Eat Less T-Shirt: Is Urban Outfitters Promoting Anorexia?
Hipster retailer Urban Outfitters recently debuted a new t-shirt on their website and it’s caused quite a bit of controversy.
The gray t-shirt pictured on the site has “Eat Less” scrawled across the front in delicate white lettering. The description of the shirt says “Eat less or more or however much you’d like in this seriously soft knit tee cut long and topped with a v-neck.”
Many are saying that the “Eat Less” message of the t-shirt promotes eating disorders, poor body image and low self esteem. Other’s say it’s just a shirt and to lighten up.
Once word of the shirt hit the masses, the backlash began and Urban Outfitters has since pulled the shirt from their website, even though it is still available in stores.
I’m not personally offended by it, but perhaps it’s because I don’t really get it. Is the shirt telling other people to eat less? It is a reminder for the wearer to eat less?
While I would like to spout off about how Americans DO need to eat less, Urban Outfitters is a trendy store, primarily frequented by female teenagers and young adults. It’s hard to argue this shirt could be a public service announcement when the demographic is young, impressionable, already self conscious girls.
What do you think? Is all the hub-bub an over reaction or is Urban Outfitters irresponsible for selling it?
