Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to find the cover photo of a young girl on Smalltalk-magazine's summer issue 34 just 'wrong'

67 replies

Ocktober · 18/07/2013 20:36

www.smalltalk-magazine.com

A very young girl dressed up like a grown up, striking a model pose with nail varnish, lipstick, adult sunglasses and jewellery? Let children be children and all that. There's enough pressure on young girls to conform and be 'pretty' without family magazines endorsing the trend. I have emailed them my view.

OP posts:
NellysKnickers · 09/08/2013 07:40

Yep SoupDragon, that's exactly what I see too.

Nishky · 09/08/2013 07:46

When I first looked it did look like a pose, but having zoomed in - it does look like she is looking at the bag

Retropear · 09/08/2013 07:46

Sorry soooooo don't get the hoo ha.

Errrr those of us with little girls(and boys)are well used to them clomping around in oversized sunglasses,chipped nail polish,gaudy bags and more strings of beads your average Christmas tree could shake a twig at.

I know MN is on a competitive pc outrage streak at the mo but sorry this op is ott imvho.

Chatteringarses · 09/08/2013 08:51

YANBU at all. Yikes! yes sorry this is definitely a creepy picture and it gives off a very uncomfortable impression to me. I think its strange that others can't see the problems with it.

She doesn't look like she is having any fun at all. She looks like an adult has posed her very in a very unnatural 'adult model' way- definitely not a kid striking her own fun silly photo pose, which was what I was expecting from reading the comments. And a happy kid having dress up fun does not have that serious face most importantly.

The impression is of an adult having loaded her up with their choice of tat and then posing her under very carefully done lights. It does not give the impression of a child model having a fun day out- just looks like hard work for the child conforming to a non-age appropriate photo shoot.

I'm not even going to go there with the 'creative' concept behind the carefully coordinated pink stuff and all of what tired pish that is promoting about what little girls want to be when they grow up.

It's the adult agenda imposed throughout this that makes this seem strained and not like most other photoshoots involving child models. Child models should not be treated and photographed exactly the same as miniature adults, even when they are being paid to do a job. It's definitely a creepy photo.

PrettyKitty1986 · 09/08/2013 08:55

To me it looks like a picture of a little girl playing dress up - too big bag, jewellery and glasses. It's cute.

I don't think the photo is 'too old' or will put pressure on other...uh...5 year olds? There is no ott make up or flesh on show.

YABU.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 09/08/2013 08:59

Cute? Really?

Chocovore · 09/08/2013 09:42

I don't like the image at all. She doesn't look like she is having fun. To me it is not dressing up in the traditional sense, it is mimicking adult attire and poses.

Wuxiapian · 09/08/2013 09:46

YABU.

Not sexualised at all.

MarmaladeTwatkins · 09/08/2013 10:08

Chocivore has hit the nail on the head.

Can someone please point out where anyone has actually said it is sexualized?

DryCounty79 · 09/08/2013 10:52

NellysKnickers, I have a quick question for you which is nothing to do with this thread. The trenchcoat your DS wears when he is being Dr Who - is it one that is his and fits him, or does he borrow an adults? I just ask because I've been trying to find one for my DS and am failing miserably.

Sorry to hijack the thread, everyone Smile

HandMini · 09/08/2013 11:05

YANBU.

If she was beaming at the camera / laughing it would give more of an impression of fun/dress up. I've seen lots of pictures of children "dressing up in mummy clothes" type playing which are fun and clearly playful.

This photo has been styled like a women's magazine fashion shoot (lighting, not looking at camera). That's what makes it a bit icky - whenever you see a child who looks like they've been parachuted into a situation rather than they want to be there, it's uncomfortable viewing.

Branleuse · 09/08/2013 11:11

OFGS

youre being ridiculous. Its just a girl playing dress up. There is nothing sexual or sexualised about a little girl playing grown up

Branleuse · 09/08/2013 11:11

why are we so petrified of what little girls wear???

MarmaladeTwatkins · 09/08/2013 11:35

NOBODY HAS SAID IT IS SEXUALIZED. FGS.

NellysKnickers · 09/08/2013 18:45

Hi Drycounty, its one I got off ebay, its a ladies small one but is perfect for those days when he just has to be David Tennant (sorry everyone who is having a serious debate)

Retropear · 09/08/2013 20:14

Erm Choc dressing up often is mimicking adult attire.Mimicking adults including what they wear is a valuable part of educational play.

Branleuse · 10/08/2013 22:48

if you dont think its sexualised then what is the issue???

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread