Primark slammed for ‘irresponsible’ Mean Girls T-shirts which ‘advocate bullying’ – but do you think there’s anything wrong with it?
The mum said she sees the impact of bullying with her clients every day as a therapist and coach, which drove her to complain
A THERAPIST has slammed Primark for "advocating bullying" after seeing T-shirts using quotes from the cult hit Mean Girls for sale.
Dawn Thomson was stunned to see the clothing - featuring quotes like "you can't sit with us" - on display in the women's section of an Edinburgh street store.
The mum-of-two saw the T-shirts this week and contacted the chain straight away.
The 48-year-old said: "The one that really got to me was the one with 'you can't sit with us' on it.
"That's where it all starts, it's insidious. Children saying, 'that's my friend's place.'
"It's not physical violence at that point, but so many women will have had that experience of not being in the right crowd.
"It's so irresponsible."
Dawn, who is married with two girls aged 11 and seven, claims the fact that the T-shirts were available in the women's section of the store only adds to her concerns.
Adding: "These products weren't in the kids' department, they were in the adult section.
"It's like that's legitimising it. With an adult wearing it it's like we are saying it is OK to act like that.
"I was so angry. I felt sickened, particularly because I had just seen a post about what had happened to my friend's daughter – a friend of mine had posted about how her daughter had just been physically attacked.
"I'd seen that, and literally about two hours later I saw this.
"What kind of message is that sending to young girls and women? It's just not okay."
"I can imagine someone from the design department saying, 'Let's just capitalise on the film without thinking of the repercussions'.
"It's completely irresponsible. I can't believe how thoughtless and irresponsible they've been.
"I can imagine mothers and young kids shop there who it could most affect, so they'll be most likely to see it too.
"I would like them to put a stop to the range, I've asked them to remove it. It's insidious imagery, all for the sake of a buck.
"When people say it's just referencing a film, it's not just a film reference.
"It's just more imagery and messages that aren't useful. It's that feeling of not being good enough.
"There are plenty of other films that could be referenced without that message.
"If they really think about it, anyone can think of one or two people who have been made to feel excluded with things like this."
And Dawn says she sees the impact of bullying with her clients every day as a therapist and coach, which only drives her to appeal for the removal of such messages on clothing.
Dawn said: ";I see the effects of this in my work.
"I work with people of all ages, and even people in their 40's and 60's will still talk about their experiences at school. Bullying is one of those things that affects them.
"They don't feel good enough because some's told them that or shown them that."
A Primark spokesperson said: "The T-shirt is, as clearly indicated, licensed merchandise from the popular movie Mean Girls and is part of an adult womenswear range.
"Its slogan is a quote from the film, and any offence caused is wholly unintentional."
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