Thursday, November 8, 2007

Happy meal with a side of sex


Let me start by saying I am not a prude by any means. However, as the mother of a daughter I am concerned with the toys and clothing that are readily available and deemed acceptable.

Numerous groups have expressed concern over the early sexualization of girls-so much so that the APA developed a task force to assess the depth of the problem. The APA report focuses on the increasing rates of eating disorders, depression, and low self-esteem among younger and younger girls. The Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., is now seeing patients as young as six with eating disorders. Girls are worrying about their weight and expressing dissatisfaction with their bodies at younger and younger ages.

An article in the Post asked“When do little girls start wanting to look good for others?” and quotes a sex educator as guessing that whereas it once began at six or seven, it now gets started as early as four. I don't believe the issue is the female desire to be attractive. There’s a world of difference between simply wanting to look good (Ava already loves dresses and pretty jewelry)and dressing like a stripper. Once Ava is out of toddler sizes we may have to put a pole in our living room. I don't really think a 4 or 5 year old needs low rise jeans, micro minis, crop tops, heels or bikini underpants! When little girls go from looking pretty/cute to flat out slutty we have crossed the line. "Whatever we may think of immodesty in grown women, there is little doubt that it is disgusting, demeaning, and depraved in little girls".

The toy choices are equally as bad as the clothing. Recently I got Ava a happy meal and in it was a scantily clad roller derby figurine. I got my daughter sex with her fries!!!!! The APA singled out the Bratz dolls, saying, "It (is) worrisome when dolls designed specifically for 4- to 8-year-olds are associated with an objectified adult sexuality." I mean have you see those things? They are little plastic whores. So how do you buy them and then not expect your daughter to want to look like them?

How do you feel about the clothing and toy options available for children under 16? Do your daughters have Bratz dolls or similar ones? Do you have a pole in your living room? Is your 4 year old on the cover of Preschoolers Gone Wild?

16 comments:

  1. We have a pole in the living room!!! Seriously, I agree it is a huge problem. Why do people go along with it. Why is it ok to dress little girls like this and let them play with these things called Bratz. Isn't a Brat a negative thing!!!! I remember having to have my uniform skirt hang below my knee in seventh grade. Never mind the knees now it is the belly (or the thong) or the but crack that we see way too much of!!!What is going on!!!

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  2. Bratz. Top on the list of toys that are absolutely NOT allowed in my house. Bryan and I call them "Slut Barbies." Hazel asked for them a couple of times, but now seems to grasp the concept that she won't be getting any. Until, lo and behold...one was being pimped out in her Happy Meal. Yeah, I ended up with one of those skanky roller derby dolls too. Fortunately, we are still in the adorable (and appropriate) toddler clothes. I'm not looking forward to having to sift through racks of stripper clothes to find the one suitable outfit left. Children just don't get to be children anymore...in so many different ways. It's sad.

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  3. It definitely is a major problem. You can't even find a simple t- shirt now for kids without it having some saying with attiude. I mean come on! Do we want our kids thinking that walking around with a major attitude and huge chip on their shoulder is ok? We should be teaching our kids respect...for themselves and others. I absolutely hate those bratz dolls, but even Barbie has gotten sluttier since I was a kid!

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  4. Little plastic whores-ha ha!! I hate those things & my kids LOVE them!! My son even has a few of the little boy Bratz (looks like a sweet little punk w/ a large head)

    Lina

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  5. this whole issue is a huge problem. it is sad when we have little girls that worry about if they are fat or not. my sister (age 8) deals with this type of thing. the conversations these little girls have - who would have thought? i would love to have a daughter someday - but with that i know will come a whole different ball of wax. good post zoe.

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  6. Talking about Bratz dolls is on my upcoming list of TFT topics :0 been meaning to write about that one for almosta year now!

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  7. My mom would NEVER have let me wear anything revealing....I don't think I'd have been able to wear 75% of the trash that teens wear these days.....

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  8. I believe the term, which I first saw on mamalogues.com, is "prosti-tot" I agree this is a big problem. Luckily so far we just have a boy.

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  9. OMG I was just thinking about how whoreish Bratz dolls are. Ugh. I went shopping today and the Santa's Sluts Bratz were on the endcap. Yuck. I can't imagine if I had a daughter letting her play with those dolls. I have a friend whose daughter was really into them and I'm just a little appalled that 5 year olds play with these toys.

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  10. Yeah, I never thought much about this until a few months ago. Even finding clothes for 24 months can be skimpy. Thank goodness she is a tomboy and would rather play with her brothers toys (bikes, cars, ect) But I am still dreading it in a few years. It is hard to find clothes that aren't short, tight, or have so saying on the butt! I dont want people looking at my 2 year olds (let alone when she is 5,6,7 or older) butt to see what she is wearing!!

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  11. Yeah at my sons' school a girl came dressed as a french maid for halloween and another group of girls were play boy bunnies. They did not get sent home!

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  12. I can't stand the Bratz either. I don't know why people would buy them for their kids. I haven't reached the girls sizes yet, but some of the displays are something else. They are not little adults, they are kids. I have yet to figure out why my baby needs skinny jeans.

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  13. Gosh, just got around to this. As a mom of 2 girls, I am completely terrified as to what could be in the future. There is so much temptation and pressure for girls nowadays, from clothes to drinking to sex. Boys aren't just boys anymore, they are "mini-men" and the stuff they can learn on tv is terrifying. I will NOT allow my girls to dress the way a lot of young girls are dressing and while I think Barbie may be ok at a certain age, I will certainly not be allowing Bratz in my house. First off, what were they thinking, and second off, they are scary as hell.

    As far as toddler clothes go, I saw a toddler at the Zoo this summer wearing a cropped top, her belly was hanging out. I could not believe my eyes. How dare her parents do that to her. IT WAS NOT CUTE. It was SAD! Anyway, I could go on for hours about this, but I'll spare ya! Great post though!

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  14. Happy days can I borrow your pole? I have heard that is good exercise

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  15. Robyn, have you tried stuffing a toddler into skinny jeans??? So not pretty!

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