A generation of very young girls is being psychologically damaged by inappropriate "sexy" clothing, toys and images in the media that are corrupting childhood, leading psychologists warn today.
They say marketing takes unfair advantage of children's desire for affection and the need to conform, leading to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
Their report echoes a warning by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and follows a United Nations study last week saying that British children were the unhappiest and unhealthiest in the developed world.
The American Psychological Association's report says inappropriate marketing is leading to the sexualisation of children by a consumer society.
Apart from clothing for five- and six-year-olds, with old-fashioned frilly frocks replaced by mini skirts, plunging necklines and sequined crop tops, the report specifically criticises "Bratz dolls".
These outsell Barbie dolls in Britain by two to one and come dressed in miniskirts, fishnet stockings and feather boas.
Disney's Little Mermaid or Pocahontas "which have more cleavage, fewer clothes and are depicted as sexier than characters of yesteryear" are also picked out.
"The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls' healthy development," said Eileen Zurbriggen, the APA's task force chairman. "As a society, we need to replace all these sexualised images with ones showing girls in positive settings. The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents — boys and girls — that lead to healthy sexual development."
Her comments were endorsed by Dr Jean Kilbourne, the co-author of a forthcoming book So Sexy, So Soon: The Sexualisation Of Childhood, who said clothing, toys and adverts were shaping a child's gender identity and values in the wrong way.
She saw a direct link between what was happening and the rise in under-age sex.
Dr Kilbourne told The Daily Telegraph: "You see these clothes everywhere, tight T-shirts for little girls saying 'so many boys, so little time', that sort of thing.
"Parents think it is clever but they cease to think that when their child becomes sexually active at 12. There is huge pressure on girls to look sexy and dress provocatively at a younger and younger age and boys are getting graphic sexualised messages. But parents can say 'no' and refuse to buy this stuff."
Recently Asda was condemned for marketing black lacy underwear to nine-year-old girls.
Last night Sue Palmer, the education consultant and author of Toxic Childhood, said: "The same mothers that dress their daughters up like tarts are probably the mothers going on demos against paedophiles. They don't make the connection between how they are dressing children and what they are so frightened of — paedophilia." A Bratz spokesman said its dolls were bought by over-eights. "The Bratz brand, which has remained number one in the UK market for 23 consecutive months focuses core values on friendship, hair play and a 'passion for fashion'."
The spokesman quoted Dr Bryan Young, a psychologist at Exeter University, as saying "parents may feel awkward but I don't think children see the dolls as sexy. They just think they're pretty".
I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.
I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.teh_forbidden
I know this already. And I will never let my young daughter wear some of the stuff I have seen parents let their children wear. It baffles me. What in the hell are they thinking.
Now that's just downright sad. :( It started to become this way when I was around twelve, but I've never bought into it. I don't really like dolls anyways...yeah, I had a few Barbies when I was real little, but I see no need to wear 'sexy' clothes at my age. (I'm 14 going on 15, BTW.)
I know this already. And I will never let my young daughter wear some of the stuff I have seen parents let their children wear. It baffles me. What in the hell are they thinking.daniel52587
Your daughter will be wearing a thong before you know it.
TIs so true. It is really saddening. I hate Braz dolls myself. If I ever have a daughter, there is no way in hell I am gonna let her play with those Bratz dolls....
Now that's just downright sad. :( It started to become this way when I was around twelve, but I've never bought into it. I don't really like dolls anyways...yeah, I had a few Barbies when I was real little, but I see no need to wear 'sexy' clothes at my age. (I'm 14 going on 15, BTW.)False_Reality
Bratz dolls are creepy and they are slutty. I saw part of the cartoon, they made it look as if anorexia is sexy. This chick blew up because she ate a burger! I saw a toy, the chicks boobs were bigger than her head! She had a big head too. I see cartoons with pro-gay, and anti-fat jokes. We're F'ed.
[QUOTE="daniel52587"]I know this already. And I will never let my young daughter wear some of the stuff I have seen parents let their children wear. It baffles me. What in the hell are they thinking.SymphonicWaves
Your daughter will be wearing a thong before you know it. Bull  ****. I am 19 riding on 20 in may as of now. I dont have any children yet, but when I do, and if I have a daughter; Ill be damned if she starts wearing that hooker looking crap before she is mature enough. I have seen little toddler girls with their parents wearing mini skirts and a ton of makeup. Some older young girls. like 14, look like they are my age for crying out loud. Hell no. I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.
[QUOTE="SymphonicWaves"][QUOTE="daniel52587"]I know this already. And I will never let my young daughter wear some of the stuff I have seen parents let their children wear. It baffles me. What in the hell are they thinking.daniel52587
Your daughter will be wearing a thong before you know it. Bull ****. I am 19 riding on 20 in may as of now. I dont have any children yet, but when I do, and if I have a daughter; Ill be damned if she starts wearing that hooker looking crap before she is mature enough. I have seen little toddler girls with their parents wearing mini skirts and a ton of makeup. Some older young girls. like 14, look like they are my age for crying out loud. Hell no. I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.
then u better marry someone who thinks the same way or else uyr ideas mean crap when picking a daughters clothes. no offense but thats how it goes
Bratz dolls are creepy and they are slutty. I saw part of the cartoon, they made it look as if anorexia is sexy. This chick blew up because she ate a burger! I saw a toy, the chicks boobs were bigger than her head! She had a big head too. I see cartoons with pro-gay, and anti-fat jokes. We're F'ed.sexy-hippo
True. What ever happened to good old cartoons like Looney Toons. The younger generations are F'ed.
I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.teh_forbidden
[QUOTE="daniel52587"][QUOTE="SymphonicWaves"][QUOTE="daniel52587"]I know this already. And I will never let my young daughter wear some of the stuff I have seen parents let their children wear. It baffles me. What in the hell are they thinking.inyourface_12
Your daughter will be wearing a thong before you know it. Bull ****. I am 19 riding on 20 in may as of now. I dont have any children yet, but when I do, and if I have a daughter; Ill be damned if she starts wearing that hooker looking crap before she is mature enough. I have seen little toddler girls with their parents wearing mini skirts and a ton of makeup. Some older young girls. like 14, look like they are my age for crying out loud. Hell no. I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening.
then u better marry someone who thinks the same way or else uyr ideas mean crap when picking a daughters clothes. no offense but thats how it goes
Yeah, you are right. I would have little say in what my wife choses for my daughter. But I am positive will marry a women with a good head on her shoulders.
[QUOTE="teh_forbidden"]I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.Shalashaska77
You should have asked her what it meant. :lol: I was going to, I was just afraid she would give me the right answer.
It's funny. There are girls in sixth grade who already dress too provocative for their own good. They even talk about phone sex. :| Black lacy underwear? For nine-year-olds? 'Tis sad... Before you know it, they'll be making thongs for eight-year-olds. My, what a wonderful world ours have developed (sarcasm).
[QUOTE="Shalashaska77"][QUOTE="teh_forbidden"]I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.teh_forbidden
You should have asked her what it meant. :lol: I was going to, I was just afraid she would give me the right answer. Her parents need a good ***** slap.
[QUOTE="Shalashaska77"][QUOTE="teh_forbidden"]I know exactly what the article is talking about. I was walking and I saw a girl who looked no older than 10 with a shirt that said, "I faked it" or something along those lines.teh_forbidden
You should have asked her what it meant. :lol: I was going to, I was just afraid she would give me the right answer. Id say that would be quite akward...
It's funny. There are girls in sixth grade who already dress too provocative for their own good. They even talk about phone sex. :| Black lacy underwear? For nine-year-olds? 'Tis sad... Before you know it, they'll be making thongs for eight-year-olds. My, what a wonderful world ours have developed (sarcasm).ayanami_rei
They already have those thongs. I've seen them. My mouth tasted like vomit.
well it's true there is more of it out there...but jsut as troubling is the fact that parents don't do their job in giving their children a sense of self respect in order to resist such things........if a child is confident in who they are they won;t be so easily swayed....
[QUOTE="rimnet00"]Which is why I am glad I am Muslim, knowing that the Muslim women I may end up marrying haven't been corrupted by fake beauty. SymphonicWaves
Muslim women don't have a life. Im sure you know everything about muslim women, right?
[QUOTE="rimnet00"]Which is why I am glad I am Muslim, knowing that the Muslim women I may end up marrying haven't been corrupted by fake beauty. SymphonicWaves
well it's true there is more of it out there...but jsut as troubling is the fact that parents don't do their job in giving their children a sense of self respect in order to resist such things........if a child is confident in who they are they won;t be so easily swayed....Omni-Slash
Another post by a very wise man who posts things that I think but mine sound dumb.
[QUOTE="rimnet00"]Which is why I am glad I am Muslim, knowing that the Muslim women I may end up marrying haven't been corrupted by fake beauty. SymphonicWaves
Muslim women don't have a life. I've supposed you've talked to a Muslim woman before?
[QUOTE="SymphonicWaves"][QUOTE="rimnet00"]Which is why I am glad I am Muslim, knowing that the Muslim women I may end up marrying haven't been corrupted by fake beauty. teh_forbidden
Muslim women don't have a life. I've supposed you've talked to a Muslim woman before? or any woman for that matter....
[QUOTE="rimnet00"]Which is why I am glad I am Muslim, knowing that the Muslim women I may end up marrying haven't been corrupted by fake beauty. SymphonicWaves
Muslim women don't have a life. :| That was a bit harsh.
[QUOTE="ayanami_rei"]It's funny. There are girls in sixth grade who already dress too provocative for their own good. They even talk about phone sex. :| Black lacy underwear? For nine-year-olds? 'Tis sad... Before you know it, they'll be making thongs for eight-year-olds. My, what a wonderful world ours have developed (sarcasm).sexy-hippo
They already have those thongs. I've seen them. My mouth tasted like vomit.
I haven't. If I see my niece wearing anything from mini-skirt to really tight shirts at the age of nine, I'll bust her butt. I don't care. She's my niece and my sister should realize that dressing like that is too much for a nine-year-old. :|
Well, i honestly couldn't care less. Until I have children I have no reason to worry about it. It may sound cold and selfish, but this is the world we live in, if a parent wishes to allow their children to do this kind of stuff, then who are we to question their ignorance. In my experience it is never worth it to worry about people you don't know, if someone wishes to live their life in a less than honourable way, then that decision is theirs.
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