Negatives associated with Victoria’s Secret

By: American Decency Staff

A statement going forth into the coming year using a headline from our January newsletter: "The ministry of American Decency Association. A call to return to focused and narrow focus."https://americandecency.org/resources/newsletters/2008/nwjanuary08.pdf One of our focuses in 2008 will be upon Victoria's Secret. We are hopeful that you will help spread it and stand with us. To divest from Victoria's Secret: https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2008/January/01.03a.08 ========================================= Here are some negatives associated with Victoria's Secret. (1) Often Victoria's Secret displays are, indeed, pornographic. Pornography defined as material created for the purposes of eliciting a sexual response. (2) Many people don't desire to have their moral sensibilities assaulted by breasts, behinds and glaringly erotic images from nearly nude sexualized models. (3) Victoria's Secret is highly invasive. With little to no regard for community standard, VS experiments with that standard of decency pushing the envelope little by little without concern for families and children. (4) Shoppers, for a variety of reasons, are largely silent when they come upon such displays. I witnessed recently an example of this. A woman viewed a display and had a few words with her adult son complaining about the pornographic nature of a particular display. Did she go in and tell the manager? No. (5) Unfortunately, generally speaking, telling the manager does little to no good. That's the experience of many well meaning individuals. Try speaking to a Victoria's Secret store manager sometime and/or to Victoria's Secret headquarters. As with Abercrombie & Fitch – in years past – it is an exercise in futility. Unfortunately, the same can be said for expressing concern to the mall manager. These efforts, though, need to be exerted anyway. (6) Ultimately though, there is no remedy from the mall manager or from the local Victoria's Secret manager or Victoria's Secret headquarters. That's why a public rally like that exerted in Carmel, IN is helpful. The only thing that the local mall will ultimately understand is public pressure as in a public rally or public boycott. As you know, we regularly monitor Victoria's Secret displays in our local mall at Rivertown Crossings Mall, Grandville, MI. We will continue to do so. Is it worth it? Absolutely. It's just such a shame we have to exert time, energy and resources to engage them with public pressure. It's unfortunate that these corporations won't listen to conscience. But for the most part, their leadership teams are more concerned with monies than with upholding community standard. In closing, what we write here hasn't even touched upon a couple of other areas where Victoria's Secret deserves regular outcry and consumer revolt: (1) VS' pornographic catalog (2) VS' television ads that come unwanted – laden with steamy sexual images (3) VS' Fashion Show always in early December. Quoting from one of our descriptions of the VS Fashion Show: "…The hour presented model after model parading down a runway dressed in lingerie – usually skimpy bras and thong underwear. The camera was sure to pan in for a close up shot of any cleavage or bare bottom. …" With little to no regard for the consequence of the display of erotic images, VS is irresponsible as they contribute to the desensitization and accommodation of the American people to in your face images. Sex sells therefore they sell sex. And the big losers are our youth. What about your local mall? Are you going to let Victoria's Secret have its way in your local mall? If we do, Victoria's Secret's advertising imagery becomes the norm. Let General Growth Properties hear from you. They are America's second largest mall rental corporation in America. General Growth needs to talk to its leasee, Victoria's Secret and let them know that the sales of other corporations are negatively affected as individuals and families are insulted by the assault upon their moral sensibilities and choose not to frequent their local mall. Contact: General Growth Properties Mr. John Bucksbaum, CEO 110 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60606 Telephone: 312-960-5000 Email: John.Bucksbaum@generalgrowth.com http://www.ggp.com/Contactus.aspx General Growth Properties has approximately 208 mall entities located from California to Maine. For a full list of General Growth Properties locations see: http://www.generalgrowth.com/Index.asp ============================================================= "…It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is a precious ointment: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid. …" =========================================================== American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org

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