John Lewis ad is sexualising girls

[Lovecleansheets]

Got this image on email advertising Halloween dressing up but I think it’s creepy and overtly sexual.

1. female child seems posed with hand on hip. Gaze seems serious, not amused or laughing.
2. there’s nothing funny or spooky. Her outfit and makeup seems more appropriate for an adult.

Checked with DH who just winced and agreed.

I will be contacting JL to express my distaste.

Any thoughts?

I know what you mean. I thought it was an adult.

Yes I agree.
The make up and pose / face is trying to copy an adult sultry dress up costume. I guess it’s trying to be ‘sassy’. The thing is we are so so desensitised to young girls outfits and looks being far too old for their years that many people will think it’s fine.
This child model has a full on face of make up- Smokey eyes and lips.
Just adults trying to dress them way beyond their years. This is the market and what the company think sells.
very sad times

Also.. it seems that this younger girl can have a fun low make up pose but when you reach 8 it a changes?

I agree with you

It’s not remotely sexualised. It’s perfectly acceptable and I wouldn’t be offended by it at all. I would buy my daughter that dress and I’d apply black lipstick to her for a Halloween party. But fuck me, if she was to dare put her hand on her hip, her actual hip, I would cast her off to the nearest convent and wash my hands of her.

@Millybob you can’t stand a pert little girl ? What the fuck is a pert little girl ? There’s something very wrong in your head 😡

Oh dear God. Massive eyeroll.

I completely see your point.

This just look like a child being made to pause as an adult model and doing a ''sexy'' shot.

Ads for costumes for kids should show them having fun and making silly faces,
not pretending to be grown-ups.

I bet the photographer and the people putting the concept for the ads were men....

The message bothers me as well: it just tells girls that everything is about looking pretty and coy, rather than just enjoying yourself.

If this was a boy costume do you think the emphasis would be in the kid looking pretty? no they would just show them laughing, making scary faces and generally being silly.

Sad that so many of the people commenting think this is perfectly OK.

I kind of see what you mean. I've seen worse. Little girls in 3/4 poses that exaggerate the chest and hips is fairly commonplace now. Why give the illusion of an adult body? That's very weird. It's always little girls with mouths open licking ice creams too and never boys. Ditto legs wide open, lifting clothing items to show body parts or photos that highlight the bum from behind including being photographed with the head turned back around gazing into the camera. It's significantly worse on some US clothing sites though, some content is straight up soft core child p. Very uncomfortable viewing!

Looks like Miss Markle

This by Andy Marlette;

😂 this sums up the ridiculousness of the whole thread and the costume.

JL aren't sexualising the little girl in any way tbf I think you are @Lovecleansheets personally I don't see nothing sexy in this little girls outfit at all! I would of loved to wear something like this back in day when I was a little girl for Halloween! - NOT just a black witches hat, black bin liner & abit of black lipstick 🤣 & as for hand on hip? I think majority of us girls pose for a photo or stand with our hands on our hips, what is the problem with that? it's not like we sit on a chair with our legs spread-eagled is it!? 😂 get a grip Karen.

@PositanoBay I thought the exact same 🤣😂

You are being ridiculous

If people are looking at an image of a young girl, not in a provocative pose or outfit and think it's sexualised then there is something wrong with them.

My god get a life OP! She's wearing a witch dress that goes to her ANKLES! She's wearing face paints not make up and the pose isn't suggestive it's attitude to match the whole 'witch' theme....?! 🙄🙄🙄

Christ. Some people really are offence-seeking missiles

Christ alive.

Her pose matches her broomstick.

It doesn't look sexualised to my eyes.

I'm more concerned with OP's mind sexualising the child rather than whoever arranged that photo.

What is that about? Disgusting

Came on thinking I’d be saying don’t be daft, but you’re right.

Get a grip! It's face paints! 🤣

This!!!!

Except she isn't! Her dress goes to her ankle, her arm on her hip simply matches the broomstick and she's wearing face paints! 🤣