Trickle-Down Exploitation

Saturday, December 18, 2010

In general, I'm not a fan of the National Organization of Women (NOW). But they've got it right this time, filing formal complaints against the Hooters franchise for marketing their tawdry gear to children.

A friend of mine wrote a post on her blog quite a while back, taking Hooters to task for their exploitation of women. Women rushed to Hooters' defense, accusing my friend of being a jealous, ugly, unaccomplished and unintelligent hater (so far off the mark it's laughable), all because she dared to denounce the way the corporate organization markets itself. She's still getting hate mail, and she wrote the post 3 years ago.

Seriously, Hooters, enough is enough. According to CA NOW's press release:

In the late 90's, Hooters, Inc. told the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that their main function is not providing food, rather their executives characterized Hooter's Restaurants as primarily a provider of, "vicarious sexual entertainment." They have used this designation as a way to avoid compliance with regulations against sexual discrimination in the workplace, yet Hooters also advertises themselves as a family restaurant, and fails to comply with regulations for providers of sexual entertainment.

Holy carp, Batman, this is a bombshell! It's bad enough to do what Hooters does, in my opinion, but to admit to the EEOC that you're an adult entertainment franchise (as I've believed all along, thanks), and then continue marketing yourself as a "family restaurant?" Is this because they know they'll make more $$ if perv Daddies can bring their wee ones along and buy them kiddie meals while they order the "More than a Mouthful" burgers (oh, yes, check their menu - that's what they're actually called) and ogle the waitresses while their wives suck down the hot wings and pretend not to notice? Hmmm. I'm guessing that's a big, fat YEP.


The press release goes on:

On a typical evening, Hooters, Inc. serves children younger than 18 years of age and offers child menus, high chairs and booster seats. They also display and sell products of prurient nature, including t-shirts in child sizes with statements such as “Future Hooters Girl.” According to Hooter's own employment material, a “Hooters Girl” is employed as a sexual entertainer and as part of her employment can expect to be subjected to various sexual jokes by customers and such potential contacts as buttocks slaps. Hooters of America Inc. v Phillips, Case 173 F3d 933 (4/8/99)

Local and state authorities should demand that Hooters, Inc. either comply with EEOC prohibitions against sexual discrimination, if they wish to be a family restaurant that serves children, or comply with regulations covering providers of sexual entertainment, which prohibit children from the premises.

The sexualization of children is trending younger and younger. This isn't something anyone should be encouraging. And Dads, if you wouldn't take your 7-year-old son to a strip club, why on earth would you set a pattern for him to begin objectifying women at such a young age? Why would you buy him the "I only date Hooters Girls" t-shirt? You think he doesn't see you staring at the Hooters girls while Mommy is sitting there? You think it's no big deal? This is a pattern that, once learned, is difficult to undo. You think your little girl doesn't notice that Daddy stares at other women's chests and rear ends? You think that doesn't affect her self-image?

You're mistaken. And Hooters, you're just one big mistake.


In other news: TV programming isn't helping the "sexualization of minors" trend.