Fascinating, especially in the light of many discussions over at MInTheGap.**********
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.
Read on...
2 comments:
Children are very impressionable, and it takes time to overcome natural shame. To me, the fact that we inundate our girls with images, dolls, and clothes that tell them that they are a sex object is disgusting. And then we wonder why they want to dress and act like "tramps" when they grow older.
Much of this is, as You have so often pointed out, MIn, cultural. We bring it to our homes with TV, newspapers and literature, often not expecting any harm. But harmful it is, nevertheless.
One thing we can do, and that is our own personal conduct and example, since children imitate their parents a lot, and thus not underestimating the power of parental role model is essential in the long run.
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