H&M Criticized for Sexualizing Schoolgirl Uniforms in Advertising Campaign

H&M, a major clothing retailer, recently withdrew a school uniform advertisement following a wave of criticism. The ad, which used the slogan 'make those heads turn,' was accused of sexualizing children. It featured two young girls in pinafore dresses as part of a 'Back to School fashion' campaign.

Prominent feminist Melinda Tankard Reist was among those who voiced strong objections. She questioned the retailer's intentions with the ad in a critical social media post, highlighting that young schoolgirls typically seek to focus on learning and enjoying themselves, not attracting attention.

Psychologist Dr. Pam Spurr also expressed outrage, condemning the ad in a post. She accused it of catering to inappropriate desires and called for a boycott of H&M, labelling the advertisement as a disgraceful exploitation of young girls.

Other social media users echoed these sentiments, with one calling the ad an 'inappropriate advert' and urging H&M to reconsider its approach. In response to the backlash, H&M issued a statement on social media, apologizing for the offense caused by the ad and committing to revaluating their campaign strategies in the future.