This Shirt From 'Target' Objectifies Women, But Like, In A Good Way

Yahoo- A T-shirt being sold at Target’s stores and on its website has sparked a backlash online, as many customers are claiming the top is offensive to women. 

The black shirt, which has the word “trophy” in bold white letters across the front and costs $12.99, has many slamming the retailer for treating women and girls as objects. A number of customers have been posting photos of the T-shirt, which some say they spotted in the junior’s section, on social media, publicly criticizing what they say is a sexist move on Target’s part. While the shirt has reportedly been on sale since June, it’s only recently gained steam on social media. 

“Dear Target, why are you selling shirts that describe women as obtainable objects such as trophies?” wrote one user on Target’s Facebook page. “It’s honestly appalling. I’m nobody’s trophy, and I sincerely hope that in your eyes, women are more than something to be won.”

One woman has even started a petition on Change.org demanding that Target stop selling the shirt. “The truth is that millions of women and young girls are taken as ‘trophies’ every year in war, sex trafficking, slavery, and rape,” writes Amanda R., the author of the petition. “The perpetrators see women as ‘things’ that are bought, sold, traded, and ‘won’ through force where they are then beaten, abused, tortured, raped, and murdered for the sole purpose of ‘victory.’ The word trophy should not refer to any person, man, or woman because we are not THINGS — we are human beings. Labeling any person as a ‘Trophy’ is demeaning their humanity and objectifying them as a tangible object that can be bought, used, and disposed of.” The petition, which was posted online in June, has received more than 700 signatures so far. 



Yeah, I understand that it's not right to view women as objects. However, while it's not appropriate to think of a woman as a thing instead of person, if you are going to be objectified I can't really think of a better object than a trophy. If someone told me I looked like a 'million bucks' I would take it as a compliment, not go around whining that someone compared me to a bunch of used, dirty dollar bills. The fact that a trophy is something given to a winner to be put on display has got to count for something, right? How do you think the Second Place woman felt? How about that poor sap in Third that's taking the place of an enlarged penny? The actual trophy, in this instance, doesn't need support. She's content being an object, or else she shouldn't have bought herself a tee shirt deeming her as such. 

Just like any fashion choice, a tee shirt that says 'TROPHY' isn't for everyone. It's not for the attractive girl with the good job. It's not for the cute girl with the great personality. It's for the unapproachably hot female that has literally nothing else going for her in life. Those women still exist, whether feminists want to argue on their behalf or not. There are still females that try to ride their looks into a lifelong, superficial relationship based on wealth. You think Target would keep a questionable shirt on it's shelves if no one was buying it? Don't be outraged at the product. Be outraged at the people buying the product and therefore endorsing the notion you are fighting against. Target viewing woman as objects isn't the problem. The women that view themselves as objects are the problem.  If the concept of a female as a 'trophy wife' was dead than the sales of this tee shirt would be as well. If women can't be bought than how come women are buying shirts that essentially labels them as gold-diggers?

P.S. Only a feminist could describe an $10 shirt at a bargain basement department store as a symbol of war, sex trafficking, slavery, and rape. Maybe, just maybe, it's a poorly made piece of linen for woman that don't value themselves highly enough. Insecurity and a low sense of self worth are problems that affect both genders, and they are personal problems, not Target problems.