Broadcast in 2011, this segment from Good Morning America explores the controversy stirred by a J.Crew advertisement. In that ad, J. Crew’s President and creative director, Jenna Lyons, was pictured painting her young son’s toenails neon pink. The picture simultaneously sparked a backlash and significant praise regarding the unconventional performance of gender.

discussion

What made this incident a newsworthy story? What is at the root of the controversy that ensued? What does this tell us about how we think about children and gender in our society?

Some people accused Jenna Lyons of being a bad parent, while others commended her for her actions. What do you think? What positive or negative impacts on her son, Beckett, would painting his toenails have?