Today, on my Facebook feed I saw a photo author Rebecca Hains posted of a T-shirt that reads:
Two Beers Three Margaritas Four Jello Shots Taking Home The Girl Who Drank All the Above PRICELESS
I’m exhausted by responding to endless images and narratives that normalize rape and the oppression of women. But I guess that’s the point, right? You just run out of energy. We can’t let that happen so I did some research. Turns out the shirt is made by a company called Iron Horse Helmets. Though it can be difficult in these instances to figure out who created the thing you’re trying to protest, a quote on the Iron Horse site makes it pretty clear:
Not afraid to express yourself? Good, our Tees got attitude and something to say. Make a statement or make ’em laugh with T-shirts from Iron Horse Helmets. Got a great idea for the next Iron Horse Helmet T-shirt, send it to us – we won’t give ya nothing for it, but we might use it and will be sure to take all the credit for it.
Please contact Iron Horse Helmets and tell them you’re #NotBuyingIt. Let them know promoting rape isn’t funny, it’s dangerous. I can’t believe that statement is the radical one.
Tweet them:
@IronHorseHelmet
Call them:
1.800.978.9468
They don’t sell it anymore.
Call me cynical, but perhaps there’s some use in t-shirts of that kind. I mean, they serve as a warning.
However, that’s the individualistic approach. When I see a man with such a t-shirt, I know to stay away from him. To others, however, it normalizes rape, and they might victim-blame as a result of that.
So, all in all, yeah, it would be better if that sort of shirt wasn’t sold. And produced.
I wonder what the women in Bangladesh who sew those shirts would say to the message … (I don’t know of course, but I am pretty sure those shirts are cheap and produced by underpaid women.)