J. Crew Under Fire for ‘Celebrating Transgendered Identity’

Apparently, it’s wrong for boys to associate themselves with “feminine” acts — at least according to the psychiatrists criticizing J. Crew for publishing a children’s wear ad featuring Jenna Lyons (the chain’s president and creative director) painting her son’s, Beckett, toenails neon pink. Below the picture of Lyons and her 5-year-old Beckett is the quote, “lucky for me, I ended up with a boy whose favorite color is pink. Toenail painting is way more fun in neon.”

Despite the fact that the photo is completely adorable, a number of psychiatrists have accused the ad of “celebrating transgendered identity.” Dr. Keith Alblow told Fox News, “This is a dramatic example of the way that our culture is being encouraged to abandon all trappings of gender identity. And media commentator Erin Brown also voiced her opinion, calling the photo “blatant propaganda celebrating transgendered children…J Crew, known for its tasteful and modest clothing, apparently does not mind exploiting Beckett behind the facade of liberal, transgendered identity politics.”

The last time I checked, supporting “transgendered identity” is not a bad thing. Young children often experiment and explore the things they identify with, whether it be nail polish and eyeshadow (often considered feminine), or football and video games (often considered masculine). It’s a shame society stifles kids’ exploration with these things and tells them that they must fit either a “masculine” or “feminine” mold according to their gender.

What do you think of J. Crew’s controversial advertisement?