It's something that many people accept as part of society, and never really think about. The way young girls are dressing is totally inappropriate for their age. Have you seen some of the stuff in stores lately?
Does this seem acceptable to you? Image courtesy of feminspire.com |
Bikinis on children barely in primary school. Bikinis on babies. Is this acceptable? Personally, the photo above seems more like child porn than fashionable clothing, but this may be just me. Do you find it acceptable?
Believe me, this isn't the worst kind of kids 'fashion' that I've seen. While researching for this post, I came across two images that really disturbed me.
Poor kids don't even know what this means. |
Disgusting. Would you let your child wear this? |
I highly doubt I am the only one who finds this kind of attire entirely inappropriate for children.
A quote from Professor Handsley, President of the Australian Council of Children and the Media: "It tends to go straight from Barbie and Dora the Explorer to Pretty Woman."
Her comment was in regards to a post a woman made on major retailer Target's Facebook page, about their clothes making girls "look like tramps." The post garnered over 60,000 votes in the space of a few days, causing the idea of a boycott of retailers that sell clothes like these to arise.
I find this ridiculous. I am not a parent, but even non-parents can agree that this clothing is ridiculous and horrifying.
"It all began when industry created and publicised the idea of tween."
Yep, this I agree with. When I was a kid, there was no such thing as a 'tween', or a 'tweenager'. I only learned about this fad when I was a 'tween' myself, yet neither of my parents knew what that was at the time. Nowadays, it is an accepted part of society. The fashion industry has created this new 'stage' of life, and seem to be trying to turn children into streetwalkers (Ok, maybe that's a bit harsh).
But the range of clothing available out there for young girls should be entirely unacceptable. Bikinis, clothes with sexual messages on them...it's just not done. I can't believe that some parents find this kind of clothing ok for their children to wear.
Miley Cyrus' little sister Noah (left) modelling clothing meant for twenty year olds. |
Here's something else that will shock you:
Sexualised Baby Clothes |
Yes, you read right. Clothes for babies now have sexualised messages on them. It seems that society is deeming it acceptable for babies and toddlers to wear this kind of clothing now.
References:
1. Force, T. (2012, August 28). Why Children Grow Up So Fast….And What Parents Can Do…. | MUMMedia | Parenting & Popular Culture |. Retrieved from http://www.mummedia.net/2012/08/why-children-grow-up-so-fast-and-what-parents-can-do/
2. Prideaux, K., & Ralston, N. (2012, August 14). Target clothes make girls 'look like tramps' | Newcastle Herald. Retrieved from http://www.theherald.com.au/story/269427/target-clothes-make-girls-look-like-tramps/
3. Spicer, S. (n.d.). Are tweens growing up too fast? - Lifestyle - MSN CA. Retrieved May 11, 2013, from http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com/family-parenting/ages-stages/rogers-article.aspx?cp-documentid=22426173