if you're not outraged ...

I have this bumper sticker that says "If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention."

Some people are paying attention. I'm not the only one who is pissed that Old Navy is introducing newborns to sexism before solid foods. I've received a few more comments on my post about the Old Navy onesies that tout "Stripes are slimming." However, I am surprised that no one else has raised the issue in a more public forum.

At least one other person felt the anger and put fingers to the keyboard -- check it out at raggamuffin.wordpress.com.

Here's another head scratcher ...

You may have heard about Hallmark's recent and very major faux pas. The card company put a Father's Day card on store shelves that was clearly homophobic. The front of the card features a serene picnic setting for two and reads, "Dad, how about a Father's Day picnic?" When Dad opens the card, the punch line reads, "Too queer? Yeah, I thought so too."

Once The Advocate magazine questioned Hallmark about the card, the company acknowledged its poor judgment and agreed to pull the card from store shelves. A spokesperson said, “[Hallmark’s business unit] reviewed it today and did all agree that it was in poor judgment to include the card in the line. We are stopping the shipping of the card, and we will not produce it again. Hallmark's intent is never to offend, and we're truly sorry if that is the case here.”

(Betamike, I'm still waiting to read your post about this.)

But where's the outrage? The only reason I know about this is because a friend found the card at an Orlando Publix and couldn't believe the bigotry right there in Stationery.

And finally, just one more bit of crazy ...

"Kittens vs. Cougars. There's going to be a catfight." Have you seen this commercial yet?

This one really takes the next step in offensiveness. NBC's new reality dating show "Age of Love" promises to take feminism back a couple of decades. It's pretty formulaic. Take hot thirtysomething guy, introduce some hot women to him, watch the sparks fly. The twist with this one is that once he gets comfy cozy with ... gasp ... the fortysomethings, the producers will introduce a bunch of even hotter, scantily clad (or so the ads promise) twentysomethings.

What pisses me off? NBC advertises the introduction of the younger "kittens" as offering up "temptation." It's pushing this stereotype that young women are all sexy looks, loose morals and sharp tongues, while the older women are boring intellectuals. And of course, the competition is pitting woman against woman.

In one TV ad, a woman asks for a synonym for "old." Someone answers, "decrepit," and lets out an evil chuckle. Well, props for the big word, but what the hell are you thinking?? It's just maddening to hear women treating each other this way. And the fact that NBC is playing up the "catfights" just makes me cringe.

Ugh.