August newspapers are filled with coupons, specials and ads for back-to-school supplies and clothing, an investment of approximately $600 per student, according to the National Retail Federation. Billions get spent on kids' clothing in August alone.
Why am I bring this up you ask? Well I believe this is where children develop a sense of dressing appropriately for the future--and appropriate dress happens to be one of the top three issues employers deal with.
Since the fitness craze of the 80s, there is a growing emphasis to show off more of the body. More slim-fitting sweaters and tops, workout clothes as fashion statements, low-cut everything. Talk to most people and they will agree, they like to look at bodies if they are young, toned, tanned and fit. But overweight with “muffin top”? Well that’s a different story.
Meanwhile, mothers are looking for modest, well-made clothes that will get through the school year and kids want outfits that make them look older and sexier. A recent study of the top 15 websites for online shopping found that over a third of clothing marketed to young girls sizes 6 to 14 “revealed or emphasized a sexualized part of the body, has characteristics associated with sexiness and/or sexually suggestive writing."
I pose these questions as food for thought:
Why am I bring this up you ask? Well I believe this is where children develop a sense of dressing appropriately for the future--and appropriate dress happens to be one of the top three issues employers deal with.
Since the fitness craze of the 80s, there is a growing emphasis to show off more of the body. More slim-fitting sweaters and tops, workout clothes as fashion statements, low-cut everything. Talk to most people and they will agree, they like to look at bodies if they are young, toned, tanned and fit. But overweight with “muffin top”? Well that’s a different story.
Meanwhile, mothers are looking for modest, well-made clothes that will get through the school year and kids want outfits that make them look older and sexier. A recent study of the top 15 websites for online shopping found that over a third of clothing marketed to young girls sizes 6 to 14 “revealed or emphasized a sexualized part of the body, has characteristics associated with sexiness and/or sexually suggestive writing."
I pose these questions as food for thought:
- Why do we need to sexualize our children's clothing, especially the girls? How young is too young?
- And do we need a 10-year-old girl on the cover of Vogue Magazine looking like a grown-up?
- What about the Skechers “naughty and nice” ad that featured Christina Aguilera dressed as a schoolgirl in pigtails, with her shirt unbuttoned, licking a lollipop?
- Does a 4-year-old really need a padded, push-up bikini?
- Are mothers just playing “dress-up-dolly” with their daughters?
- Are the bodies of our daughters what we want to promote to society?
- How does the sexualization of children in the media impact sexual assault on children?
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