Inappropriate advert on kids TV

There is an overwhelming amount of empirical evidence that can demonstrate a clear link between, for example, a commercial being repetitively shown on the television exhibiting certain behaviour, whether benign or not, and children then mimicking that behaviour (obviously) without necessarily understanding context. Leaving the purchasing influence of adverts to one side, the mimicking is the key behaviour and is a crucial part of a child's development. Clearly, problems can arise when a child's behaviour "feels" inappropriate - eg dancing suggestively, using adult or offensive language and so on. I would say that some adults have differing amounts of latitude as to what "feels" appropriate for their child, depending on their cultural upbringing, any religious considerations and so forth.

The element of cultural upbringing & heritage was brought into sharp focus in a mainstream way when a colleague, a psychiatric support worker, spoke about a television series she had watched called (I think) Big Gypsy Weddings. My colleague expressed shock at what she felt was the inappropriate clothing the girls in some parts of the travelling community wore. She implored me to watch it, and so I watched an episode, perhaps two years ago, followed by what remained of the series. Girls from a very young age were wearing crop tops, hot-pants, full make up, and were filmed at a gathering in a hotel dancing quite provocatively. I had encountered a very small number of (mainly) Irish heritage travellers through my work. Travellers don't tend to seek healthcare due their peripatetic lifestyle, and I had to admit to initially feeling quite shocked seeing the provocative dress and over-sexualisation of these children. My own dealings with the travelling community had been quite different to what I had watched. On the few occasions I had met travellers, they were all young women suffering with either anxiety disorders, acute major depressive disorder or a combination of the two. When speaking to these women it became immediately apparent that immense moral expectations were required of them; far more so than one would see in the majority of UK society in the 21st century. Their moral encoding was akin to that of Victorian bourgeois society.

I initially assumed that the television series had hand-picked a non-representative portion of this group, but as I watched the rest of the series it became apparent that the combination of extraordinarily rigid morals regarding chastity, alcohol, entrenched perceptions of gender-stereotyping were correct, it was quite at odds with the (perhaps to our minds) unorthodox clothing and dancing of the children seen at important social gatherings.

My children do have tablets and computers but we are fortunate in so far as we live in a rural village with a small school and they have always had friends here close by. We also live on what was once a small-holding farm, so there is plenty of land. I have to admit that because my husband and me really don't watch much television, they just seem to have naturally followed suit. Maybe oddly, I far prefer them to play video games because we can all join in, although there is nothing to stop them putting the TV on whenever they choose.

In all honesty I couldn't really see a vast difference in context between that video and a Barbie Doll - in its essence at least. I think I probably tend to be more concerned about what is viewable on the computers, tablets and phones than advertising per se - even though I'm extremely aware of the power of advertising to influence children's behaviour it is ubiquitous in 2014 and almost entirely unavoidable.

Totally agree with Mrsfassbender

No, you weren't clear on your point - so no need to be bloody rude I am not 'the resident contrarian' nor am I 'regurgitating the same arguement', I was asking if you had watched the video I linked to.

You said 'And I get what you're saying about old songs but this is about the imagery' and I was simply asking if you had watched the video as I feel the 'imagery' is much the same.

'Blondie's music videos were never on children's tv' - well, they were really. They were 'On TV' a lot, we didn't have dedicated children's tv channels so given the few channels we had then, of course children saw them.

Many years later '(I'm a) Barbie girl (in a barbie world)' was a hit, both the song and the video, which was much worse than the ad you are on about. This was at a time when my god-daughters were young and impressionable. One loved it, one hated it - they have both grown up into lovely young women who don't dress like Barbie or think that all they need to do is bat their eyelids to get what they want.

My point is, it's much less sexualised and 'adult' than many of us grew up with and we managed to grow into indendent, educated, intelligent women. I don't think it's a big deal.

'Your facetiousness about Upsy Daisy is disturbing - you're just trying to undermine a genuine concern by making it seem silly. When it's not'

'Disturbing' - really?? 'Disturbing'? I think a grip needs got.

'These ads are pernicious and when taken with the products being peddled to our children, are anything but harmless'

It Is A Doll. Not heroine.

'I could take your approach and say "oh it's a bit of fun, and luckily my DD is old enough and canny enough to see how shite it is and laugh at it" which she did. Sadly tho, other little girls will be younger and more influenced and I see in my job how girls are growing up too quick and seem to think they need to look a certain way- and how looks are everything!! It is damaging and your comments, for me, just prove that it is, and that the ad companies get away with it because so many people take your view and dismiss people like me'

I don't disagree that girls are growing up too quickly - I disagree that this advert for a doll is what is causing it.

That is so inappropriate.

how to complain to ASA link here scroll down to 'lodge a complaint' highlighted in red.

It is offending me by how shit it is

mrsfassbender - did you watch the Blondie video? How is the imagery any different?

A toddler will see people singing and dancing - that's all. You can turn things into a much bigger deal than they actually are.

Floop sorry, I don't have an iPad , yet another reason not to get one! Yes, all the girls are reasonably well 'covered up' throughout and despite watching it several times, I can't see any 'crotch flashing' that one poster on the other thread was complaining about.

UpsieDaisy flashes her knickers more than these girls

No can do on an iPad CafeAulait. They don't show up.

Thanks for the clicky link OP.

Was actually impressed with how covered up she was in her swimsuit.

It is grim.

Floop just click on the picture in the OP's post.

It is not 'very suggestive'.

Can we have a clicky link please?

I didn't type them up - just copied and pasted.

I think people get far too wound up about stuff like this. It goes over kids heads, it's a catchy tune with some girls dancing. It is far less sexual/suggestive than most stuff on music channels, x factor etc.

It's shite, that's for sure, but it's not the end of the world as we know it.

Bit of a waste of money having it on during Peppa Pig I'd have thought, it's not a doll aimed at pre-schoolers.

The doll isn't any different to Sindy/Barbie/MonsterHigh/OtherTweenDolls. We all had them, it's hardly turned us all into Blonde, Big Busted, Air Headed Girly Girls has it?

I grew up with stuff like this and Tell me - how were they are better?

turn the music off and just watch it - the beginning seems very sexualised to me

Yes. Also the toe in the water and the leg swinging. It's pathetic.

Such as shame that our young girls are being shown this shit. It's not fair.

Someone on the other thread said this was on in between watching Peppa Pig with their toddler. It is very suggestive OP.

turn the music off and just watch it - the beginning seems very sexualised to me.

It's a Barbie type doll for pre-teens, what exactly is the problem?

Lyrics

(Lets go)
Real good time
Ready to go
Well get our fun
Cause we have fun
(Lets go)

Na na na
The sun is out
And theres no doubt
The time is right
So here we come
Ready or not
Its out of sight

Cant stop us from doing all the things we want to do
Cant stop us from being all the things we want to be
Dont tell us were wrong
Were just having fun
Cause all we want to be is yeah
Young and free
(Lets go)

CHORUS:
Real good time
Ready to go
Real good time
Were letting go
(Lets go)
Real good time
Ready to go
Well get our fun
Cause we have fun
(Lets go)

Na na na

It's not sexual content.
It's not overly sexual dancing.

Lots of make up, granted, but hardly the end of the world as we know it.

I agree completely softly that I find it sad.

The song and dancing is cringey but I don't see a massive difference between the main dancer and, say, barbie, the gothy dolls or those fabric ones with the hollow backs. Or any Disney heroine. I think it is grim but I can't get ragey about this more than any of the others

Jeez do you guys not know that being blonde, skinny beautiful and lots make up will make you really happy and popular

I dont find it massively offensive - just really fucking sad for our young girls.

it's a doll - for young children. Completely and wildly inappropriate.