She was only 6.
Posted on 03/17/2007 6:03:27 AM PDT by shrinkermd
Bling-Bling Barbies and pouty-lipped Bratz. Thongs for tweens, and makeover parties for 5-year-olds. The past couple of shopping seasons have brought a constant stream of media stories — and books and school lectures and anguished mom conversations — all decrying the increasingly tarted-up world of young girls and preteens. Now the American Psychological Association has weighed in as well, with a 67-page report on the dangers of the “sexualization” of girls.
The report takes aim at the music lyrics, Internet content, video games and clothing that are now being marketed to younger and younger kids, and correlates their smutty content with a number of risks to girls’ well-being. It finds that sexualization — turning someone into “eye candy” — is linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression in girls and women. Adopting an early identity as a “Hot Tot” also has, the researchers wrote, “negative consequences on girls’ ability to develop healthy sexuality.”
...I know that sounds pretty nasty. We’re not supposed to be judgmental these days. We’re not supposed to blame parents — especially mothers. I also know that what mothers do or don’t do (short of out-and-out abuse) doesn’t, single-handedly, “cause” much of anything. But I think it’s fair, even necessary, to wonder: how can we expect our daughters to navigate the cultural rapids of becoming sexual beings when we ourselves are flying blind?...
We all tend to talk a good game now on things like body image and sexual empowerment. We buy the American Girl body book, “The Care and Keeping of You,” promote a “healthy” diet and exercise, and wax rhapsodic about team sports. But do we practice what we preach...
(Excerpt) Read more at select.nytimes.com ...
I note the NYT has little to nothing on the front and editorial page about the WOT and Iraq. Pinch must be on vacation, since paper has some fine articles today.
Sounds like a pedophile's paradise.
Oh...I get it now: the APA was a big part of the public school sexual revolution starting in '64. HA! They were making work for themselves!
I wonder if the APA will ever admit that their org was the root of the problem...not rap lyrics.
does anyone remember Kate Greenway dresses for little girls? Very special sweet dresses that always had a little pocket?
these must really be disturbed mothers...I can't begin to figure out the diagnosis..the mind boggles.
If anyone needed this report to (1)tell them what's been going on with the sexualization of children, at younger and younger ages and (2)understand the danger to all children when that is done, then I doubt reading the report will make things better for their children. Some things about being a good adult with children are just there or they're not.
It reads like a woman with ADD. A hodgepodge of thoughts that really don't say anything.
For instance:
Not when we walk around the house sucking in our stomachs in front of the mirrors. Not when we obsessively regulate the contents of our refrigerators in the name of “purity.” (Did you know that there’s a clinical word for the “fixation on righteous eating”? It’s called “orthorexia.”) Our girls see right through all our righteousness.
Okay, woman are not supposed to be concerned with their looks or their health.
And then:
And they hear the hypocrisy, too, when we dish out all kinds of pabulum about a “positive body image,” then go on to trash our own thighs.
So, which is it? Are girls supposed to see their mothers walking around not taking care of themselves or are mothers really supposed to portray a healthy person?
I'm glad I have all boys. :-)
Hysterical. On one hand they cry about the sexualization, but everything Conservatives try to do, for instance, to keep homosexual clubs out of schools is decryed as puritaniam.
The only time you'll hear the left crying about it is if they can pick on corporations about it.
They wanted a "sexual revolution". They got one.
"If anyone needed this report to (1)tell them what's been going on with the sexualization of children, at younger and younger ages and (2)understand the danger to all children when that is done, then I doubt reading the report will make things better for their children. Some things about being a good adult with children are just there or they're not."
Does anyone else understand that this is the Commies M.O.? They destroy the fabric of family by creating laws that allow the sexualization of children, then they cry that something must be done to fix it so they create laws to remove the very same liberties they so granted.
Pick an issue, any issue and apply this logic.
If blame needs to be placed, it needs to be on the school system. They indoctrinate todays youth as young as 5 with sex-ed, not to mention homosexuality, getting them to ponder and explore thier own sexuality at a wayyyyyy to early age.
Who are you arguing with???
She was only 6.
Does a 12 or 13 year old who dresses and acts indistinguishably from an 18 year old - or a 25 year old - really do it for pedophiles?
Although pedophilia would not apply in that case, it is still a very stupid question...
When Brinks armored cars deliver bagsful of money to banks do they it for bank robbers?
I don't get it.
"Who are you arguing with???"
Myself most probably. Problem is I answer back. :)
Just yesterday in Lowe's, we saw a mom with a girl, not older than 8, wearing sweatpants with Abercrombie printed across the backside and the waistband rolled to expose her tummy. And this is in the snowy Northeast. What mother wants people reading her daughter's behind? And exposing her tummy......good heavens!
I have a very hard time finding anything decent for my daughters to wear. They are ages 13 and 15 and all the pants are very lowcut, outfits are either short or skintight.
I have never had a problem shopping for my son but the girls--it takes a lot of effort and hours to find something decent.
Wish there was a catalog that offered wholesome looking dresses for teenagers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.