The Sexualisation of minors
I have noticed with a kind of deep regret a number of the threads in the GDF recently and some of the statements made by members. Everything from people wishing to "bang" pubescent Nazi twins, to suggestions Nambla makes sense. Accusations abound that members comments are paedophilic (something I don't thing should be said as a flame in a discussion). However these are all symptoms of our highly confused society. Our Society itself blurs a line and distorts what is acceptable. Britney Spears dressed as a schoolgirl getting on for ten years ago now, but remember how everyone said it was sexy (it was actually bland) but it illustrates the paedopillic nature of our society perfectly. Young models adorn our billboards and we are obsessed with the sexiness of youth. Male Actors can be older, female leads rarely are. In the past girls might have dressed up in mum's clothes, perfume and make-up for fun at home. But now children of eight or nine are going out in provocative clothes that have been bought for them, and they do not realise what signals they are sending out - the message that they are sexual beings.
Young girls do not realise that when their trousers slip to show they are wearing a thong they are saying "I'm sexy" as well as "I'm fashionable." And a 10-year-old should not be sexy.
SOME of the blame has to be with the parents who bought the thongs or a padded bra for an eight-year-old.
What is most worrying is now youngsters are also aping the flirtatious behaviour they see on TV. Many of the pop and dance music videos show the kind of action that would have been in a porn film 20 years ago.
The range of products and marketing ploys currently aimed at children does paint a depressing picture of a commercial world that is sexualising children. High street shops sell make-up, thongs, padded bras and G-strings for the under-11s. Tweenage girl label Tammy produces T-shirts with sex slogans and adultesque underwear - although some retailers are refusing to stock them, after successful lobbying by parental groups.
In a bizarre pastiche of the already decidedly wobbly adult world, it is not unknown for the under-nines to have highlights, manicures, botox treatments and cosmetic surgery. Uber material girl Madonna treats daughter Lourdes Ciccone, five, to a weekly facial and pampering day at a beauty clinic. Madge has also apparently adopted Jennifer Aniston's favourite slimming plan for her daughter, placing her on the Zone Diet, where she can eat as much protein as she likes but cuts down on nasty carbohydrates. Friends at Lourdes's birthday party were reportedly treated to hot dogs without the buns.
In stark contrast my own navy-blue and gravy childhood, it seems that today's Saturday morning TV bombards the young with images of kiddie bands dressed like adults, presenters dressed in the "urban hooker" look, and commercials where "kidults" have dating issues.
Who do we blame?
Is sexualisation of children a problem or my imagination?
What messages are being sent to and by children and where is this sexualisation if it's real leading?
Or am I just being prudish?