When the pressure for the perfect body – even during pregnancy – doesn't go far enough, maternity wear can now say it for you.
A Pea in the Pod, a popular store that sells stylish clothes for moms-to-be, is under fire for offering maternity T-shirts with messages that some say are offensive because they fat-shame women with baby bumps.
“Wake me up when I’m skinny,” one $48 shirt reads.
“I miss my waist,” proclaims another.
One critic on Jezebel.com said the tops reinforce the notion there is something wrong with a woman’s body during pregnancy.
Women have also taken to social media to complain, writing on Twitter that the T-shirt slogans aren’t funny or clever, calling them “disgusting,” “disrespectful” and “in poor taste.” “Pregnant does not = fat,” one woman wrote.
Destination Maternity Corporation, the Philadelphia-based parent company of A Pea in the Pod, said in a statement Friday that the firm has responded quickly to the controversy.
"We have taken immediate reaction to remove a T-shirt from our stores and website that was perceived as offensive," company officials said in a statement. "We apologize to anyone we may have unintentionally disappointed. We strive to offer products that celebrate pregnancy and are committed to supporting the health and wellness of moms-to-be and their families."
