Over sexualisation of children and preteens

[Addie18]

Hi there, I'm new to this so I'll cut straight to the point.

I'm 17 years old and am doing a qualification project for school, we get to choose a topic and write a 5000 word essay on it, the subject of this topic is mine. I am very interested in your ideas on this matter. What do you think of clothes, music, TV, games etc. influencing children to grow up too fast??

I have read as many of forums on this subject as i can already but it would be great if people could contribute to this forum so i can get a better understanding of what parents think of this matter and people in general.

I'd like to know your thoughts and feelings, who you think is to blame and also what the possible pros may be about children being open to a ?sexy? society at a younger age. What do YOU think??

I assume that 'sex' sells products so it's used shamelessly.
I think it's very sad that anyone, but children especially feel the need to spend a lot of time and money on their personal grooming.

I agree chocoluvva Why do you think personal apearance is important to youngsters nowadays?

I think personal appearance has always been important to young people, since humans became the civilised mammals we are today. I remember my mum saying to me when I was about 10 years old "please don't worry about your appearance like I did, you'll probably have baby fat like I did, just don't agonise over every inch of yourself like I did to myself.". And she was born in 1944!

This doesn't necessarily relate to the topic of sexualisation of children and pre-teens. This is something which we as adults have control over. A child under the age of puberty is not going to want to wear a mini skirt or provocative clothing if they aren't seeing this sort of behaviour close to home...I.e. by parental example.

Of course the media has it's part to play, and I could go on about that all day!

MrsBeep I like your take on this, so you think that it is the parent's fault for allowing things like this to happen? How would you change the media's influence?

Media can make kids want something, but it's parents that let them have it. I remember my daughter begging me for an inappropriate outfit aged seven, and her hating me for saying no. But, she has hated me for lots of things she later was glad of.

Exactly my point beagreassive.

Like the saying goes..."like mother like daughter" and also for boys. If you project an image of provocativeness with what you wear as a parent and demonstrate yourself taking 3 hours to get ready to go out, then its most likely your child will reflect this. Even if you don't do any of that children can also be influen

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Children can also be influenced by the media, toys, internet and such but its the parents responsibility to teach and influence their children the right way.

I agree to a point, but also think its a parents job to set limits: so I'm allowed to dress how I like, cause I'm an adult, but these clothes/shoes/makeup/magazines are in appropriate for you at this age. (personally, all that stuff is way too much effort for me, but it I wanted to dress provocatively and spend three hours doing my makeup that doesn't automatically mean I have to let my child do the same!)

It is very easy for young people to access overtly sexualised images in the media. They are everywhere, even in the soaps most people watch and see as harmless entertainment. There is a film you might find interesting for your project www.missrepresentation.org/ There is also a very good organisation www.dibbleinstitute.org/ who have created various programmes and services for young people to talk about relationships, they may have some information or connections that could support your research. This is a very important piece of work you're undertaking, well done and all the best for your studies!

You need to do some background reading too, try
peggyorenstein.com/books/cinderella.html easy reading, and relevant to your project.
This might help [[http://www.pinkstinks.co.uk/]

www.pinkstinks.co.uk/