"Pedophiles delight!" The sexualization of little girls...

[Rowdyboy]

This story left me nauseaus...How could any rational parent allow an 8 or 9 year old girl wear clothes with sexually provocative messages? What kind of people are these? Have we lost our collective minds as a society?

This is just sick...

http://www.sacbee.com/content/lifestyle/story/10598685p-11517409c.html

[NewHampshireDem]

1. Wow! How do those companies stay in business?

I mean, 9 year olds don't have any money, and *surely* their parents aren't buying them those clothes. :eyes:

[Tight_rope]

69. To key words you said: "their parents"!

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. What about the parents that run semi-porn websites?

of their little girls to raise money for her "college fund". No, I'm not kidding. Photos of their pre-teen daughters "playing house" in French maid outfits with thigh high stockings and high heels. "Fans" of their little girls websites make "donations" so that they can make requests for pictures of the little girls wearing certain outfits or swimwear. There is no nudity, but obviously that doesn't matter. It's still jack-off material for pedophiles, it's making money off these little girls and it's ALL LEGAL.

[salvorhardin]

5. That's exactly the way I feel about

the kiddy beauty contests. I've felt this way ever since seeing the photos of Jon Benet Ramsey's beauty contest outfits. It's only gone mainstream now.

For Better Or Worse has been dealing with this the past few days.

[Rowdyboy]

11. I've been reading that comic for twenty years and love it!

And it represents the point very well. I also agree with you on Jon-Benet and children's beauty contests. They leave a very nasty taste in my mouth. Children so deserve a chance to be innocent for at least a little while.

[Heddi]

7. They had a story about that on 48 Hours or something last year

where these parents run "Modeling" websites for their daughters. They're SO SURE that some high-fallutin' modeling agency is just going to HAPPEN to see thier child posing for pedophiles and sign a billion-dollar contract right there on the spot.

They even had modeling executives from top modeling agencies say that they have NEVER looked at a site like that and have NEVER signed a contact or whatever with a child that they found on a website like that.

One mother was SO PROUD of her little girl. The kid was between 9 and 12 and her website had several hundred pictures of her in clothes ranging from school uniforms to bathing suits to nightgowns to sports uniforms.

They openly asked for "requests" for outfits for her daughter to wear. They offered a pay-for-service part of the site where "Fans" of her daughter could have live webcam chat with these "fans" and dress up in certain outfits for them. There were even people who would SEND HER OUTFITS to try on and have photos taken of her.

The reporter asked the mom how she felt about the fact that pedophiles were attracted to sites like this, and how she felt about exploiting her 9-12 year old daughter for the sick fantasies of older men (99% of the visitors of the site were men, btw), and the mom said something to the effect that not everyone out there was bad, and she wasn't going to have her daughter grow up in the basement and that if it made her a millionaire from a modeling contract then it was all worth it !!!!

While they were filming, one "fan" had sent some bikini bathing suits for the daughter to try on, and he wanted pictures taken as she was in the bathing suits playing in the water. So mom hooked up the hose, kid put on the clothes and was out back having pictures taken in the backyard as she frolicked under the spray of a backyard hose.

It was fucking disgusting. That mother should be arrested for child abuse or at least endangerment.

[Rowdyboy]

18. That's so twisted... Children litke that should be removed from the home

forever, or at least until they're 18. The parents, in this case, are just as twisted as they adults they "sell" to. Why not just dress her up, and send her out onto the streets to earn a living?

[Heddi]

27. I'm sure that was just a few steps away

I've never seen such a blatant example of "pimping" a child. Well, I have, and it was in the form of toddler beauty pageants and the absolutley insane mothers who forced their 4 year olds to get dye jobs and eyebrow pluckings and wear more makeup than Tammy Faye and show their asses so they can win an ugly trophy and aluminum foil crown.

[skygazer]

82. OMG

I guess I must be a real innocent - I had NO IDEA that there were so many PARENTS that would do such a thing!!!! Basically pimping their little girls on the Internet. I feel sick.... :puke:

[TacticalPeek]

50. Some markets need eliminating.

:grr:


http://www.vachss.com/help_text/index.html

[MrSlayer]

3. I see a lot of this type of shit here.

Thank Astra my daughter isn't into any of it. She's 11 and still plays with her Barbies and all, likes school and is really good kid. The trashy way her peers dress has no effect on her.

[kysrsoze]

87. Yeah, we must be doing something right. Nice job.

My daughter is about to turn 12. She won't wear any pants with writing on the butt and refuses to wear the ultra-short shorts that they sell everywhere. Been to Target lately? It's ridiculous.

She wears shirts that say "Huge Brat" or something funny like that and loves the Happy Bunny stuff, but nothing sexual. I guess I can tolerate the sarcastic stuff rather than deal with little 'Ho' clothes.

[Heddi]

4. distusting....

A few years ago, I saw a little girl...LITTLE...like 7 year old little girl wearing a shirt that had "69" on the front of it. It wasn't a jersey. It wasn't a brand name (as if that would have been okay). "69" in glittery letters.

When I shop for clothes in the mall or "hip trendy" clothing stores, I'm shocked at what I see. The other day, Mr. Heddi & I were at SEars to buy a convection oven and to get to the elevator, we had to go through the kids section. Hanging there in the little girl underwear section was a thong. A FUCKING THONG for a baby. And there was some slutty phrase written across the front...not cherries or "eat this" or anything like that, but some phrase about being sexy or flirty. I asked my husband what the fuck a 6 year old would need a thong for? And why the parents who bought a 6 year old a thong wouldn't be arrested.

See---the thing about thongs is that they're really uncomfortable for the people who wear them but sometimes sexy for other people who see someone wearing them. Why why why and who who who would be looking at a 6 yr old in a thong. I mean, I know who, but why do we want to market to those people?

I'm also amazed at how young children are marketed to. A sociology class I took last year had a focus point about sexulization in the media and we had to do a project on it.

So I bought a copy of YM, Teen, Teen People and Cosmo Girl. On the cover of Cosmo Girl, the word Sex or Sexy appeared TEN TIMES. Just on the cover!!!! How to get the boy you like to LIKE YOU TOO! Turn your tired clothes into SEXy gear! 100 of the SEXiest summer outfits just for you! SEX on the first date--as bad as it sounds? I mean--these aren't the actual headlines, I'm just trying to remember the context of them.

What's most upsetting is that these girls are told that to be socially acceptable to their peers and to fit in and all that jazz, they have to dress like tramps. And I'm sorry---a 8 year old in hip huggers is dressing like a tramp. An 18 year old might not be, but an 8 year old has NO reason to show skin. 10 year olds in halter tops and daisy dukes...

So these girls are conditioned--CONDITIONED--at a young age that SEX SELLS, and that the more skin you show, the more you fit in.

HOWEVER---no sex ed for you! No positive messages or images of sexualization in the media! Oh no! In fact, if you DO have sex you're a tramp. You can dress like a tramp and be okay, but just don't act ot on it, even though we tell you in films, music, written and visual media that all the Kewl Kidz are having sex and you're a total wallflower if you haven't been banged by at least 5 guys by the time you're 15...but hey! We're just the media! how DARE you hold us responsible for the fucked up messages we feed your kids on a daily basis......

[lapislzi]

12. Dressing like a fetishized object

for the delectation of a wealthy, older male. Sadly, this is the norm for females aged 6 and up. It's been going on for hundreds of years.

Sexual consciousness: verboten!
Sexual assertiveness: never!
Refusal to be turned into an object will be stamped out by any means necessary.

Apologies for hijacking Jon Berger's ideas. If "Ways of Seeing" is still in print, I strongly urge people to read it. You will never look at art or nudity in the same way.

[mzmolly]

6. I think much of this stuff is made overseas and they don't understand our

culture ? I have no idea why ANY parent would by this for their children.

[Heddi]

8. That's just crap

That shit is made and marketed purely by Americans for Americans.

Look at MTV. The shows that are marketed to teens and adolesents---totally inappropriate.

Listen to the music and the artists that are marketed to teens and adolesents. Christina Aguillera and her "clit piercing and nipple peircings" that she openly talked about in a teen magazine? TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE. At least Rolling Stone pretends to market itself to early 20-somethings. But a magazine that's specifically marketed to 12-16 year olds? Not right

Look at the images on television and movies. SEX SELLS. The more sex you have, the better a person you are. The more well liked you are.

Look at images in magazines, in newspapers, in advertisements---even mags aimed at teens & adolesents are full of Sex this and Hoochie that. Go to your local bookseller and pick up Teen, Cosmo Girl, YM---see the ads and articles that are in there. Very inappropriate for young people who are just forming their ideas and concepts of sex and sexuality.

Oh no. We could only be so lucky that something was lost in translation. These clothiers know what sells, and that is sex. Not just good old fashioned sex, but I'M A SEX OBJECT HERE FOR YOUR TAKING. MY VAGINA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS sex.

[mzmolly]

19. I totally agree with you! I have a young daughter myself, and it's enough

to make me want to leave the country.

But, if you check the labels on the clothes, I expect you'll see "made in china". The majority of places I see these clothes are in stores like Walmart/KMart - I don't shop at either myself. However, My sister a Head Start teacher, sees PRE-SCHOOL children dressed like this! Mini skirts, high heals etc ... it's sick.

And, let's face it, IF AMERICANS DIDN'T BUY this shit, they wouldn't produce it.

MTV and baywatch promote to other cultures (what Americans are like) people in other countries often think that is America.

I am not excusing Americans for buying this stuff ?

I guess the question is, what can WE do? Can we start an awarness campaign? Mom's/Dad's/concerned citizens etc... protesting outside stores that sell this stuff?

Interestingly enough, from what I've found: some men on the left often takes pride in defending sexually degrading images, apparently not understanding the danger to women and children in our culture who are targets of abuse partly b/c of these messages in our culture. The leftist female seems to understand the issue is deeper.

[Rowdyboy]

22. Consider me one leftist male who does NOT defend sexually degrading

images or clothing for young girls (or boys, for that matter). Its not a free speech issue, its an issue of unfit parenting.

[mzmolly]

24. I agree. What has happened is that our children start being expolited at

younger and younger ages.

It started about 13 when I was young, now they are making these clothes for pre-schoolers!

I think we really need to boycott stores that sell this shit. This whole additude has such a devistating effect on our society.

[Eloriel]

62. Also, I consider it societal sexual abuse

It's sexualizing children, and exposing them to sexual things WAY too early. That is one definition of sexual abuse: age inappropriate sexualization. That's exactly what this is.

[Heddi]

31. Just because they're made in China

doesn't mean they were DESIGNED in China.

I worked (albeit very breifly as it was the worst job in the world) for a Hat Manufacturer. Whenever Pepsi needed, you know, 10,000 hats that said PEPSI on it, we would make the hats, design the logo, etc. The actually embroidery of the design was done in China and the hats themselves were made in China as well.

But the hats were desined by Americans and marketed For Americans. The tag said 'made in china' but the slogan was 100% American.

So don't be fooled---the shirts may be created over there. The designs may be screen printed over there. But the clothing design, the marketing angle, the slogans---ALL American.

What can we do? Not buy it. Boycotting a store that sells such things may leave one with very few options for clothing, which could be an issue if the household has scant money to spend on clothing anyways.

Write letters? Call folks? I don't know---the issue of hypersexualization in the media has been an issue for many people for a long time. But "normal" folks don't know and don't care. They don't connect the dots between the images they see day after day, the messages they're fed commercial after commercial, the idea of sex as it appears in movies and music---they don't connect THAT to their own warped views of sex and sexuality.

A 9-year old girl who wears a "I'm A Cherry Ripe For Picking" shirt will be an 11 year old girl who wears a thong. At 12, she'll learn that boys like to get peeks of the thong. At 14 she'll learn that boys like to see the thong AND the bra. At 14.5 she'll be giving handjobs and at 15, blowjobs, and at 16 she'll think the only way to get attention is to show her tits and ass and maybe give a little head on the side and that makes boys like you and other girls jealous of you.

She'll find herself always pleasing other people while being miserable herself. She'll probably be in a string of abusive relationships and always know that no matter what, a little vagina always makes everything okay.

Of course, this is a generalization and not all kids who wear these clothes will turn to drugs, prostitution, self mutilation, etc....but I think it fosters the idea that sex is okay, no matter how young you are or no matter how much you don't feel like doing it. It tells a 9 year old girl that the only thing of value on her is her vagina and breasts, and those are hard messages to erase, especially when she's going to be innundated with that same message until her dying breath.

[mzmolly]

34. Don't buy it sure... but I don't know that it's enough. We have to make

it known to people who are frankly uneducated and thing "oh how cute" how damaging this stuff is.

I don't know the right way to proceed, but with a small girl of my own, I'm ready to try and do something. :hi:

[Heddi]

36. Good for you

you know, I don't know how old your daughter is, but take the opportunity to educate her friends if you have the chance. I wouldn't get on a soapbox, but try to find an opportunity where you can talk to them, on their level (if they're that cognatively ready for such conversation) and explain to them the differences in between the reality of life, and the distorted view that tv, music, advertisements, etc gives them.

It takes one person at a time to make a difference. Educate them little girls! Tell them what's what! Get 'em started young and plant the seed of knowledge!!!
:hi:

[cally]

43. I've had more than one rather blunt conversation with

my daughters' friends asking them if they had any idea what their shirt slogan or symbol meant. The kids buy them, the parents allow it, and they have no idea what they mean. I had to explain to my own kids at an age I would rather not talk about some of these messages on the clothes why I wouldn't let them buy some of this trash. Try explaining to a 9 year old why you won't let them wear a shirt with cherries saying something like tasty on it. :eyes:

[FizzFuzz]

13. at some mall teen-store I saw shirts that were infuriating

same stuff Heddi mentions and interestingly, the ones for boys were all about sex too. But they were insulting toooo....who do ya think? Girls. I can't remember now (dammit, wish I could give a specific example), but they were about boobs, and girls who swallow, and that kind of mind-set. Reaaalllllllll contemptful.

Nice. Do I need to do one of my rants again about the lack of balance, showing girls as sex objects and worthless? While boys get shown as the victimizer,(and that that's funny and cool).

[Ron Green]

9. Although the RW would blame "Liberal Hollywood" and its values...

it's the precious Free Market that encourages this crap. Our baser natures are so much stronger than our higher one, and the market is only too happy to oblige. Of course, to go against this smacks dangerously of the "lifestyle police."

[FizzFuzz]

21. fuck the lifestyle police

going against this is in order to point it out. So people can think about examining their viewpoint. And maybe after some self reflection, they can change their ideas. And maybe, someone who MAKES the image or decides ot put it on TV will be affected, and decide to go for the higher ideal.

Its how we learn and evolve. Just because someone points out where social custom is wrong, that doesn't mean the call is for legal bans and censorship.

[Heddi]

25. Lifestyle Police is on the damn mark

Here in Seattle, a 12 year old girl wrote Nordstroms (a department store here) complaining about the lack of modest clothing for girls in her age range and asked that they EXPAND their clothing selection (and this is my paraphrase here) and include clothes for girls who don't want the entire world to see their fucking pubic hair and belly-buttons.

Someone posted about it here on DU, and oh my god! You would have thought the girl was telling Nordy's to STOP SELLING SLUTTY CLOTHING. They called her a prude and wallflower and "why don't you just wear a burka" and shit like that---all she wanted was more choice in her clothing selection. She WANTED to shop at Nordys but felt that she couldn't because the majority of the clothes she could choose from were high-rising and low fitting and snug.

I don't blame her--even as a woman, if I want a pair of shorts I have two options:

Grandma Coolots that have pleated fronts and buttoned pockets and come down past your knees and only come in ugly colours like "Grandma-Hair Blue" and "Fake Stone-Washed Denim" Oh and usually they have elastic waist bands and fake zippers. Yeah. THAT is what I want to wear :not:

or

Daisy Duke ass-chappers that look more like underwear than shorts. You know---show your butt, give you camel-toe, low riding hip huggers....

And as an Adult, I at least can shop around and buy what I want and not have to deal with PEER PRESSURE.

But kids---kids have to deal with Peer Pressure every day. From their friends, the people they want to be friends with, their parents, themselves.....if you don't wear the "I give BJs" tshirt, then you're not cool. you're a prude.

Therefore, you find yourself wearing things that make you uncomfortable just so you can fit in, or you don't wear them and become a social pariah. God forbid someone finds out you're 16 and still a Virgin--you'll be burned alive during Homeroom....

[Nikia]

33. I noticed that when I went shopping earlier this summer

I noticed what you noticed as far as shorts go. It used to be easy to find something in between. Now it is not. The shirts weren't much better. I had to buy my swim suit, a suit that I could actually swim in (not a skimpy bikini or baggiy granny suit) at a sporting goods store. Also, what was weird about the junior's section is that none of the shorts or skirts and about half the shirts would have not been permitted to be worn at my public high school.

[Heddi]

37. Yuppers

when I was in high school (sigh...10 years ago)...the rule was, to determine minimum length of clothing, stand with your feet together and hands at your side. The point on your leg where your middle finger touched was as high as your skirt/shorts could go.

Of course, the cheerleaders got to wear their panty-showing skirts all day long until a group of "frumpy wallflowers" who were sick of seeing cheerleader ass in our face all day long complained about the double standard. The school agreed, and from that point cheerleaders could only wear their uniforms during last period which was right before practice or a game started!

Score one for the frumpy wallflowers! woohoo! :cheers:

[cosmicvortex20]

45. I see fizz fizz didnt reply to your post...

I dont like 10 year old girls in slutty clothing either.

[belle]

41. Yeah, those kiddie pageants (viz JonBenet) are pretty "heartland,"

seems to me. Nice good old fashioned conservatives who wouldn't dream of going to a lot of nasty European movies, vote the straight R ticket, listen to Toby Keith and Britney, I've no doubt, are the ones who watch and put up their own little darlings to these spectacles.

[0007]

10. Pasty & John Ramsey had no problem with sexualization their

little girl, Jonbenet.

[OneBlueSky]

17. those so-called "beauty pageants" for little girls . . .

are really sick . . . parents who dress three-year-olds up like "wicked city women" (to quote Tennessee Ernie Ford in a classic Lucy episode) need their heads examined . . . and some protective custody for their kids . . .

[gulliver]

77. Noted Republicans John and Patsy Ramsey... n/t

[Romulus]

14. just look at the stupid JC Penney back-to-school ads

with the 1st-5th grade girls "getting jiggy with it":eyes: while I'm trying to eat my d*&#@ dinner.

[Alenne]

40. I have watched that ad

and at no time did I see anything that could be considered sexy by a normal adult.

[HuskerDem]

74. I did see things that were mimicking sexual behavior.......

didn't seem like a positive image for the children or anyone interested in the safety and well being of children.

[sangh0]

48. I thought I was the only one

And it's not that it's "sexy", as the other poster said; It's inappropriate for a 7 year old to shakin her booty on TV for money.

[Alenne]

70. I'm sure it is inappropriate for a 7 year old

to shake her booty on TV for money. Fortunately what I saw in that commercial was children dancing. Exotic dancers shake their booty for money.

[sangh0]

73. It was there

even if you didn't see it.

I don't see why 7 year olds need to learn coital movements.

[Alenne]

88. I think you may be exaggerating

but if that's what you saw than that's what you saw. I saw children dancing and nothing in that commercial reminded me of intercourse.

[Renew Deal]

15. I haven't read it, but you should see the kids that walk around NY.

I have seen kids with parents that are too young and barely dressed. it's disgusting. I sometimes consider saying something but I haven't. These girs have no bodies, but they are wearing super short skirts, tight tops, other cut offs. It's disturbing.

[Swamp Rat]

16. From the description it sounds very sick... It hard for me to read about

this kind of stuff - exploitation of children. I'm still reeling over the attack on children in Russia. :puke: :mad: :puke:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. Ugh!

Whenever I see a girl who's too young to earn her own money dressed like a streetwalker, I get uneasy feelings about the family dynamics. I can't help wondering if Dad or Mom's boyfriend is having his way with the girl.

I haven't been shopping for clothes for my nieces since they were little, so I don't know what they're selling in the size 7-14 section these days, but I see outfits on 12-year-olds that I would have considered too skimpy when I was a slender 21-year-old.

The flip side of this is the "macho-ization" of boys' clothes. When I was buying gifts for my nephews a few years ago, I was dismayed to find that most of the choices had either military, team sports, or violent movie themes. These are not in line with their parents' values, so I was relieved to find some T-shirt outfits that had an outdoor wilderness theme.

It all seems kind of fascist to me: the males are supposed to be super macho, and the females are supposed to concentrate on being sexy and compliant.

Sigh!

[Rowdyboy]

28. Of course, lets all fit into our corporate-approved niches

Males to be macho, horn-dogs and violent; females to be sexy, slutty, and submissive.

I strongly believe that you're right-many of these young girls are probably being abused by mom's new guy/boyfriend. Evil on this level is hard to comprehend.

[phylny]

23. We have three teenaged daughters

and we made sure they were involved in sports, got LOTS of kudos for working hard, bringing home great grades, and we talk to them all the time about how REAL MEN like women who are women, but who are ladies as well. We have worked relentlessly to help their self-worth come from inside, from their struggles and accomplishments and the good feeling you have when you learn to bounce back from failures.

When they are hanging around, it's jeans and t-shirts. When they are going out for something special, they dress neatly and nicely. By choice, they have nothing trashy, nothing revealing, nothing with provocative sayings on them.

So far, we have three really great girls. In fact, one of our girls, a defender, scored the tying goal this afternoon in the town varsity soccer rivalry game - and we just moved here two months ago. One of the boys in the stands had this to say to a friend:

"Man, you should have been here - you missed a totally awesome goal!"

That, my friends, is what it's all about. She's still beaming, and she didn't even worry that the boys saw her when her hair was a mess, she had dirt on her legs, and she was sweaty. They tied, after all.

:loveya:

[Rowdyboy]

29. Cool job of being a good parent...

Wish every parent cared as much as you.

[phylny]

30. Thank you, Rowdy.

What a nice thing to say!

[MrSandman]

26. A Pedophile's Delight...

Mathilda

[jcappy]

32. prostitution of sexuality

this is part of the whole s-m movement, which arose as a backlash to 1970's feminism.

part of the prostitution of sexuality in general

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[VOX]

38. DUers: DO NOT CLICK ON THIS LINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a malicious prank that hijacks your PC and calls you "an idiot."

Funny, huh?

[Rowdyboy]

39. Yeah, I hit it on another thread....

Real classy...Hope you've alerted, I didn't bother too.

What an ass.

[Cronus Protagonist]

42. It didn't do anything to me at all

Of course, I don't run IE.

Lick Laura's Bush - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - FUCK BUSH
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[Alenne]

44. Girls are constantly sexualized in this society

And it isn't just t-shirts with sexual messages. In this society it is acceptable to say an 8 year old girl is sexy just because she is wearing a halter top or a short skirt. What the hell is sexy about an 8 year old?

Boys don't get the same reaction. If an 8 year old boy came to school in a muscle shirt and tight Levi's no one is going to say why is that boy dressed so sexy. If an 8 year old girl comes to school with a halter top and some tight jeans on someone will say that girl is dressed sexy.

There is nothing sexy about a little girl. I don't care if she is wearing hip huggers. Without hips they become a pair of jeans on a little girl. I don't care if she is wearing a halter top, tube top or tight shirt. Without breast it is just a shirt. I don't care if she is wearing a short skirt or shorts. If you think there is something sexy about a 6 year old child's thigh then you have problems. I am more bothered by the adult who sees a little girls midriff and thinks she is dressed too sexy than I am by the child's stomach showing.

Adults need to stop describing female children as sexy. A shirt with a sexually provocative message wouldn't even be sold in stores if there were not adults who think a child is able to be sexy.

[HuskerDem]

55. The problem is the clothing is designed specifically to mimic slutty

teen/youth clothing and that provokes a sexual image. It is DESIGNED to provoke a sexual image.

I saw a little girl, maybe 7-9 years old the other day with a pair of what amounted to hot pants on that said "sweet" in arced letters across her little bottom. She was wearing a matching cut-off tee that had more cut off than it did tee and glittery flip flops with a heel.

If a little girl is wearing hip huggers that delve close to the great divide I'm sorry........... they're not "just jeans". Tube tops with sexual themes on children are not "just shirts". The people who buy that crap for kids should be ashamed of themselves. Period.

In the sixties and seventies I know little girls ran around in dresses that actually showed their frilly underwear and that was considered "darling". I think also at that time there was a HUGE amount of DENIAL about the darkness of the human heart and how many pedophiles there actually were. Mostly it was a family matter either ignored or settled with fist fights and someone moving away.

When my girl was little, she WAS innocence. She saw the best in everything and everyone. I was SO afraid of something happening to her because she was so sweet. At the same time, I did not want to take that away from her or scare it out of her. I can't imagine taking the greatest responsibility of my life and being so flip as to dress her like a cheap ten dollar whore.

[Alenne]

64. A slut is a promiscuous woman

I don't think the clothes you wear make you a slut and I don't think a child can look slutty. I have seen kids dressed the way you described and I thought they looked ridiculous. The outfits usually are cheaply made and look cheesy. A child is not sexy no matter how hot her pants are.

The hip huggers made for children do not fit like that on them. My girls have several and you don't see anything. They look like regular pants. I wear hip huggers and they don't delve into the great divide. They only do that if you want them to.

Any shirt with a sexual message on it made for a child is not just a shirt but I didn't mention sexual messages when I made that statement.

I think the difference between you and I is I don't think a child can look slutty or like a whore. The words you use go back to my point that little girls are sexualized in this country. A child is not sexy no matter what she is wearing.

[HuskerDem]

72. If you do not think that a child can be made to look like a whore

and you have children, I fear for both of you. If you are unable to take responsibility, and understand the consequences of dressing innocents like Vegas tricks.... I fear for the child.

If you do not understand that a female who dresses herself as a "slut" will be treated as a loose and easy piece of meat, you are DELUDING yourself.

NO WOMAN deserves to be subject to violence or rape because of how she is dressed............ BUT.......... Dressing like a HO invites........ EVEN ADVERTISES a certain "relaxation" of behavior from so called "men".

If you are an adult & you have dressed YOURSELF like a whore you should have the capacity to deal with the situation.

If you have sent your child out into the world dressed like fuck-bait......... shame on you, and God help your child.

Denial will not save your baby from the sick SOB 3 blocks away THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT. Just think.

[Alenne]

90. Children are not sexy and are not fuck bait

My whole point is there should be nothing a child wears that makes her fuck bait because sane adults are not attracted to children. I don't believe a child can be dressed to attract sexual attention. I don't believe little girls are out there enticing men. Even if a child is walking around naked no one should think that child is sexual or sexy. CHILDREN ARE NOT SEXY NO MATTER WHAT THEY ARE WEARING. Adults should not be describing children using language for adult women. You will not get me to believe that a child in short shorts is sexy or fuck bait. There may be men who like little girls but it isn't because she has sweet written across her butt. Men molested girls even before these fashions came out.

Don't feel sorry for my children. My children are not sexualized. They don't think they are sexy because I don't use that word to describe them. My girls know that they are not sexy because only women are sexy. My girls are children and are treated like children.

An adult woman probably will be treated a certain way because of how she is dressed. Girls are not adult women. Adults shouldn't even be comparing children to adult women. A 6 year in a halter top should not be treated like an adult woman. She doesn't even look like an adult woman looks in a halter top. If you see a child in a short skirt and think she is sexy or looks too sexy then it is you with the problem. Anyone who thinks a child is sexy is sick.

My suggestion to you is to stop sexualizing children.

The sick SOB around the corner does not care what my child is wearing. If they did we could all just throw a burka on our girls and none of them would be molested.

I'm not even taking about perverts. I'm talking about normal adults who use inappropriate language to describe little girls.

You can go on believing that girls can look sexy. I don't believe it and will never believe it.

[Rowdyboy]

93. Your qualifier "sane people" leaves way too much wiggle room...

Of course, "sane people" don't find little girls (or boys) sexy, no matter how they dress. But we aren't dealing solely with "sane people". We're dealing with society which includes freaks, pervs, molesters, assholes who will do anything to get their jollies, and have no problem using your kids for that purpose.

No, burkas are not the answer. But parents need to be a hell of a lot more serious in raising their children. Its very easy to raise a young "Lolita" but the parent is basically abdicating his/her role as an influence for appropriate behavior and saying "Just use your judgment, baby...I trust you". Well, you can't.

Your role as parent is to instruct; parenting is a helluva tough job-one I certainly don't have the guts for. However, those who choose to reproduce have an obligation to do so responsibly. How else are the kids supposed to learn if you don't teach them right from wrong?

[lanparty]

98. Remember Jean Benet Ramsey ...

Her mother dressed her up to look all "glamorous" but she looked horrible.

There is an innocent beauty to little girls that only brings out paternal and maternal instincts. No amount of makeup and dress can mask that. Their bodies simply do not show the sexual characteristics that cue the interest of a normal male.

Pedophiles respond to something completely different. It is not sexual in nature. There is no sexuality to exploit in a child. It is something else.

That having been said, I think it's ridiculous to dress little girls in ho outfits. For that matter, I think all schoolchildren should be wearing school uniforms. That would get rid of about 1/3 of the nonsense that goes on there.

[The Straight Story]

46. What ever happend to kids dressing like this :)

[The Straight Story]

47. Whatever happened to kids dressing like this :)

[Ripley]

49. You might want to change your title.

I didn't look at your link, because I don't need to. My spouse has a co-worker who has taken photos of his daughter in "bathing suits" to make money on the internet, and showed guys at work, before he was fired.

Many American people are very, very sick. The title of this thread will draw lots of sick people in because they like it.

[LWolf]

51. I've seen too much of this.

Two years ago I was teaching 3rd grade. That would be 8 year-olds. One of my students came to school on picture day wearing a t-shirt that had "sexy" written in sequins across the chest.

When the weather warmed up, another wore her new shorts to school. Across the back end of the shorts: "Bootylicious."

Do these parents WANT to attract pedophiles????

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

52. Wow, and we complain about sexualization of girls clothes in Brazil

At least ours don't have FUCKING DIRECTIONS. (The double entendre is only partly unintentional)

[Endangered Specie]

65. Whats worse is, yall have to wear some of that stuff

in order not to cook. It doesnt get THAT hot here very often, except maybe in the deep south. I love girls trying to excuse their Britney clothes by saying it was to hot (75 degrees).

[LWolf]

76. The double entendre is wickedly accurate.

Unfortunately. I wish I could put it in the school dress code; no clothing with fucking directions. Somehow I don't think the boss will go for it.

Who in their right mind wants their pre-pubescent daughters--or sons, for that matter, to go around in public inviting sexual attention?????

[lanparty]

99. Easy solution ...

You issue the kids the cheapo uniforms they'll wear EVERY day at school one week before classes.

The dress code is simple. You only wear the clothes you are issued to school. You don't modify them in any way. If you tear them up, you can buy cheapass replacements from us since we get them directly from the factory without silly markups for fashion or retail.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

53. I've got a nine year old girl

who dresses like a nine year old girl. I swear pedophiles are designing little girls' clothing. I refuse to shop at Limited Too.

I've taught her sort of subliminally over the years what is appropriate and what isn't (hell I wasn't allowed to wear all-black dresses as a child, it was considered far too sophisticated for a little girl!). She sees people like Britney Spears and just shakes her head. I don't want her to JUDGE, but I also don't want her to think it's ok to put herself out there as just a sexual accessory.

I teach middle schoolers and I had an eighth-grade girl with a shirt that read "SEX TOY" across the chest. As I was escorting her down to the office for dress code violation, I asked her what her mother would think of such a shirt (I assumed maybe she changed into it right before school started) and she looked surprised and said, "My mom BOUGHT it for me!" When her mom arrived to take her home to change, she chewed me and the principal out, telling us her daughter can wear whatever she wants and furthermore, her daughter IS sexy and she should be PROUD of being sexy! (The girl was 13.)

Sigh.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

54. Oh and my daughter likes to dress goofy

Like this:


She even wears it indoors:


Sorry I think those pictures are too big, but you get the idea. No "hootchy-momma" clothing here!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

78. Weird is good. Weird works. (nt)

[HuskerDem]

56. Was the "mother" under-aged for a mother as well?

SEX TOY? Did anyone ask the "mother" what good she thought would come from advertising her pubescent daughter as a fuck object? Did anyone ask her what kind of life she hoped her daughter would have?

If you didn't smack her "mother", my hat is OFF to you........... It must have been hard.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

66. No I didn't smack her

I like to stay employed and out of jail.

But I wanted to.

[Endangered Specie]

58. ---

meant to post to original

[Tight_rope]

71. Yup....some of these parents are just plain trifling!

[fujiyama]

92. That's disturbing

Almost sounds like the kind of stuff you see on those bizarre talk shows, but often the problem is the kids dress like that and the parents argue with them.

In this case the adult actually bought their kid the clothing. THat's really screwed up.

[davsand]

57. Oh--let me get started on this subject!

Can somebody tell me WHY any store would have something in a size 6x that is either spaghetti straps or else see thru? Do little girls NEED to go backless or with a bare midriff? (I'll grant you--hot days do require less clothing, but a tank top and shorts are FINE--so is a bathing suit in the backyard or in a pool or sprinkler...)

My 7 year old wears a lot of soccer shorts and t shirts. I spend money at places like Old Navy where I can get her t shirts that are either plain colors or advertising stuff like "Kitty Lemonade" (complete with a picture of a kitten drinking out of a glass...)

In the winter, she wears a lot of blue jeans or Bib overalls with thermal tops or long sleeved Teeshirts.

I will confess that she does own a couple of surfer t shirts, but even those are "Wave pirates" rather than "Sex Wax..."

I am amazed, however, that even at this age, body image is such a big deal. We had a discussion about dieting and health the other night. She asked me if I think she's fat...

I absolutely hate what our little girls have to deal with now.


Laura

[LanternWaste]

59. And yet...

And yet...

Children attempt to emulate adults. As much as the parents are responsible for actually purchasing this crap, when we ourselves wear the same type of clothing sending the same message of overt sexuality, we are endorsing and condoning (at least in the minds of the observing children) that very same behavior.

[Endangered Specie]

60. I have a theory as to why mothers are willing (eager) to "sex up"...

their daughters, no matter what the age (sex up means anything from sexy clothes to websites to shows, and the like).

I suspect it has to do with regrets and the lack of self esteem of the mother who, usually is one, some or all of these:

a) Wishes to be younger.
b) Wishes to be beautiful/sexy.
c) Wishes to be more "in".
d) Wishes to have been more "active" in the past, as well as the future.

Since they cannot achieve these, one way they can live out these is to turn their daughter in to what they wish they were/could be. Moms, after all, dont attract men like the young girls/teens can; and this desire to be "attractive" again is manifested and lived out through their offspring. Its basically selfish exploitation.

As your armchair psychologist, that is the best explination I can think of for any mother wanting to take dirty photos of their 8yo and sell them, or buy them clothes that, I would expect to see on someone 2-3 times her age.

[Tight_rope]

68. I totally agree with you especially among AA!

[LibDemAlways]

61. I worked registration at my daughter's middle

school (Gr. 6-8) the other day, and was appalled at what some of the girls were wearing -- low-cut tight jeans that barely covered their rear ends and tube tops that left nothing to the imagination. They looked like they were auditioning to be Britney Spears back-up dancers. Unfortunately for many of these kids their moms are their role models. This is an affluent area near LA where looks are everything, and the women spend plenty on breast enhancements and private trainers. It's all sick.

[Endangered Specie]

63. This shit makes me sick...

parents that do this ought to be locked up.

People ask why are society has so many perverts pedophiles creeps sexual predators and rapists, the answer in part (besides humans being who we are) is a corporate america and fucked up parents.

[Tight_rope]

67. Finally someone is speaking up....This shit has been going on for years!

If parents would stop buying the shit for their children then these stupid asshole will stop designing and making clothes for children that speak sexual connotations.:spank:

[tblue37]

75. You might like to read an essay I wrote on this subject

for one of my websites. The website is Who's Minding the Children?,and the essay is "Tot Tarts."

http://www.childrensneeds.homestead.com/tottarts.html

[wrongtaxbracket]

79. Abercrombe and Fitch

had undies for little girls that read: Eye Candy. Although I do not agree with this sort of marketing I also do not agree with making it illegal or prohibiting it in any way. Unfortunately, this type of thing is protected under our Constitution.

I am a parent, and as a responsible parent I would never purchase such things for my children. When I took my 13 year old daughter shopping for school clothes I could not believe how the styles were made to fit. Let me assure you I do not see any reason my daughter's chest and/or hips to be hanging out, so I didn't purchase that type of clothing.

It seems to me the clothing companies believe that if they flood our markets with 'hoochie-mama' clothing we will have to purchase it. It's difficult to find anything else. But I WILL look elsewhere and I will let the store know why.

I think the only way to try to hender this type of clothing being made is to boycott it and let the companies and the stores know exactly why you will not be shopping in their establishment anymore.

[tblue37]

80. Once upon a time

people sewed their own clothes. I actually did that for my own kids, even when they were babies. I made some of the cutest onesies and sleepers for them.

Of course, most people don't have the time or the skill to do that now. I actually had my own dressmaking and tailoring business for a while, so I realize that I was able to do something most people could not, at least not as things are these days. (The fact that adults and college students would pay me to hem simple A-line skirts and simple trousers suggests that they would never have been able to construct an actual garment for themselves.)

But like homeschooling, it would be a way for people to take back control. Actually, I suspect that a lot of people who homeschool also sew their own clothes--and teach their kids to, also.

[TexasBushwhacker]

81. What's up with the buyers?

What's up with the buyers that order this stuff for the stores? They can "just say no" too. Abercrombie and Fitch has a long history of clothing with offensive and/or racist slogans. Then there's Urban Outfitters with their "Voting is for Old People" shirts.

[wrongtaxbracket]

83. The racier the better

seems to be the going trend. I guess it has always been that way. People (kids) want to constantly push and test boundaries. Over time the things that represent racy have changed and will continue to do so. It's like when people flipped out because Elvis shook his hips on television. Now that doesn't make anyone take a second glance.

When I was in school it was Bart Simpson because he said, "eat my shorts". How silly is that? Although it wasn't nearly as provocative as the little undies for girls it was enough to call for a school wide ban on any and all Bart shirts.

In the end it is up to the parents to pick out and purchase what their kids wear and just because "everyone has it" doesn't mean MY kid has to have it. In my house I am the final ruling and I think more parents need to stand up and say that to their kids. If Suzy wants to throw a fit because I choose to not get her pants that make her look like a hussy, she can always wear the tattered and uncool (gasp!) jeans from LAST year. Right?

[lanparty]

100. boycott ...

A good approach would be to organize a boycott of companies that sell products like this intended to advertise children as sexual objects. And I daresay that the right-wingers would probably help you.

[wrongtaxbracket]

104. I dunno

Bush's daughters love to look like they've been disovered on Girls Gone Wild.

[latebloomer]

84. this is the worst

A few years ago at all the schlock stores on the Jersey shore boardwalk there were baby outfits that read "I'm Too Sexy for My Diaper!"

[wrongtaxbracket]

86. That to me

doesn't strike me as 'dirty', really. At best it's minimally funny.
What I find more distasteful are the clothes for young(er) girls that have things written on the bottom, so of course your eyes are automatically drawn to their pants because you want to know what it says. I also don't have any reason to purchase bikini undies for my 10 year old; or my 13 year old for that matter.

There will always be people of lower intelligence who will buy these types of things. You just have to remember we're smart enough not to.

[scarlet_owl]

85. A horrible thing is happening to girls in this country.

I see all of this first hand. Third-grade girls wearing sexually suggestive clothing is a problem. These girls are getting the wrong messages. They need an opportunity to be young and carefree. They shouldn't have all this kind of stuff shoved down their throats. As a society, we need to be empowering and encouraging girls-not tarting them up and turning them into little objects.

Just my two cents.

[Rowdyboy]

89. Someone has to take responsibility and say no....

Preferably, the parents would boycott this sickening trash...If they are too weak (and it appears they are) then maybe society should do it by requiring school uniforms. If parents refuse to do their jobs, someone in a position of authority must.

[AgadorSparticus]

91. that opens up a whole new can of worms for some. but, personally,

i am all for school uniforms for so many reasons.

[wrongtaxbracket]

95. I have to admit

when my children changed schools and uniforms were (what I thought) mandatory it was much easier. Then, a paper was sent home for parents to sign if they did NOT want their children wearing the decided colors. Mind you: there were only specific colors, not specific uniforms, the kids were supposed to wear. So that put an end to most of the kids wearing the uniforms. We wouldn't want to upset little Suzy and Tommy now would we? Parents give in too easily it seems. I am not here to be my kid's friend. I am here to make them into responsible and productive adults. We can work on friendship later. Just my two cents. Anyone got change? ;)

[AgadorSparticus]

97. i've heard parents speak fondly of the uniforms in school.

they say it makes it much easier on them and actually, on the kids too. they complain about it at first but then they get used to it and then admit to appreciating it. i agree with you. there's plenty of time to be "friends" later on. but during their adolescent years, kids need disciplinarians and boundaries.

[Ron Green]

94. Somehow, being "young and carefree" has been transformed into this

need for suggestive clothing. The free market is appealing to the insecurities of these kids and their parents, and they're going for it. And look how many on this very thread who would otherwise run from any sort of rules or laws restricting personal expression are advocating just such rules!

[Fleshdancer]

96. I went on a hysterical rampage in a store with crap like this....

I wish I could remember what some of the t-shirts said, but they were along the same lines as what the article posted talks about. The shirts would have been ridiculous if sold in the adult department, but to sell them in the children's and junior's section is criminal in my opinion.

Another pet peeve of mine is those damn Bratz dolls. My four year old constantly asks for them and so I have to constantly tell her no and why. For those not familiar, Bratz dolls:

[wrongtaxbracket]

103. When I went to the mall

I asked the woman at Penney's where I could find clothing that is appropriate for my 13 yr old daughter. She looked at me like I was from outer space. I continued to let her know that I did not appreciate the clothing they were selling because it made my daughter look like a hootchie mama. Gross! There are 10 yr olds getting pregnant and we wonder why? Parents: Get over yourselves and stop trying to be your child's friend. Take up the roll you were given and put some clothes on your children!
At work yesterday a group of freshman girls came in and sat down. One girl had on a skirt that was so high I (honestly) saw things that only her mother saw when she used to change her diaper. Another girl's jeans were so low cut I think she had to get a bikini wax to wear them. They're Freshman! When I was in high school and just discovering my 'femininity' I dressed a little 'sexy' but let me assure you my assets were not hanging out for all to see. The worst thing I wore were jeans that were a little too tight. But it was the 80's ;)

[Christof]

101. I agree.

It is sick. That kind of clothing should be marketed to women over the age of eighteen, not to a bunch of eight or nine year olds! That's just sick! :puke: :mad: :grr:

To get clothes like this off the shelves, parents need to refuse to buy that crap for their kids.

[wrongtaxbracket]

102. Over 18 yes, but over 60?

Let me paint you a picture: I am at work. A woman who is well over the 60 mark, at least she looked 60 but it could have been the leather tan she had going on, came in dressed fully in leather from head to toe, a leopard scarf around her neck, and black high heels. She even had the big 80's hair going on. I wonder if she used Aqua Net to get it that high? I wonder how her grandkids dress.
Thank you for letting me share this too vivid of an image with you :)

[bobthedrummer]

105. What parent sees nothing wrong with imprinting "Boy Magnet" on the crotch

of girls cotton underwear? This merchandise is being sold everywhere.
:grr: