Sexualization of Girls

So, there’s something that’s bothered me for some time. As a woman, I hate to see girls sexualizing themselves. There’s something wrong about a 10-year-old who feels the need to put emphasis on their looks…

Perhaps it’s the fact that I feel that all children should be allowed to be innocent and experience childhood… something I don’t think I ever really had a chance to experience. At least I never remember having much of a childhood.

But it’s really sad to see some of the items that now exist that shouldn’t. Since when do 5-year-olds need a bra, push-up or otherwise. I started physically needing a bra at the age of 8, and even then I railed against it. Perhaps it’s because I was a tomboy (and to a certain degree still am) that I see this as something truly frightening.

I think it really bothered me back when I was working retail and kids that were 13 were wanting to wear a shirt that says Playboy Playmate. While I have no issue with porn, I think it’s sad if girls feel like they need to begin to objectify themselves at a young age. I think it’s a woman’s personal choice if she wants to do porn. And more power to her. But where do we draw the line of acceptability.

In a lot of ways, this also keys in to the current GOP presidential candidate belief that child labor laws are “stupid”.

I’m wondering that if there’s some strange desire of the current presidential crop to take us back to the “good ol’ days”… which, apparently means taking us back to the days of Feudalism. Or at least that’s my feeling about what’s going on in our government.

But I digress as this is wandering off of the original topic.

I think it’s sad that many children feel that they need to act more adult than they are. So, where do we point the finger of blame?

The media? While I will say that the media certainly does share a large responsibility for body dismorphia and making most boys and girls feel insecure about their body image thanks to TV, magazines, fashion… it’s not solely to blame. As much as I would love to point the finger at Katy Perry and her overly risque lyrics with absolutely zero innuendo(Hello, “Teenage Dream” and “E.T.”), I still can’t call her wholly responsible.

Parents? Parents most certainly should shoulder the blame. Parents have a larger influence on their children at all ages, more power than they realize. When I was still in high school I got in an argument with a classmate about politics. I asked him what his parents political beliefs are, and he said the same as his. While most teenage (and to a certain degree tweens) won’t admit it, they do take in what their parents have told them and exposed them to as a child.

Not being a parent, I know that my opinions on parenting aren’t necessarily relevant as I have never raised a child. I don’t know what’s right or wrong. I admit that. I can just give my opinion and leave it at that.

So, I’m going to end on that note. I think it’s a shame that some children feel the need to sexualize themselves at a young age. I’ll stop my dithering now…