Sexualizing children

[VicPark]

These discussions always get me riled up but I just felt the need to say this.

Looking down on a woman for what she wears is a favorite past time of many, these women and men look at the clothes someone wears and say things like "tramp" and "prostitute" and thank the lucky stars THEY aren't contributing to such risky behavior, especially with their kids. They smugly say to themselves "I'M keeping my daughter safe, I'M doing a good job against these perverts" with self-congratulatory tones. Like a mental high five to themselves.

But their son is listening. Their son is quietly and in the background learning that some women who wear certain clothes are not deserving of respect or safety. That some women "had it coming" or "were asking for it".

In their fervor to be seen as coming down hard on rapists, they could be inadvertently raising tiny little rapists themselves.

THIS is why ****-shaming is bad, THIS is why looking down on people for what they wear is bad, and THIS is why it is NEVER appropriate to use words like "tramp" and "prostitute" because of the cloth someone is wearing, ESPECIALLY if that person is a CHILD.

If you are teaching your children that there are ANY exceptions to "respect every single human being" then you are doing them a terrible disservice and setting them up for terrible paths in the future.

This isn't about raising "modest" girls at all. This is about raising boys to ALWAYS respect women. It's never the victim's fault. We shouldn't have to fear assault.

Good points...

It doesn't have to be about making speeches and saying things that your son can overhear. It can be as simple as not buying your daughter adult clothing.

[beebs]

I don't see that as promoting sexuality to minors, I see it as promoting love for all. I don't see wearing sexualised clothes has anything to do with love between adults?

I bolded the part Im going to question My cousin just posted something on FB



She is getting sued for promotion homosexuality to minors! So in turn is promoting sexulity. I know most people on here (if not all) would have no problem as just see this as promoting LOVE not same sex relations yeah?

So why is it that certain clothing on children is seen as a sexual thing where as showing childen love between mum & dad and other couples a bad thing? Obviously its not. But for arguments sake. I have never been good at wording things so excuss the mess I hope you know what Im getting at.

[Cleigh]

I don't see that as promoting sexuality to minors, I see it as promoting love for all. I don't see wearing sexualised clothes has anything to do with love between adults?

I dont see it that way either. I just cant see clothes as a sexual thing unless they are meant for that sort of thing. So if I wanted to look hella sexy and get a quick root, wear short skirts, low cut top, knee high boots etc But Im sure a little child wearin a short skirt and a little crop top isnt looking to hook up hahaha

[Sonja]

Good points...

It doesn't have to be about making speeches and saying things that your son can overhear. It can be as simple as not buying your daughter adult clothing.

Ok. And how is a pink gingham two piece with a frill on the bum adult clothing? I still don't get it. And I don't accept that simply because there's a bit of cloth up the top covering the chest it suddenly makes it adult clothing. You could say that about pretty much all clothing intended for girls.

[Izy]

It also comes down to age appropriateness.

Understanding that it's not only man/woman relationships that can be full of love is universal and ageless.

Understanding that sometimes people use and/or abuse their sexuality for personal gratification is a much more mature topic that IMHO still needs to be explored with our children... but at a different age.

[Sonja]

It also comes down to age appropriateness.

Understanding that it's not only man/woman relationships that can be full of love is universal and ageless.

Understanding that sometimes people use and/or abuse their sexuality for personal gratification is a much more mature topic that IMHO still needs to be explored with our children... but at a different age.

I agree. Our kids may become friends with kids who have same sex parents. at DD1's kindy we had several and the kindy had a few books about kids with same sex parents to help the kids understand parents come in all different flavours. DD1 is still very accepting of same sex relationships which personally I'm really proud of. I don't see them as the same issue.

[VicPark]

Ok. And how is a pink gingham two piece with a frill on the bum adult clothing? I still don't get it. And I don't accept that simply because there's a bit of cloth up the top covering the chest it suddenly makes it adult clothing. You could say that about pretty much all clothing intended for girls.

After viewing pics Someone posted its more the string strap triangle bikinis I dislike. They resemble bras
(very adult clothing) way too closely.

And the concept of small bits of material covering where boobies will one day (in the future) be is just so flippin absurd to me. (that bit goes for string and other bikinis).

[pegasus]

By saying the tops "cover where boobies will be in the future" you are the one sexualising the clothing. The tops cover a girl's chest, same as a Rashie or one piece.

[VicPark]

By saying the tops "cover where boobies will be in the future" you are the one sexualising the clothing. The tops cover a girl's chest, same as a Rashie or one piece.

Bikini tops cover the boob area. Not arm, not stomach as the Rashies do. Parents that dress their kids in "bra" like bikinis (mainly string triangle bikinis) are the ones sexualising things.

[VicPark]

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