A report in today’s Sunday Times newspaper by Ryan Emery tells us that eight year old girls are becoming the latest sex targets. The article says, “Girls as young as eight are dressing provocatively and encouraging sexual predators because ‘sick’ marketing is leading them to grow up too quickly.”
Many girls are apparently being drawn in by slick marketing in music videos and magazines and in advertising for make-up and clothing.
I’ve certainly thought for a long time that the style of a lot of the clothes marketed towards young females is way too old for them. Wherever you go these days you’ll see young women dressed inappropriately for their age or wearing clothes that are simply inappropriate for any woman.
The article tells us, “Tweenies – eight to 12 year olds – are wearing padded bras, make-up and, in some cases, racy underwear.” It goes on to say, “A survey by the Australian Childhood Foundation found more than 90 per cent of parents thought marketers were targeting their children too aggressively.”
I would certainly be amongst that 90% but I’m a little puzzled. Who is buying racy underwear and other sexy clothing for 8 year olds? Who are these 8 to 12 year olds with their own independent income stream?
When I was that age I had no money of my own to go out buying what I wanted. Even if I did have money, my purchases would have been subject to parental control. This stuff isn’t just appearing in their wardrobes, it’s either being bought by the girls or, far more likely, their parents. What are they thinking?
And if these young girls have clothing that is too provocative, who is letting them walk out the front door wearing it? I wasn’t allowed to walk out the back door to play without suitable footwear when I was a kid. Do the parents of these girls have no say in what their kids wear?
I am sure that the majority of parents are ensuring that their kids are dressed suitably and modestly but with 90% of parents objecting to the aggressive marketing, there must still be a percentage of parents who don’t like the marketing but give in to it anyway. Of course the marketers need to reassess their methods and they should be ashamed of themselves for pushing an image that is clearly inappropriate, but if enough parents said no at the checkout, there wouldn’t be a market for this kind of stuff.
With these young girls being too young to fully understand the messages they’re sending out by their appearance, it’s time that some more parents began parenting.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Technorati Tags: Marketing – Tweenies – Parenting
Do you think some of your friends would enjoy reading Young girls "too sexy"? Please use the buttons below to share the post. Thanks.
i would agree on both counts:
– not only being careful about what they wear but using it as a teaching opportunity about self-esteem and identity, etc.
– trying to against the flow of marketing towards our children
thanks for the post. we’ve got some great challenges ahead of us as parents of young kids.
Agreed, of course, but with one qualifier:
No matter how little girls (or any people, for that matter) dress, nothing could excuse another person’s predatory mistreatment of them.
That harks way too much of “Well, look at what she was wearing, You Honour; she was clearly asking for it”.
Nowhere near a defence.
Absolutely right Quirkie. How people dress is their own responsibility no matter how appropriate or innappropriate.
How people act towards others is completely their own responsibility.
The “She was asking for it” defence is a weak and ridiculous excuse.
I would argue the point even further. Perhaps I am a prude, however, beyond the age of 12 they are dressing beyond what should be considered acceptible.
One trip into MySpace where many young people do their blogs, they post photos that are quite daring, provacative…
It’s clear that they are not just posing for the net, that they are posting photos from their every day activities.
But yes, Rodney, your point is quite accurate, little girls no longer are little girls anymore. Too many are trying to grow up way too fast – and in a way they ARE. Menstruation is starting among that age group when in years past, it wasn’t until later.
I asked a doctor about that, and other people too. The common concensus is the hormones that we put into our milk and meats, etc.
What are we doing to our children?
We pump them with hormones, we shove mature tv, music and movies at them, and we put them into positions they shouldn’t be in at their age.
It was a good post, Rodney. An issue that needs close examination and change,
Are these the same parents who tell you, with delight, that they’ve found a place that will pierce the ears of a two-year-old?
I don’t think it’s the hormones in milk, I think it’s the sad fact that the morals of our day are falling, falling, falling. Do the parents of these kids know they have a My Space account? If so, do they approve? If not, WHY? We need to be involved in our children’s life and it is our responsibility to teach them right from wrong and to have self worth and not use sex to get attention. Anyhow, my two cents from Southern California where I see this every day. Some parents really don’t care.
Layla
You are right in that we do see it everyday, the parents don’t care, can’t be bothered, or, just so drowned in everyday issues, that its hard to find time to correct them.
But no matter what, it all starts with caring or not caring.
Hey there Rodney. Good topical post that needs a great deal of attention. Having daughters in that age bracket its something that’s relevant for me too. I think the biggest driver is the music industry, the biggest defence is the parent and the biggest disappointment comes from the govt. who control censorship. It would seem that children are protectd from movies with censorship controls but not from an inappropriate wardrobe. Mixed messages?
I have to agree with this article completely. I live in America and see everyday how old young people are dressng. I find girls 12 years old looking like the girls i go to college with.
On the notion that “they are asking for it” i think they are. young girls want to date the older, potentially sexually experienced, guy even if he is way to old for them. they see on TV how these girls act and dress and assume it’s common place. i’ll see a girl who i think is attractive and i have to be carefull and make sure she’s not illegal in age. My question is “what parent lets their 8 year old watch shows with such provocative messages and images?”
As far as who’s buying these clothes for them? the parents must obviously be ignorant to what message these clothes give off. i think there should be legal action to companies and parents who put their kids in that kind of danger.