Concern is growing over what many see as the increasing role played by all forms
of media in the premature sexualization of children.There is increasing evidence of the harm done to children by premature sexualization. Children and young adults today are increasingly being bombarded with material that is of a sexual nature. Apart from the print and electronic media in its myriad forms, children receive messages from clothing and even toys that it’s cool to be “hot” and “sexy” be it by way of sexual references, innuendo or downright explicit material. What is worse however, is the fact that many mothers' are complicit in this. In America, barely out of nappies and sporting fake C cup breasts and padding on her bottom, FOUR year old Maddy Jackson is the latest shock contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras, the U.S. reality show revealing the surreal world of beauty pageants.
In an attempt to mimic her curvaceous icon, country singer Dolly Parton - who is known for her ample cleavage - the toddler is shown sporting detachable bust and butt enhancements, before performing live on stage.
of media in the premature sexualization of children.There is increasing evidence of the harm done to children by premature sexualization. Children and young adults today are increasingly being bombarded with material that is of a sexual nature. Apart from the print and electronic media in its myriad forms, children receive messages from clothing and even toys that it’s cool to be “hot” and “sexy” be it by way of sexual references, innuendo or downright explicit material. What is worse however, is the fact that many mothers' are complicit in this. In America, barely out of nappies and sporting fake C cup breasts and padding on her bottom, FOUR year old Maddy Jackson is the latest shock contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras, the U.S. reality show revealing the surreal world of beauty pageants.
In an attempt to mimic her curvaceous icon, country singer Dolly Parton - who is known for her ample cleavage - the toddler is shown sporting detachable bust and butt enhancements, before performing live on stage.
With the extra padding concealed under her Barbie pink Lycra catsuit, Maddy's tiny frame is transformed into an hourglass silhouette.
Barely able to string a sentence together, many will be shocked by the images of the peroxide blonde trying to emulate the appearance of a woman in her late 20s. When questioned on NBC's Today show, her mother Lindsay, who entered her first pageant contest when she was nine months old, defends the enhancements used by her daughter.
She tells presenter Savannah Guthrie: 'To some people, it's over the top, to us it's just what happens... It's just normal. When she wears the fake boobs and the fake butt, it's just like extra bonus.'
In England, a beautician has provoked outrage after admitting she spray tans her four-year-old daughter to 'boost her confidence'.
Mother-of-four Jools Willis insisted introducing her children to salons is good parenting and helps ease them into adolescence.
The 37-year-old regularly treats Tate, four, her brother Chayce, six, and sister Darcie, ten to beauty treatments.
These are hardly isolated cases.
Womens' magazines are a significant part of this cultural trend. Women are encouraged to reject traditional roles in favour of independence but told that they must strive to make
themselves desirable and be always available for men. Young girls are encouraged to look “hot and sexy” and to strive for the “ideal” body as per the female celebrities featured in these magazines, they present an ultra glamourized view of their lifestyles with an emphasis on body image and clothes. Their lifestyles are presented as something desirable and exciting. The message being given to children is that this is what they should be striving for. This is how they should both look and live their lives. Even once innocent toys such as dolls haven't escaped this influence: a recent edition of a Barbie doll - 'Bling, Bling, Bikini Barbie', comes with a bikini, stilettos,and heavy make up - and a popular doll in the 'Bratz' range wears fishnet stockings with the words: 'Baby Girl emblazoned on its' midriff top. Another called 'Head Bobs and Spins' Bratz, (shades of the Exorcist!) lies on a bed in her undies under a spinning disco light as its' head wobbles.
Mother-of-four Jools Willis insisted introducing her children to salons is good parenting and helps ease them into adolescence.
The 37-year-old regularly treats Tate, four, her brother Chayce, six, and sister Darcie, ten to beauty treatments.
These are hardly isolated cases.
Womens' magazines are a significant part of this cultural trend. Women are encouraged to reject traditional roles in favour of independence but told that they must strive to make
themselves desirable and be always available for men. Young girls are encouraged to look “hot and sexy” and to strive for the “ideal” body as per the female celebrities featured in these magazines, they present an ultra glamourized view of their lifestyles with an emphasis on body image and clothes. Their lifestyles are presented as something desirable and exciting. The message being given to children is that this is what they should be striving for. This is how they should both look and live their lives. Even once innocent toys such as dolls haven't escaped this influence: a recent edition of a Barbie doll - 'Bling, Bling, Bikini Barbie', comes with a bikini, stilettos,and heavy make up - and a popular doll in the 'Bratz' range wears fishnet stockings with the words: 'Baby Girl emblazoned on its' midriff top. Another called 'Head Bobs and Spins' Bratz, (shades of the Exorcist!) lies on a bed in her undies under a spinning disco light as its' head wobbles.
In their book Corporate paedophilia: Sexualization of children in Australia, the authors make the following statement:“ The pressure on children to adopt sexualized appearances and behaviour at an early age is greatly increased by the combination of the direct sexualization of children with the increasingly sexualized representations of teenagers and adults in advertising and popular culture”.
Fashion for girls plays the most obvious part in sexualization. Items include bralettes and G strings with provocative captions such as 'eye candy and 'wink wink' . These sexy adult fashions and the poses struck by some of the very young children appearing in those catalogues published by some of our leading retailers, are also a significant part of the culture of the premature sexualization of our children. The music industry is also culpable with artists such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga engaging in such provocative music videos and explicit lyrics. A report released in 2007 by the American Psychological Association found:
'Virtually every media form studied provides ample evidence of the sexualization of women, including television, music videos, music lyrics, movies, magazines, sports media, video games, the Internet, and advertising….Social messages that contribute to the sexualization of girls come not only from media and merchandise but also through girls’ interpersonal relationships (e.g., with parents, teachers, and peers; Brown & Gilligan, 1992). Parents may contribute to sexualization in a number of ways. For example, parents may convey the message that maintaining an attractive physical appearance is the most important goal for girls. Some may allow or encourage plastic surgery to help girls meet that goal. Research shows that teachers sometimes encourage girls to play at being sexualized adult women ...'
Sexualization in a girl child undermines confidence and comfort with one’s own body, leading to a host of negative emotional consequences, such as shame, anxiety, and even self-hatred. It has been linked to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia in pre-teen girls, leading to low self-esteem, and depression. It is associated with sexual problems that may lead to problems with sex during adulthood. Plus it changes girls beliefs and attitudes about femininity and sexuality, leading them to tolerate — and even endorse — sexual stereotypes that depict women as sexual objects. Society needs to combat the sexualization of children and adolescents. A study conducted in the UK dealing with provocative clothing, playboy t-shirts, and sexually explicit music videos, outlined the affects they have on the numbers of rapes and assaults against teens girls. Sarah Teather, schools minister, recommended to Reg Bailey, the chief executive of the Mothers’ Union, to conduct a “review” on the sexualization of childhood. Teather said, “Parents often find themselves under a tidal wave of pressure, buffeted by immense ‘pester power’ from their children for the latest product, craze or trend. I want this review to look at how we can equip parents to deal with the changing nature of marketing, advertising and other pressures that are aimed at their children."
The planned review, to be conducted under the Department of Education, is being advertised as the fulfillment of the government’s promise to “protect children from excessive commercialisation and premature sexualization to address parents’ concerns that children are being pressured into growing up too quickly.” It will propose a new watchdog, modeled on the Advertising Standards Authority, to police a code of conduct on age-appropriate marketing, Let us hope that it is successful in this endeavour, but all the while there is huge financial gain to be made from the exploitation of children by the corporate elite, I very much doubt it. But one lives in hope...
Update:
The Parents Television Council has reacted with outrage over a preview of the latest episode of Toddlers and Tiaras that sees a three-year-old dressed as a prostitute.
The TLC programme shows the child's mother dressing young Paisley up in a costume to mimic Julia Roberts' character from the 1990 hit movie, Pretty Woman.
According to RadarOnline.com, the PTC said: 'We have a serious problem when a network formerly known as The Learning Channel features a toddler, who probably hasn't even learned to read, dressed as a prostitute showing off her sexy strut.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2034436/Toddlers-Tiaras-Mother-dresses-girl-aged-THREE-prostitute-beauty-pageant.html#ixzz1XLY8gPYb
'Virtually every media form studied provides ample evidence of the sexualization of women, including television, music videos, music lyrics, movies, magazines, sports media, video games, the Internet, and advertising….Social messages that contribute to the sexualization of girls come not only from media and merchandise but also through girls’ interpersonal relationships (e.g., with parents, teachers, and peers; Brown & Gilligan, 1992). Parents may contribute to sexualization in a number of ways. For example, parents may convey the message that maintaining an attractive physical appearance is the most important goal for girls. Some may allow or encourage plastic surgery to help girls meet that goal. Research shows that teachers sometimes encourage girls to play at being sexualized adult women ...'
Sexualization in a girl child undermines confidence and comfort with one’s own body, leading to a host of negative emotional consequences, such as shame, anxiety, and even self-hatred. It has been linked to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia in pre-teen girls, leading to low self-esteem, and depression. It is associated with sexual problems that may lead to problems with sex during adulthood. Plus it changes girls beliefs and attitudes about femininity and sexuality, leading them to tolerate — and even endorse — sexual stereotypes that depict women as sexual objects. Society needs to combat the sexualization of children and adolescents. A study conducted in the UK dealing with provocative clothing, playboy t-shirts, and sexually explicit music videos, outlined the affects they have on the numbers of rapes and assaults against teens girls. Sarah Teather, schools minister, recommended to Reg Bailey, the chief executive of the Mothers’ Union, to conduct a “review” on the sexualization of childhood. Teather said, “Parents often find themselves under a tidal wave of pressure, buffeted by immense ‘pester power’ from their children for the latest product, craze or trend. I want this review to look at how we can equip parents to deal with the changing nature of marketing, advertising and other pressures that are aimed at their children."
The planned review, to be conducted under the Department of Education, is being advertised as the fulfillment of the government’s promise to “protect children from excessive commercialisation and premature sexualization to address parents’ concerns that children are being pressured into growing up too quickly.” It will propose a new watchdog, modeled on the Advertising Standards Authority, to police a code of conduct on age-appropriate marketing, Let us hope that it is successful in this endeavour, but all the while there is huge financial gain to be made from the exploitation of children by the corporate elite, I very much doubt it. But one lives in hope...
Update:
The Parents Television Council has reacted with outrage over a preview of the latest episode of Toddlers and Tiaras that sees a three-year-old dressed as a prostitute.
The TLC programme shows the child's mother dressing young Paisley up in a costume to mimic Julia Roberts' character from the 1990 hit movie, Pretty Woman.
According to RadarOnline.com, the PTC said: 'We have a serious problem when a network formerly known as The Learning Channel features a toddler, who probably hasn't even learned to read, dressed as a prostitute showing off her sexy strut.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2034436/Toddlers-Tiaras-Mother-dresses-girl-aged-THREE-prostitute-beauty-pageant.html#ixzz1XLY8gPYb
Corporate Paedophilia: Sexualisation of children in Australia
https://www.tai.org.au/file.php?file=DP90.pdf
Thanks for sharing the post.. parents are worlds best person in each lives of individual..they need or must succeed to sustain needs of the family.
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