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The Forum > Article Comments > Children’s bodies: adult sexuality > Comments

Children’s bodies: adult sexuality : Comments

By Liz Conor, published 19/10/2006

The cult of the accelerated child: when we rush children into adulthood one of the effects is to sexualise them.

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I would like to see regulation of junk food advertising, particularly to children. But junk food can be assessed on actual content of unhealthy fats, sugars, sodium and additives etc.

"Fashion", however, cannot be assessed on any logical basis. As long as the "taboo" body parts are at least partially concealed [and even this varies with the "season"], then regulation is virtually impossible in a country like Australia.

My children are all adult and I'm not into buying clothes for grandchildren, so I have no personal experience of this. I'm amazed to read on OLO about bralets for two year olds. But who would be stupid enough to buy them anyway? I think that something as silly as this really does have to come back to sensible parenting.

As I mentioned on a recent similar thread, whilst we may be scornful of bralets, bikini tops have been sold for many years as an essential part of tiny tots' swimwear. There's no logical reason why, because little girls don't have breasts, they have the same as little boys in this respect. But manufacturers make them, they go into the brochures which are pushed into our letterboxes and people buy them. For all I know it may be impossible to buy just swim pants for little girls and maybe a person's motives would be suspect if they requested this.

But what about paedophiles looking at our children and having evil thoughts? The fact is we have no way of knowing what may be going through a person's mind and no way of regulating it anyway. I would be in favour of more severe penalties for at least some kinds of sex offenders, but that's a different topic.

I seem to remember that, when we were young, we all liked to pretend to be adult characters in our games. Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, favourite film star heroes etc, in fact an amazing assortment of Goodies and Baddies. But I don't recall any of us trying to be sex symbols. Do any of the young kids really see themselves this way today?
Posted by Rex, Thursday, 19 October 2006 10:47:55 PM
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I have two daughters that have been accelerated. Of course the system calls it acceleration but for them it was just placing them at a level a bit more appropriate for their needs and making their school days a little easier for them to cope with. Letting children be children means accepting them as who they are and giving children an opportunity to learn and develop their skills in a supporting and caring environment whilst they are having fun. When you are inappropriately placed it isn't fun and the days are long and draining.

My daughter agreed that the fact that accelerated students get to high-school earlier might expose them to issues to do with sex earlier but that once they are in high-school, they are there for 6 years, so what difference does it make, a little bit earlier or a little bit later. Of course these days’ girls are sexualized in primary school already so acceleration in an educational setting is not really an issue or a contributor to kids behaving like adults too early. My daughter indicated that she believed that whether a girl gets sexualised earlier depends a lot on where they live and what school they are at. It is not the age that makes the difference it is the environment and exposure.

One problem as I see it is that too many students don’t enjoy school because they are not appropriately placed or supported, so they look for another focus that will make them feel good about themselves and we all know what direction that usually takes.

The problems also have alot to do with peer pressure as it really isn't easy going against the grain.
Posted by Jolanda, Thursday, 19 October 2006 11:39:36 PM
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REX.....have you watched MTV or youth/music chanels lately ?

you said.....

[But I don't recall any of us trying to be sex symbols. Do any of the young kids really see themselves this way today?]

If they don't see themselves and their clothing in that way,

a) Pigs will fly
b) 2+2=5

The whole "direction" of most commercialism, be it music or clothing/fashion or even your CAR... is connected deliberately with sex by the images portrayed.

Further, it is not just 'connected with sex'..but connected in a "promiscuous, just_do_it, no responsiblity" manner.

Why would it be connected in that way ? hmmmm *thinks*.. because none of us like the burden of responsibility, we like *freeeeedom* and that is the itch which commerce tries to scratch.

So.. we will continue to see trends such as was reported yesterday about the latest 'craze' sweeping US school formals (dance/prom things) where it is now overtly sexual. Girls turning around protruding their bums provocatively at their partner who then does all these pelvic thrusts etc etc... Now thats a FORMAL......

At my sons Deb ball..all dressed up .. at the end there was a girl who kind of wiggled her self down in front of her partner in a "I'm going to give you oral" kind of way.. this is in front of parents, young children and grannies.

Somehow... I don't feel this is helpful to a strong enduring soical values framework.
Posted by BOAZ_David, Friday, 20 October 2006 6:04:46 AM
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To BOAZ_David
Well David, I suppose it all comes down to parental responsibility, which school you send your children to, what you allow them to watch on TV, which books and magazines they read and to where you live.
The fact that advertisers are allowed to run riot and use sex to promote everything should mean that as a parent you have to be vigiliant in censoring your child's viewing. Being frank with children about sex and truthfully and factually answering all their questions is a great help, as it takes the mystery out of it. Letting them understand that sex is just one part of life, no more important than sleeping and eating I found very helpful in raising my children to be the well-adjusted people they are today.
Posted by Ide, Friday, 20 October 2006 10:18:49 AM
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As I was saying, Boaz, we used to PLAY at being certain characters. We PRETENDED that we were sheriffs killing the rustlers. Or ruthless gunfighters killing the marshall and his posse. Or pioneers killing the savages who were surrounding our wagons. Or settlers/ invaders killing the original owners because we felt entitled to steal their land. Or cops killing the robbers, or robbers killing the cops. We never took prisoners, just an awful lot of killing going on. But we were PLAY-ACTING!

Isn't it possible that the young kids dressing up are just playing at being young adults? Young girls in particular always seemed to delight in trying on their mothers' clothes and high heeled shoes. Also their make-up, if they could get away with it.

In regard to dancing, well that's a bit like play-acting too. An effective way of looking good on the dance floor is to act out the essence of the dance style. The Viennese Waltz is romantic, in an old fashioned way. Jiving or Rock-n-Roll has an element of showy rebelliousness about it. The Cuban Rumba is unashamedly sexy and the ChaChaCha sexy in a cheeky sort of way. This is recognised, perhaps unconsciously, by many young people who take up this great sport. And also recognised by those who condemn the awakening of sexuality in young people and wish to artificially control this natural part of growing up. [I'm not talking about young children here, but perhaps young teenagers.]

Children don't suddenly become sexually aware young adults. It's a gradual process which occurs naturally over a number of years. I think it could be relevant here to mention the style of sex education which is used in Holland and some other European countries. Young people are taught the facts, without religious/moral overtones. Contraception is readily available, but the young people are taught responsibility. As a result, early onset of sexual activity is often delayed, irresponsible sex is lessened and unwanted pregnancy and abortion rates are significantly less than in countries like Australia and the US, where this sensible approach is opposed by religionists.

http://www.unesco.org/courier/2000_07/uk/apprend2.htm
Posted by Rex, Friday, 20 October 2006 3:30:29 PM
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Rex
I wasn't suggesting fashion police. However we should limit advertising directed at children.
Posted by Cornflower, Friday, 20 October 2006 3:40:28 PM
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