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MNHQ

Help - about to go on BBC radio Birmingham - your thoughts on "Are children being sexualised too young?" urgently required please!

69 replies

JustineMumsnet · 22/09/2005 08:36

Apparently Asda's just had to withdraw a range of kids' knickers cos they were too sexy. Do you think that business/media encourage children to be sexual prematurely these days or is it a case of kids just want to role-play and twas ever thus? What do mumsnetters think?

OP posts:

melissasmummy · 09/05/2006 22:45

These items wouldn't be on the shelves if they didn't sell.

JoolsToo · 09/05/2006 22:47

but the point is are they inappropriate clothes for children and should they be on the shelves at all?

puff · 09/05/2006 22:50

marketeers are adept at creating a demand for this stuff

melissasmummy · 09/05/2006 22:51

That was my point JT, managed to delete half my thread before i posted it.

I said that these types of clothes shouldn't be manufactured for such a young age. They look unslightly & cheap. I hate thats all the clothes these days have some kind of writing on them.

Then I said but as parents it is opur responcibility to choose hwta our children do/don't wear, but i know that with older children it is harder as their peers are wearing these things. BUT, these things only get made, because they sell. If we all refused to buy them, they wouldn't have a market.

Caligula · 09/05/2006 23:02

So what is Cameron going to do exactly? Drag the directors of Asda and Primark up before the beak? That man is going all out for the mums vote, isn't he. But he knows damn well there's nothing he can do to the porno kings who produce this stuff. They're trading in a free market, and de-cultured morons will buy the stuff and parade their kids in it. What's he going to do, get hte kids get taken into care?

I'm not sure what irritates me most - the porny clothes or the fatuous pretence by Cameron that he'd stop them.

JoolsToo · 09/05/2006 23:05

you have a vg point caligula!

anyone with a sewing a machine and an inclination could run up a thong for a 5 yearold in two jiffys

sad though innit?

sparklemagic · 09/05/2006 23:10

I believe it was a big high st chain, can't remember who, who are selling padded bras and sexy knickers in their children's range.

Yes, I think this is so inappropriate. All children should have the opportunity to grow and mature and gain an understanding of themselves and their value as people, as human beings FIRST. Obviously this is affected by their gender, and they want to explore being a boy or girl, but that doesn't have to be in a pseudo adult way. It is creepy to see kids in these things, because the kids have no conception of the images they are imitating, or of the implications out there in society.

As others have said though if these items didn't sell, they wouldn't be on the shelves.

sparklemagic · 09/05/2006 23:11

totally agree Caligula. Cameron is making the point for the mum's vote, as you say; and it's cheaper and easier than having concrete policies or plans that involve doing anything about anything.

Caligula · 09/05/2006 23:28

Yeah he's a bit lite on issues like maternity leave, employment law etc. isn't he - let's find a couple of issues that unite most voting mothers and bang on about them - then the fluffy little things will forget that I'm in favour of them continuing to be treated like second class workers in teh market place and not being able to afford to spend more time with their kids.

honestly, words fail me.

jampots · 09/05/2006 23:32

i will have my ass kicked for this now and please if anyone knows different please let me know but I dont remember seeing childrens slutwear in say hte more upmarket shop By that I dont necessary mean designer shops but places like Monsoon, Laura Ashley etc who seem to embrace "little girls".

serenity · 10/05/2006 00:38

No ass kicking, but obviously in RL a large amount of people can't actually afford to dress their DDs in Monsoon and others in that price range. It's not all George and Chereokee at blame though. When I was pg with DD, M&S (bastion of middle classes!) was selling black PVC mini skirts and trousers (with cut outs down the legs) starting from age 2-3! I was shocked, dh went apeshit.

You do often see kid versions of adult clothes in shops, and atm imo some adult clothes have a tendancy to be a bit too 'clubby' for day wear. So I don't think its a trend towards sexualising childrens clothes as such, just a general trend towards more 'sexy' clothes full stop. It's not a total saturation though, there is still choice. I choose not to buy mini hooker clothes for my daughter, other people might not see it that way, they might think it looks cute. The real problem is when you have no choice. My BF can't seem to find her 8 yr old daughter any shoes for school as anything in a suitable style seems to have a 3inch heel! Now if she could afford to shop off the high street she could probably get something really nice, and sensible if she could afford it.

I do think shops should be more responsible, but I also think parents should be too.

Piffle · 10/05/2006 00:45

I arrived in this country from NZ in April 97 (this date no doubt not lost on Mr Cameron as a week later the Albour party moved into office)
When I landed I was horrifed at the extent of very young girls (older teenagers I'm prepared to understand are experimenting with themselves, image and sexuality) but under 13 yr olds and most worryingly the pre schoolers in little cutaway "Spice Girl" " Girl power" neon dresses. The image showered upon girls from magazines which are aimed at pre teens - talking about kissing, calling boys
And this was in 97!
Kids are kids for such a few short years.
I have a son aged 12 who has been relentlessly pursued by girls of the same age (I think now he likes it though) as a mother I'd like to see less public imagery avaulable but how on earth would you go about controlling it? In all seriousness?

hub2dee · 10/05/2006 09:23

Actually, I imagine it would be possible to codify in legislation stiffer guidelines / penalties wrt all this... Not quite sure how it would be worded tbh, but for example the Nuts etc. front covers might well have ammended decency laws applied etc. etc.

They'd set up a special department of course !

Enid · 10/05/2006 09:25

agree with caligula

what a transparent vote winner

made me cringe hearing everyone discussing it today, lets all dress little girls in smocks from Laura Ashley - just as yucky tbh.

My dd1 is 6 and can't wait for the school disco next Friday as I am allowing her to wear lip gloss AND, shock, hair glitter. Big whup.

milge · 10/05/2006 09:27

I am not sure it is a matter for political parties to attempt to regulate business - otherwise we will have a return to nationalisation. Surely DC has more pressing matters to rectify, such as the education reforms, the huge NHS deficit, Iraq, and should leave parents to vote with their wallet on this issue.

Enid · 10/05/2006 09:28

where ARE all these sluts clothes

I never see them

maybe we dont have them in Dorset

saadia · 10/05/2006 09:41

Agree with what everyone has said and just wanted to add that ds1 (4) came home from nursery last week and said that two of the girls were "sexy", he was obviously embarrassed to say it and told me a friend of his had said this to the girls. I was appalled and shocked and told him not to say it again, but just echoes what everyone has said about children being made to grow up too fast. And definitely some girls' clothes you see around are very worrying.

PeachyClair · 10/05/2006 09:44

I used to get rainbows turn up in Heels (quite high ones), if raised with the mums I would be ignored as they 'look nice'. ??? Childhood is getting shorter and shorter and it's not just sexualisation of girls- boys are getting obsessed with clothes labels, they're moe interested int hat than thngs like football. On the other side they're kept in as we simply can't risk them going out to play: there may always have been paedos, but people weren't so aware. And when they're in, they don't want to do jigsaws or hear fairytales- they want their play station. I regularly wonder just how their childhood even compares to mine, which was largely spent cyclinga round the countryside all day with a few friends and my sisters.

PeachyClair · 10/05/2006 09:47

Enid, have to agree- rarely saw them in Somerset, either, They're everywhere here though, I remember watching a 5 year old at the school Christmas disco in make up, heels and a black one shouldered dress made of lycra with virtually no skirt. DH says it's a good job I dodn't have girls as I'd make them wear little frock coats with matching hats and buckle up shoes. I mean though- isn't that the whole point of having girls? Getting them to dress like a 1940's prerp school kid?

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