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Letters to Artvoice
In Defense of Wegmans
by Brenda Moore
Did AV really let this guy take up basically the whole letters column babbling about Wegmans’ right-wing selection of books (“Letters to AV,” Artvoice v10n18)? Seriously?
I won’t touch that, but what I will say is in regards to the covering of Olivia Wild’s “boobies.” There is very little distinction between what’s for adults and what’s for children or family out in public, and I applaud Wegmans for attempting to draw that line. One day, while I was walking around K-Mart, I saw a bunch of magazines in the front row that showed a picture of a woman with her breasts hanging halfway out her bra, and wondered why that was displayed so publicly in a place where people shop with their children. A couple of days later, I walked into a corner store and there was a display of sports drinks with half-naked women on the bottle. I was reminded of that South Park episode where a crazed Mickey Mouse laughs at the fact that Disney “has been selling sex to your kids for over 50 years.”
It’s not that the human body is disgusting at all, obviously it is a beautiful thing, which you, sir, have not failed to notice. But what is not a beautiful thing is watching a bunch of six- and seven-year-old kids running around singing, “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes.” Or very young girls, arm in arm, singing, “I kissed a girl and I liked it.” You, sir, might think that’s cute. But I’m not in college anymore, I’m almost 30, and I have two very young daughters. When I take my kids shopping, I don’t want them bombarded with images of women trying to be sexy. That might be okay for Ms. Olivia Wild, but it’s not okay for the young women who live and suffer with eating disorders, or the hundreds of pregnant teen girls in Buffalo, or the young women who will never see themselves as anything more than a body.
Yes, I took it there. I wish more public places would take a stand and encourage a family environment. Let kids be kids for a while before they have to deal with all this marketing B.S!
I do agree with you on the fact that Buffalo would be a cooler place if it had a Whole Foods store.
Brenda Moore
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Reader Comments (posting new comments is closed!)
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Stosh 02 Jun 2011, 00:28
Wow aren't brandishing the typical "Soccer Mom" approach to the world. "I don't want my kids to be exposed to -insert whatever you want here-" Then don't let them be exposed to it. Instead of trying to force your what you want on everyone else why don't you stop and be a f*cking parent and actually, oh I don't know, protect your damn kids.
Frank 02 Jun 2011, 02:49
Brenda, I have to agree with you. I’m tired of seeing women’s boobs hanging out of their clothes everywhere I go. You’re in a restaurant trying to enjoy a meal and when you look around you can guarantee that you’ll see a lot of cleavage in every direction you look. As recent as last summer while shopping with my wife I must have seen at least a dozen women’s underpants as they were bending over looking at things, two not wearing any at all. I’m not against nudity in proper places such as beaches, nudist camps or in the privacy of your home if that’s your cup of tea. Many women claim they resent being classified as sex symbols, but create the problem themselves by the way they dress and allow their daughters to dress, or should I say don’t dress. Parents wonder why their girls get pregnant, look in a mirror and you’ll see why your 14 or 15 year old daughter became pregnant. When you put temptation out there, males will pounce on it. In today’s society only 48 percent remained married VS 76 percent not long ago because women want to play the field. And it seems like just about every female star feels that taking her clothes off to appear nude in a magazine is the way to go to gain fame, and a good portion of male stars and politicians seem to think its ok to sleep with every female that’s willing. Wonder why our society is so screwed up? You can blame it on sex, drugs, booze, poor judgment and parenting.
Bufunderground 02 Jun 2011, 23:47
Wegman's does not provide workers with full health benefits and it well known as an anti-union store. Tops on the other hand offers full benefits, higher wages, and better jobs. Tops also mops. Wegman's is also far from a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe's. Wegman's is basically Tops with a little better tile (that is mopped as often) and worst benefits for its workers.
Kate 06 Jun 2011, 12:32
Stosh, I too get irritated by the "who will protect the children" mentality. However, don't you think it's a problem when parents who don't want their kids exposed to sexy marketing have to avoid taking them to the grocery store? Of all places? It's not just a matter of avoiding the end of the mall with the Victoria's Secret, or planning your route to bypass the sex shops. Our culture is absolutely saturated with sexual images. I'm not suggesting we return to the days when sex was largely a mystery and you could always tell a whore because she had her ankles showing, but I'm not sure this extreme is so healthy either.
Lloyd Marshall Jr. 08 Jun 2011, 21:00
@BufUnderground: And yet, Wegmans offers more selection... more amenities... and a better shopping atmosphere... for the CUSTOMERS. I'm glad to shop at Wegmans, and don't mind going to Niagara Falls, Williamsville/Amherst, or Cheektowaga, to shop there. It's a shame that Lockport doesn't have one, however. Non-union... gets the job DONE! |
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