Sexualization in products for children
Some commercial products seen as promoting the sexualization of children
have drawn considerable media attention:
Bratz Baby dolls that wear thongs.
Girls aged 10 and 11 wearing thongs in primary school.
Padded bras on bikinis aimed at seven-year-olds. Some people regard training bras similarly.
picture from Wikipedia
…
The Bratz brand,
which has remained number one in the UK market for 23 consecutive months focuses
core values on friendship, hair play and a ‘passion for fashion‘.
– Bratz spokesman, The Daily Telegraph
Read more > Wikipedia
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SPARK – Sexualization Protest: Action, Resistance, Knowledge
What is SPARK?
SPARK stands for Sexualization Protest: Action, Resistance, Knowledge.
SPARK is both a Summit and a Movement
designed to push back
against the increasingly sexualized images of girlhood in the media
and create room for whole girls and healthy sexuality.
SPARK will engage teen girls to be part of the solution
rather than to protect them from the problem.
What’s your opinion about the images of this video?
12 thoughts on “the sexualization of children”
I agree that it is an important topic. I think it has a lot to do with the commercialization of children (there’s an interesting video with that title you would probably connect with).
It’s hard when kids are only taught to relate to themselves as a body and not a spirit and intellect too. The body is destined to deteriorate but the spirit and intellect can grow. My goal as a kids yoga teacher is to help kids see themselves as multi-faceted beings, so much more than simply a body.
You’re doing great and important job!!! I really like the idea.
We all are more than our bodies. There are far too many people whose only hobby is shopping, consuming. I watched MTV the other day. I can’t believe what kind of stuff they show! Doesn’t media have any morals – or people who are working in media? Lots of them are parents, daughters, brothers…Why everything is on sale today?
It is shameful. All it does is promote the idea that all a girl needs to do in life is focus on her appearance and put herself on display and she will be loved by all. I think parents have a tough time today and must fight almost a losing battle with the media images bombarding their kids. I’m sure glad I’m not a little kid today. I almost barfed when I saw the pole dance doll. It is highly damaging for little boys too.
loved by all which is not real love! It’s not real love to admire a celebrity. That’s why these kind of videos and toys are harmful – they are not real. They are business. A video or a doll is money for those who’ve made/manufactured them. Littlle girls and boys are victims and their parents pay the bills.
It is terrifying. Makes parenting feel like an uphill battle! I’m thrilled that there is a movement against this in our culture.
Came over from SITS to say hi.
You’re right, parenting is not easy nowadays. There’s so much ‘out there’ which parents can’t see or don’t know. That’s why it’s important to educate kids and build trust. So that they are not afraid to tell if something ‘wrong’ happens.
The video is blocked for me because I am at work but I think you know by now that this is a hot button issue with me as we have discussed this before. I work with 5th and 6th grade girls and the sexualization of girls right now is so disgusting it seriously makes me want to start my own movement. I am happy there are organizations like SPARK.
Best,
Tina
P.S. Sorry I missed WOIMA this week. It’s one of my favorite things! It’s been a crazy week!
Hope you are well?
Tina, I’m fine, thanks for asking! 🙂
I wonder what kind of women are letting their girls to look like hookers and even support them > buying stuff?
Are those women=mothers grown up themselves? Are they living in their dream world? (they are not Lady Gaga, Rihanna etc. so they try to compensate that via their daughter?)
Are there any children listening/playing classical music? Dancing ballet? or are those totally ‘out’?
This is a really excellent post on a very important issue in modern life. Yeh, the pole dancing doll was over the top by a long shot, yet, when I saw it, I somehow was not surprised. In a way it’s symbolic. The doll brings all the constant bombardment by subliminal and blatant media down to this lowest common denominator. The pole dancing doll. Just what every little girl needs under the Christmas tree, so they will know what is expected of them as they grow up!
Having said all that, I am happy that I see many teens, and young men and women in their early 20’s, who are so hip to this kind of issue. In fact, they are hip to all kinds of issues. It is gratifying to know they are not lost to all the hype around them.
The pole dancing doll. Would 8 yr girl ever thought that she wants to have that kind of doll?
I wonder why all those dolls look the same? What stereotyped image. Like all girls should have long, straight hair and high heels.
In certain age it’s natural that kids are playing with adult stuff: put mom’s lipstick, her shoes and clothes on but that’s a role play. I’ve done that.
It’s a different thing to ‘give’ ready made role play toys than to great a play yourself. Children should use their own imagination. We have enough stuff.
This christmas parents could give time to BE with their kids. Most of the kids are happy if parents have time and will to BE with them. You can’t buy love.
It is really scare to me to see these images portrayed and the negativity it could have on my daughter. I think that parents need to be involved and watch for signs that their girls are having problems.
The modeling world will not change, the music industry probably won’t either….but as parents, we can change the dolls/toys that are sold.
Just don’t buy them!
I couldn’t believe the pole dancing doll…wow
Also, I found the girl in the video very courageous and strong…and with a great mission in her mind to change the world. We need leaders like her!
BG
You said it – it all starts at home. Mainstream – music, television or magazines are done by adults. Some of those adults are parents too. I wonder if they let their children to watch/listen/read all that crap? Are those adults producing their wet dreams to come true? Where’s their moral?