What do you think of this sweater?

Gwennie

I was looking at sweaters at Nordstroms and saw this sweater. I find it stereotypical and I think it could strike one as a bit offensive. I wonder what other people's take on it is?

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ch.....er/4138049

10 years ago

Dressing

19 replies

Latest reply was from Adelfa

Gwennie

Active Member

Just wanted to add an update to this post. Although I know there is a trend now in ugly and humorous holiday sweaters, for me personally, this kind of crossed a line in terms of negative stereotyping. I contacted Nordstroms, and told an associate how I felt and she let me know that they would be letting the buyer know. She said they've been including more novelty holiday items but not their intent at all to make people uncomfortable. So just wanted to add that when I contacted them, they were responsive in terms of making sure that customer's concerns were passed on.

10 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Huge thumbs down from me. But I bet someone will buy it.

10 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Well I dislike all holiday sweaters to begin with so no matter what it would not be my cup of tea. I do get your concern though but the sweater does not particularly offend me. Full disclosure: I am that stereotype.

10 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

That being said, even though it does not offend me I still would not buy it, even if I was looking for a novelty holiday sweaters.

10 years ago

donnat

Veteran

I do not find it offensive. If they can sell ugly Christmas sweaters.....
It is ugly.

10 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

I agree that it is offensive. Also, it is not even Chai plus the star in the back is in very poor taste.

10 years ago

Anonymous

That is one tacky sweater. I can't believe Nordstrom would sell something like that. It's just the tackiness that offends me, though, not the Hanukkah theme. Everyone has the right to have ugly holiday sweaters, IMHO.

10 years ago

always trying

Veteran

This is all so stupid...nothing offensive with christmas sweaters or this one..offensive is t shirts with things like sh&t, the f word things on them. no one seems to mind the eat sh&t bumper stickers either. seems way too many people are really mixed up.

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder as is beauty. Lumping things like gaudy sweaters with blinking Christmas lights, loads of sequins, etc. and more subtle ones like just a simple santa or tree and calling them all ugly just because of a Christmas theme is also stupid. why can't they be just a category like graphic t's, or logo t's. some cute, some may be pretty, and some may be ugly-BUT keep in mind this is your opinion. Others may feel differently. If you received a Christmas card with one of these pictures on the front would you call it ugly and throw it away--of course not-but because it is on the front of a sweater it is ugly.. Why???

One thing about this forum is some are very opinionated. Angie posted something about even if it is not your style or taste, or if you would never wear it, someone else may love Many sites are featuring Christmas sweaters, but Nordstroms is the only one calling them ugly.

Who decided these sweaters were ugly and the ugly party idea anyhow??

I will probably not jump on the band wagon and buy one this year, but if they make a comeback for the season I will enjoy seeing them again. They add festive air to the season..just like all the other Christmas décor..I may say something to someone wearing one like "I like your sweater" and not UGLY sweater--

10 years ago

Anonymous

Nobody is telling you not to wear one. We're just expressing our opinions, which is what the forum is for.

10 years ago

Gwennie

Active Member

Interesting to read everyone's responses and so true that everyone has very different opinions. I like holiday sweaters, even the ones that others don't, and don't mind tees with all sorts of stuff. Actually I think this is the first item of clothing I've ever found crossed the line for me in terms of being objectionable. I do write on issues having to do with conflict and difference, ethnic, religious, etc, etc, so probably a bit more sensitized in that area in terms of possible or perceived stereotypes because of it. But interesting finding out everyone's thoughts!

10 years ago

kkards

Veteran

not to get off topic, but have you seen "mensch on a bench".....this just proves that Hanukah has officially jumped the shark.

Target

Mensch on a Bench (12" Moshe and Hardcover Storybook)

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10 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

My issue is not whether it's holiday-related or visually ugly, but what it says, in combination with the way it's modeled. I am not Jewish, but I grew up in a very Jewish area and feel this could be interpreted as a negative stereotype. On the other hand, people are free to wear what they want, and one way to combat a stereotype is to undermine it by owning it. Perhaps that's what this is about. That's all. There's plenty of unqualified offensiveness in the world, and on that scale, this is nothing much.

10 years ago

Susie

Veteran

"nothing offensive with christmas sweaters or this one.."

Offensive is in the eye of beholder, just like finding things attractive or ugly. I definitely see where some could find this offensive.

While I think being PC may sometimes go too far, I believe it's better to err on the side of caution. And I work in Human Resources so I really try to be sensitive to such things.

10 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

Ya, this is in bad taste. Not the ugly sweater concept but the message. Just showed it to my husband, who is Jewish, and he was a bit stunned. The words High (chai) Maintenance paired with Jewish American Princess (JAP).......I can't imagine who would wear this.

10 years ago

K. Period.

Veteran

I cringed at this sweater. And I would cringe to see someone wearing it. Would I cringe to see it in a Jewish gift shop (there's one down the street from me..)? Probably not as much because a group gets ownership of the way it talks about, and jokes about, itself. Do I like seeing it sold at a mainstream marketer like Nordstrom? I'm not sure. I wouldn't want to see it, since I think it does promote stereotypes, but on the other hand, I don't know that it is quite right to provide no options for someone who is Jewish to shop for an ironic "non-Christmas" holiday sweater. I think Nordstrom probably stocked it with that in mind, but I think it would have been smarter to walked away from this. It isn't an ambiguity that they needed to be part of.

10 years ago

marianna

Veteran

I don't know. I am Jewish and it doesn't offend me. I wouldn't buy it but I could see a teenage girl wearing it in the right context. We have an "ugly sweater lunch" at work this holiday season and I am happy there are actually some Hanukkah options and not all just Christmas.

10 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

IMHO, the back of the sweater is in the tradition of *ugly (meaning gaudy) Christmas sweaters. The front I find in poor cultural taste, esp. as this country seems to be going through a resurgence of anti-Semitism.

10 years ago

Theodora

Active Member

Oy vey, this is mesuggah!

10 years ago

Adelfa

Veteran

So wrong on so many levels.

10 years ago

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