Comments on: Please don’t help your 6-year-old be sexy.

By: Samm

Samm — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 03:35:48 +0000

I dont agree with making make-up for young girls; I did not wear make up untill I was 13 and still have to argue about it at 14. Even though I dont agree with making “padded” bras for young girls, my friends little sister goes to private school and has to dress for Physical Education, shes only 6. Most of the girl wear bras to prevent embarrasment by other classmates. (If they did not make 6 year olds dress for P.E. then I would say NO to bras altogether)

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:41:16 +0000

Oh, and did not know about it. Thanks for the information …

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:08:57 +0000

im shhocked…. what a theft of innocence….

padded bras for 6 year olds?? at 6 i didnt even think of such things o.0

By: RW

RW — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:35:54 +0000

I was particularly irritated at a film the other day - for its encouragement into early sexualisation. But on this occasion it was my son who was watching it, and it was my thoughts about how he was being damaged that were in my mind. Note that my son is young - without giving too many personal details on the internet, suffice it to say that the school still class him as an infant.
In ‘Arthur and the Invisibles’ a 10 year old goes off into a fantasy land (this part is animated) and falls in love with a princess - played to be a late teenage-adult kind of character. That’s problematic enough - the boy character is only 10 for goodness sake! Then there is all the standard hateful stereotype stuff about how princesses/heroines are beautiful ladies and more desirable than ordinary ugly women. But to make matters even worse - the bit that irritated me even more than I’m normally irritated - was the princess being drawn in the worst tradition of Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider game - with an exaggerated female form. I can’t find pictures that quite capture this but the ones at the places I list below give a rough idea:
- http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0344854/coquelicot.jpg.html
- http://tinyurl.com/2jcew6
- http://tinyurl.com/2ybv9v
I’d never argue that my son was more damaged by this than a little girl watching it, but I was reminded that it’s children of both genders who lose out from being forced to grow up too soon. He’s still an infant, and the pressure’s already on to find a ’sexy’ girl!

And I should add that we found him crying in bed last night because his teacher had said that it was only girls who would be allowed to be angels in the nativity play (they are the closest thing to fairies)…

…now I better go before I get too angry.

Oh - except to say that I had a thought on the thing that Jennifer said. I use the word ‘beautiful’ with my children all the time (I think it does them good to hear it), but wouldn’t use words like ‘pretty’ for the same reasons as her. My theory is that as children grow up they understand ‘beautiful’ to be a term about their whole being, whereas they take words like ‘pretty’ to be specific descriptions of their features. But I’d really like to know if other people think the same.

By: Jackie

Jackie — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:16:26 +0000

Bratz isn’t owned by Mattel, MGA Entertainment is the company that produces Bratz. I think the bras are disturbing. My mom and I once saw lingere type clothing for little girls, and said “Who produces these, pedophiles?” It’s absolutely the same as saying, “Hey it’s ok to have sex with 6 year olds, look at their sexy bra, they’re asking for it”

By: RW

RW — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:12:52 +0000

There are lots of us out here.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:45:22 +0000

Jeff, you are a good man — and one of the many that keep showing up lately. This has come up for me SO often as I talk to groups as About-Face’s executive director. More and more men have been asking what they can do, and I think we need to invite them to help us be responsible for our portrayal and positive treatment. So thanks, Jeff, keep it up!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:11:26 +0000

While I applaud the efforts of this web-site and agree with the message, I think that there needs to be a greater focus of getting BOTH sexes to be aware of this issue.

As a man, I see it being just as much MY responsibility to treat women with respect and not objectify them sexually. And this is something that I try to pass on to other men I know. My parents were, thank goodness, good at teaching their 6 sons not to objectify women, and I plan on passing on such messages to my son(s) if/when I have any, and make certain that my daughter(s) know how special they are not because of their looks, but because of their intellect, talents and personality..

In short, I think it should be made clear that teaching such lessons is every bit as much the responsibility of men as it is women.

By: Janet

Janet — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:59:08 +0000

Make up, and sexy underware for children,that is being sold at many Department stores should make us be aware of pedofhiles.They are every where possing as very good people. They could be wealthy people or with a lot of influence, and they are promoting this kind of fashion for children. So with the time, we can believe that this kind of fashion is normal. Mothers should be vigilant all the time.

By: tracy

tracy — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:14:58 +0000

I have four daughters ranging from 17 to 2 years of age. i totally agree with the gimmicks that they try and sell, but my 9 year old actually needs a bra, she has become very aware of her body in this day and age our children are actually getting taught about alot more worrying things than bras. e.g. sex. i have been asked quite a few awkward questions that i am not sure how to answer. My parents werent very open about these things.
As a parent you just have to cope with what ever comes your way and hope that you give them the best answers and advice about life you possibly can.