Sexualization of Early Childhood

Sexualization of Early Childhood

Young kids are talking about “blow jobs” and girl’s Halloween costumes now look like they came from a Victoria Secret show (Levin & Kilbourne (2009). Children are being bombarded with messages in the advertising and media industries linking physical beauty and sexual attractiveness with happiness. Young children’s exposure to an overly sexualized environment plays a significant role in undermining their healthy gender and sexual development and negatively impacts their sense of self worth. Sexualization in early childhood is a big problem because children are still developing themselves (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009).  Parents are growing up their children too fast and are not providing opportunities for them to be children. Some children are missing out on their childhood days because they are too involved in what the media and society put out there.  Some parents see the behaviors of their young children as a matter of growing up and add ‘fire’ to it by buying the provocative clothing, the make-up kits, the hair extensions, and the low cut breast cuts tops to show cleavage. Children now learn to associate physical appearance and buying the right products not only as being sexy but also with being successful as a person (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009).

 

 Four year old male and female kissing mouth to mouth. Remarked; mom does it all the time to her boyfriend. Then in the dramatic play area you sometimes hear statements like; "she looks hot and sexy. Girls are given bra-like outfits to lift their chests. Children pick up the message from advertising and popular culture that "sexy" equals "cool". Games like modeling, makeovers and imitation of pop stars can lead to the displacement of interest in, and engagement with, a full range of age–appropriate activities—physical, social, creative and so on. A major department store is selling under wares and shorts in small sizes that suit young children; boys as well as girls with the slogans – ‘nice, touch me, bite this, sexy.’ Look at some children’s outfit. Slogans are also written on T-shirts for young children. “Mr. Asshole”, “losers”, “all daddy wanted was a blow-job.” This is outrageous!  

As a society, we need to replace all these sexualized images with ones showing girls in positive settings. Parents need to speak out and stop buying into a sexualized culture. Corporations need to be held accountable, or face strong consequences, for delivering sexualized imagery and merchandise which directly impacts children. Our children are suffering, they need protection. As early childhood professionals, we can counter the messages that children are receiving with positive ones; modeling is very important; the way we dress, the language we use and the way we portray ourselves in and out of the classroom. It is important to teach children that beauty comes in many different forms, showing them positive role models in the media, and in the environment and not allowing inappropriate behavior, language, or clothing in the classroom, and having age-appropriate discussions about gender and sexuality. Building relationship and educating parents about positive child development will help to break the sexualized stigmas that are placed on our young children. Children should be treated like children and not like adults.

 References

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1–8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf