absurd line. There’s nothing wrong with that.

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    • It is obvious from this father’s letter, he is not in danger of needing some corporation to perform his parenting privileges. We are talking about media blanketing of improper advertising to gullible young children, not mature women capable of making these decisions for themselves. Do you have a 12 year old daughter? Do you not want to guard her and protect her?

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    • I know when I was younger I used to go to the mall with my friends and their parents and we would go seperate ways and meet back in the middle at a certain time. There were many times when I would buy things my parents normally wouldn’t have and would hide them from them. Just because my parents didn’t let me didn’t mean it stopped me. I wasn’t a bad kid.

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    • Are you a parent? There is so much that occurs through what the media pushes to our youth. The mindset of what is acceptable, what one should look like, act like and wear. The pressures that pre-teens deal with are incredible and the desire to “fit in” as they go through puberty and all of the other challenges that they endure through pre-teen and teenage years are only magnified by the media’s objectification of women. To have a well known, high profile company like Victoria’s Secret push a line to young girls that focuses on sexuality at such a young age is the concern! Yes, parents can and will control what occurs in their house as much as they can, but it is not simply a matter of if you don’t want them to have it, then don’t buy it. It’s the message that THIS is what they should be wearing. THIS is how they should look. THIS is the sexual object that they are and somehow defines their worth. And to take it a step further, I certainly don’t want my daughter thinking that at the age of 12, it is ok to wear panties or bras that are designed to be seen by others!! Who are those sexual messages for, anyway?? So don’t be so quick to say “parent yourself, don’t rely on a corporation to do it for you”. There’s a lot more that goes into this than just saying “no”.

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      • I’m agreeing with this letter as well. However, this issue may not have arised if this argument wasn’t made for other, more appropriate lines. When I was 12, there was La Senza Girl, aimed toward young girls with appropriate bras and underwear for that age. A concern, such as this came up, and they banished them from Canada. Now young girls, who are now developing, who may need some of these “lady necessities” can only go to stores who offer adult sexuality. At a young age, you exposed to different types of lingerie and sexual items where you become more interested. Currently VS has their Pink line aimed toward adolescent girls. If adding this new line is desired, it should be a separate location from the rest of the stores, and obviously be more age appropriate; as suggested. This idea is not a bad idea, but the messages of the undergarmets is a bad idea.

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    • Rev. Dolive comes across as a very concerned parent and active in his daughter’s life. The point here isn’t abdication of parental responsibility. Rather, he’s expressing his disappointment that a large and influential company with tons of ad spots is contributing to the already overwhelming message that society is trying to imbue into his daughter: that she is a thing, and that her worth is measured by the industry standard of sex appeal. The industry has declared war on women, on moral principles, and on his daughter’s self-worth.

      Maybe she won’t get her hand son these VS product, but she might see them on TV. Her peers will probably have them. What effect do you suppose that will have on her?

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    • When I was 12 I wasn’t allowed to wear thongs. So I went to the mall and bought them myself and hid them from my parents for years. There is only so much parents can do

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  9. I also agree. Growing up now a days as either gender female/male is hard. And bullying is getting more and more. as for under garments it is suppose to be worn under your clothing so why would you write words on it. It is sending wrong messages to young women. My daughter is also 3 and I buy her articles of clothing and will until she moves out, so do not think that my daughter will be wearing clothing that does not support good morals that I want my child or children or any other persons child to wear.

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  10. Right on, Dad! The greed that has been consistently eroding our society and people’s lives stops at nothing – the greedsters would SELL their own daughters if they could make a buck. It’s time for Moms and Dads to rise up and say “enough”, like you did. There is plenty of us – the not-so-silent-hopefully MAJORITY!

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  11. VS Is ABSOLUTELY sending the wrong message! They have no busiess targeting young girls just to make a buck….This “clothing line” is very strongly associated with it’s sexy models & it is bad enough that young girls today think that they have be a size 0 to be beautiful… Although I only have sons, and YES I do wear ALOT of VS, I think they need to keep the line true to it’s original intended consumer….adults!! Kids are growing up too fast as it is…. With all that is going on in this world right now this is the last thing that VS should be focusing on…

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  13. Thank you for informing me of this. I am raising two young men who would never be faced with this kind of sexualization of their childhood. Shame on Victoria Secret for marketing sex to children. Can’t little girls just be kids anymore?

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  14. I agree with this Dad’s letter on ALL counts. He’s expressing concern — not just for his own 3-year-old daughter — but for ALL young girls to whom Victoria Secret’s “Bright Young Things” underwear line sends the WRONG message. Bravo, Rev. Dolive!

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  15. Reblogged this on orangetoenailsandtattoos and commented:
    A letter from a father opposing Victoria Secrets marketing of sexy underwear to middle school girls. I support him in an attempt to have this product never see the light of day. Please support and add your voice to the call. Ask Victoria Secret to let our little girls be kids a little longer!

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  16. I am a 23 year old woman who was raised in a two-parent household. Although there weren’t an abundance of rules growing up, my parents instilled proper morals and values in myself, as well as my two siblings, at very young ages. I was always a well-liked, “popular”, girl in high school who attended every party on every weekend and got into more than enough trouble in my rebellious years. Yes, I drank and stayed out past curfew, and yes I got in trouble for this. Rebellion is something most teens (girls and boys) will dabble with while growing up – it’s fun. With this being said, although I broke the rules and disappointed my parents here and there my morals and values always stuck. I wore the “in” clothing and, in fact, I even more VS underwear while still in high school – and my mother purchased them for me (even thongs – sometimes you just NEED them, no one likes underwear lines!! It does NOT make you a “slut”.). I 100% agree with what the author is saying, as well as many of the readers – he is not stereotyping women or degrading them for wearing this line of undergarments, he is simply stating that the MESSAGE being sent towards this era of young woman is degrading. I was allowed to wear these undergarments and my mother bought them willingly because back in high school, and today when I purchase VS underwear, I would never, ever even consider purchasing a pair with a message written across them degrading myself as an individual or a female. “Feeling Lucky?”, “Call Me”, and “Wild” are such unnecessary messages for not only 13-15 year olds to be wearing across their bottoms, but for ANY woman to be wearing anywhere on their bodies. Many times when these are purchased I’m sure the individual does not mean anything by it, but the message others are receiving if they so happen to get a glimpse of these items is stereotypical. The messages are completely unnecessary and I, personally, do not see why someone would choose to wear a pair of panties with “SEXY” or “I DARE YOU” written across them when there are an abundance of options that are simply floral print or striped – no degrading message present.
    My point is, although I followed the crowd and wore the “cool” items when I was young and rebelled against my parents, being brought up in a household with good morals and values stuck with me. The “trouble” I got into only escalated as far as trouble with my parents, which is typical of the average teen. I completely agree with the father who wrote this piece, it is not right to send these messages to young women, but as long as you raise your child to respect herself, you will always be in the back of her mind when she makes decisions such as what underwear to purchase, or which message she wants to convey to others.

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  18. All one has to do is look at ads in print or television and see how we as adults are destroying the innocense of our children. We are parents so that we may guide our kids on the right path of life, some might say it is only underwear, but the underlying fact is it destorts our childrens point of view on their self worth..

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  19. I’m a 26 year old male and I think it is incredibly inappropriate for a middle school-aged child to wear underwear with “Call Me” on it. This is tacky and completely beyond a 12 year old’s age bracket. I sometimes feel weird about my niece texting me. I can’t imagine having to worry that these are the things she may think are cool and societally acceptable. This can only add to the increase in teen pregnancy and the steady decline of human decency. It has nothing to with good parenting. As a society, we are allowing this kind of marketing to shape our young minds. Stop making our kids grow up too fast. I haven’t had any issues with Victoria’s Secret’s advertising for the adult world, but this is definitely a wrong path to take from a moral standpoint.

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  20. I don’t shop at Victoria Secret because frankly I find their merchandise to be of very poor quality for the price they charge. In addition, I don’t need a pair of underwear or an overpriced bra to make me feel sexy or legitimatize my femininity. It is reprehensible that VS would market sex to young girls. Their trick is simple…get them hooked on the idea that you are not woman enough if you don’t tart up your ass in pink and black lace and you will have a low self esteem customer for life. Don’t buy into it, and do not let your underage daughters shop there.

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  21. I am a 21 year old women and I whole heartedly agree with this father. They are young women who should be thinking of more important, life changing things. Such as their school work and their future. Not worrying about if Johnny Doe likes my underwear or looking cheap by wearing sluty things like this. I mean for God’s sake Victoria Secret!!! They are young girls!! Middle Schoolers! Bright Young Things? How about the title ” Victoria Secret: Poor decisions for Young Things ” ?

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  22. This letter clearly states he opposes this being marketed to young girls. It doesn’t call anyone a slut. It clearly suggests that it’s inappropriate to sexualize young girls. I’m a grown woman who makes french lingerie. It’s not appropriate for kids but it’s sexy and classy. I’m glad VS makes you feel good and you enjoy it – that’s the lovely thing about risqué lingerie! As an adult woman (although any adult has an equal right to feel sexy!) you should be allowed to do this. And young girls may be curious about it and decide what they like to wear on their own as they mature and that’s fine too. But adults trying to lure kids into the market is not ok, it’s exploitative. I don’t want to add even more pressure on young girls to look like maxim cover models above all else. They should choose to wear something because they feel good about it, they shouldn’t be made to think they need this to feel good about themselves.

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  23. I am a mother of 2 girls and I agree with the father. I wish more dad’s would stand up and fight for their little girls! I don’t have anything against VS my self. I wish that they were more carful with their advertisements. However I am not ok with this line of undergarments. I have driven a school bus for 5 years now. My first year driving I had to sub a route where I picked up a 6th grader that was pregnant by and 8th grader. An they were caught doing this at the school in a closet. Now you tell me that these young children are not harmed by what they see and hear.

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  24. I totally get what this dad is saying. As a married woman, I love VS. I even liked their stuff in high school, because I developed young, and their bras fit the best and lasted a long time. However, I also think that businesses have a responsibility to their community. Obviously, each person is responsible for their own choices, and parents have a very high responsibility to make sure that their children have self worth and self esteem. Also, just because a company prints/markets something, doesn’t require consumers to purchase it. I have no problem with VS targeting teens in this age range, but I certainly agree that they’re doing it in a sexually inappropriate way. The style and text on this line give a very specific, intentional message, and it’s not one that I would want my future daughters to deal with. The way I look at it, “sexy” underwear is in the same category as “sexual paraphernalia.” There’s an age of consent for a reason. Why promote an attitude that sexualizes children? It’s a pedophile’s heaven.

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  25. As a father of a beautiful adult daughter, I feel it was my job at home to raise my daughter in the manner I saw fit. I strived to teach her to be her own woman, and not let the outside world change her. I do not fear Victoria Secret or any other retailer or the movies or anything. I raised my daughter well, and she is well equipped to look after herself. My goal was to raise a well rounded, functioning adult, not raise a child. I feel I succeeded in that. My daughter is mature, sucessful, stunningly beautiful, and puts letches in their place regularly. She is not victimized by the dark side of society. I would say she is able to kick the dark side in the balls, literally. My daughter works in a male dominated industry (construction), holds her own, and has also entered beauty contess. She embraces being a person, and a woman. She is proud to dress stylishly but not held to brand name or silly fashion. My daughter never rebelled as a teen, she embraces her parents, and at 24 she still plans her vacations with her parents. She no longer lives at home, we no longer can protect her, as we did when she was 3, but we are confident, we raised an adult, and her life choices do, and will make us proud. Victoria Secret can do as they wish, we won.

    If you let the dark side of society lead your life in fear, you miss out on the great side of society. Love your daughter, raise her to be an adult. Enjoy the innocence of her youth, but prepare her with insight as an adult. If you do, she will make you proud as an adult.

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  27. I am the father of an 8 year old daughter and I totally agree with the letter this father posted to VS. This new line of “clothing” or “lack there of” should not be tolerated by society. These young girls should not be bombarded with ads that exploit sexuality.
    A young lady should be exactly that, “a young lady”, and not some tease for the boys. VS is inviting trouble for good Christian families in a world that is being desensitized to inappropriate undergarments. Just watch prime time television on any network today and you will see and hear things that were not allowed 20 years ago. The best we can hope for is to raise our children in church and teach them good moral standards.

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  28. I agree with this father’s opinion. The “Bright Young Things” line sounds identical to the Pink line if not more sexually forward. If it is supposed to be aimed to middle school, tween aged CHILDREN, ( I emphasize children, because that is exactly what they are at that age!), VS should be ashamed. Our children are already drowning in a society that is worried about nothing more than sexual activity. It is our job as parents and role models to guide the next generation back to some morals! Yes we have all been there, that age wondering, hormones, it’s part of life. But an underwear line, no wait, a Lingerie line for CHILDREN is not exactly saying we encourage them to wait. It is promoting sex. That is fine for adults. Empowering women. But by creating a lingere line for that age is not going to mold empowered women. It will create low self esteem and morals for many children that will follow them throughout their life. At that age they should not be worried about their underwear and who might see them. They don’t need words on their underwear. Really, WHO needs words on their underwear? I love VS, but I really hope this is a misunderstanding.

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  29. Pingback: A friend shared this … for daughters (and even sons) | Little notes

  30. Little girls shouldn’t be advertising themselves on their underwear like someone else is suppose to see them. This is not right and the line should be cancelled. As a mother it is already hard enough to find appropriate clothes for young girls. Victoria Secrets should not be pushing girls to grown up pressures.

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  33. I agree with the Rev, middle age school should not have the option to buy this line of underwear.. All commercials and advertisements are geared toward sex. Life isn’t just about sex and sleezie undies.Keep our little girls all children innocent as long as possible..

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  34. I agree with this father; too bad more fathers…and mothers…do not take this stance. please do not buy these things for your girls.

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  36. I like this fathers letter. I have a little daughter as well, to think that this type of underwear is going out makes you wonder if the people in charge of decisions, actually have children of their own. I think Victoria secrets has great stuff to purchase, but to me having a line of underwear with that type of saying makes me wonder. I always want my daughter to think of herself as beautiful and confident. That a pair of underwear or anything of this nature, makes her who she is. I think this dad has taken a bold step but making his comment and bringing it to your attention, I congratulate this man.

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  38. While I agree with the father’s opinion, I don’t agree with his focus on VS as the culprit. As a father of two teenage daughters, I simply reiterate to them their self-worth as beautiful young woman. I do not expect a lingerie company to do this for me.

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  39. But…If we don’t get them started in middle school…how will we be able to take advantage of them when their 18 >.>

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    • What happened to the Sun-Sat undies! There is absolutely no reason for preteen girls to be wearing underwear that say “call me”! Seriously! Don’t think the perverts out there aren’t aware of this!

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  40. I am in total agreement with this father. Why does our culture allow this. Kids this age have enough going on with there bodies, emotions, friendships. Why are adults allowed to exploit little girls.

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  41. I also have a daughter now but I also have three young sons. I agree that this line is completely inappropriate for girls. I personally think that it not only sends a very poor message to many young women but also to young men. It pushes the idea that girls are to be objectified. I really do hope that they do not create this line, but if they do I hope I have done a good enough job creating morals and self worth in each of my children that they truly value the individuals they are and can stand up for themselves in a positive manner!

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    • when you create a dichotomy of inappropriate vs appropriate it pushes the idea that the pure chaste girls should not be objectified, but the inappropriate ones in the revealing clothing should be objectified. if you don’t want women to be objectified, don’t objectify them by conflating their appropriateness with their appearance. that’s where objectification starts and that’s what you’re teaching your boys.

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  42. I am SO with this father. Lingerie for young girls – which is what a middle school aged girl is, many of these girls haven’t even hit puberty yet! We are so over-sexualizing our entire culture. Try to find a bathing suit that isn’t revealing? My daughter wants to wear clothing from the VS “Pink” line – and I don’t even want her wearing that, to me is screams to anyone looking that she is shopping at a provocative lingerie store. Why do we have such a problem letting our children be children? I want my daughter to be confident and intelligent and funny and NOT find her value in trashy undergarments. Many other ways to be beautiful without be brazen – which is not a characteristic that I would foster.

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  43. As a mother of a 9 year old daughter, I’m just wondering what parents would buy these? My 9 year old doesn’t buy her own panties. If they don’t get bought, the line goes away. It’s a stupid move on the part of VS but parents control these purchases, not children.

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  44. I couldnt agree more with this letter! I have two young beautiful lil girls and this father who wrote this letter has this moms respect and on TEAMRev. Evan Dolive
    V.S have respect for our young girls!

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  45. Sex sells.That’s their bottom line. Profit. When people stop buying only then will this type advertising change. So its up to us the customer to effect change.Put our power where our morals are.

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  46. Right idea, good intentions, WRONG audience. Victoria’s Secret is well aware it shouldn’t morally be marketing a line to 12 year olds, although let’s be honest and say that they will likely be marketing to the 8-12 “preteen” crowd. The audience you should be writing a letter to is the CONSUMER. Who buys the underwear? The mothers. The marketing will stop if the buying power in the household changes her mind about what her daughter should be wearing! Women buy what they would buy themselves, and sadly, it’s all a popularity contest. Brands identify what your social status is, and right now, women seem to be following the lead that their 12 year old should be wearing Abercrombie and Fitch and VS, or they aren’t “in”. Screw standing up for what you believe in, it’s what the masses are buying; and the masses are telling women to buy revealing, adult clothing for their little girls.

    Also, you’re out of your mind if you think you’ve got safe choices in letting your child idolize Dora or a Disney ‘toon. Why? Have you seen advertisements for Spring Breakers, yet? Are you aware those girls are the starletts from very popular TWEEN television shows on Disney? The VERY next step up from Doc McStuffins? Where do you think your 3 year old is going to pattern her identity off of? That’s right… Disney actresses. You should be more scared of your daughter developing her sexuality based on what she sees on tv and in the media than on the underwear YOU choose to buy or not buy for her.

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  47. While I applaud anyone who stands up to coercive big business tactics, I think this father’s approach is simplistic, over-controlling, and even undermines and underestimates his daughter’s intelligence. If her parents raise her to have a healthy sense of self-worth – not just academically, but also as a girl who owns her own sexuality – then she will grow into a secure young woman, capable of making her own decisions (and her own mistakes, and learning from them, as we all do). If I have a concern with this proposed racy teen lingerie line, and I do, it’s that by the sounds of it, it is promoting very underage sex. That saddens me. Not cool, Victoria’s Secret.

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  49. I completely agree with your stance on this being inappropriate for girls of that age group. Young girls are often pressured to look a certain way and the age at which this occurs shouldn’t be lowered any further. It hurts the self esteem of these girls and makes them feel like they have to meet a certain standard. My only objection is to some of the comments left on this article. Victoria Secret in general isn’t evil and sexual empowerment isn’t a bad thing. If women want to wear “Call Me” underwear when they’re older they shouldn’t be judged for doing so. I just think women should have the freedom to become more sexually knowledgeable at the pace they find most comfortable. It shouldn’t be pushed on middle-schoolers by any means.

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  50. Why single out VS? I guess all of you who are flipping out about this don’t ever allow your kids to wear a swimsuit??? It just seems like this guy wanted to stir the pot and boy did he. If he thought this letter would do anything to make VS want to think about dialing back their marketing plans, he is delusional. The fact of the matter is there is a market for this type of thing…right or wrong, whether we agree or disagree. I hate to tell ya this, but VS doesn’t even need to launch any type of line that is allegedly directed at teens/tweens. That demographic is already shopping there with or without this line. I have a friend who works for a VS retail store and has told me stories of young girls (and I’m talking middle school girls) going in and trying these things on, taking cell phone pics of themselves, which they then proceed to share with anybody and everybody. That’s not VS’s fault. Be a parent and teach your kids values. That’s where it all starts…at home and stop blaming everyone else. That seems to be a huge issue now. It’s like, “Oh my daughter has become promiscuous…maybe it’s because she’s watched one to many VS fashions shows or looked at one to many catalogues, etc., etc…..that’s crap!!! Stop wasting your time flipping out about what one company may or may not have done…I can think of way bigger issues out there than what VS prints on their underwear.

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