Target Sells "Stalker" Valentine Card

It’s Valentine Day next Tuesday and Target has a card that simply needs to be taken off the shelves. The card says, in big white letters on a red background,

Stalker is a harsh word.

Open the car and inside you’ll find, in red letters:

I prefer valentine.

The message this card sends is sinister and ugly, and all the more so when you consider some statistics about violence against women in the US: 1 out of 6 women has been the victim of rape or of an attempted rape, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. That’s 17.7 million American women. The National Organization of Women says that 1,181 women were murdered by an intimate partner in 2005, an average of three women every day. About 4.8 million women are physically assaulted and raped by an intimate partner every year, but fewer than 20 percent of battered women sought medical treatment.

Even more to the point are statistics from the National Center For Victims of Crime about stalking:

3.4 million people over the age of 18 are stalked each year in the US.
3 in 4 stalking victims are stalked by an acquaintance.
30% of stalking victims are stalked by either a current or former intimate partner.
1 in 4 victims are stalked through some form of technology, such as texting or e-mail.

In a society where violence against women is all too common, and too often underreported, we do not need Valentine’s Day cards that make light of stalking. Target has just completely missed the mark with this very unlovely Valentine.

Sign the petition to tell Target to stop selling its “stalker” Valentine card!

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Photo by emileegraceee via Tumblr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jackie A.

7:06AM PST on Feb 22, 2012

Coming into this one a bit late but I don't think that the card is inappropriate and should never have been made let alone put on the shelves for purchase. I was stalked when I was in college by a fellow class mate. For some strange reason he thought I was in love with him because I asked him how his day was going. At its creapiest, he left notes in my bag telling me what he want to do to me and at its worst, he attacked the boy I was seeing from a different class. The very last night that everyone was together he apologiesed to me, in front of everyone but that didn't change the fact that I was scared to go to the bathroom by myself for the whole college year. He never actually physically touched me though, but even still, it was very nerve racking and is not something that I ever want to experience again :-(

send a green star

Sarah M.

10:27AM PST on Feb 19, 2012

So messed up Target! When will you ever learn?!

Dare t.

2:20PM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Censorship or Free Speech? Two diametrically opposing concepts. I wonder if anybody considered this "issue" in either context? It appears to me as though we are now censoring bad taste, and if that is so, then who is to be the final arbiter of such things? You? Me? Congratulations to those of you who succeeded in making a store pull a greeting card from their shelves, thus taking away the choice of whether or not to purchase said card from the general public. Bravo - what a victory for ? censorship? Sad stuff. Be careful what you wish for - sometimes what you get isn't quite what you bargained for.

sherry l.

4:53AM PST on Feb 13, 2012

I'm glad Target pulled the card. Do I think they've learned thier lesson, "NO." Time will pass and they'll try again. Corporations never learn. (I know this is a broad statement but it seems to fit.)

Teresa C.

12:46AM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Andrew, that is just hilarious!!

Andrew C.

12:44AM PST on Feb 13, 2012

Wow...

Ok Target,

I have a new card in that line of thought for you.

"Rapist is a harsh word."

"I prefer surprise non-consensual sex."

ii q.

12:05PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

very poor choice...

New G.

7:21PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Agree with previous comments.

Kate K.

5:05PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

I see nothing funny about this. It's like abusers making up lies as excuses for what they do. Although it may be true that a stalker would not send kit I find it really inappropriate and whoever thought this up has a sick sense of humor.

Jane W.

5:02PM PST on Feb 11, 2012

Exactly the sentiment that stalkers use to excuse their actions.
To those who think this is humorous, what part of harassment, assault, kidnapping, rape or murder do you think this is referring to?