Kids? Too much too fast too soon?

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbeabitch I think it's happened since the beginning of time but in the US we are so sexually restrained that we like to hide things-blame it on the puritans etc. I think it happened a lot more than we know of but nobody has really said anything about it.

I was going to mention the puritans, but I didn't feel like dragging religion into this thread.

 

[*Stargazer*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbeabitch There are many factors which we could take into account but I think you hit the nail on the head. Puberty happens between 10-15 (maybe more) and that's when horomones go crazy. It's always been around whether we like it or not-it's just becoming more and more updated in the news and people are realizing it by bringing more dolls and the parents are trying to help the in crowd etc.

You are missing the point. The point ISNT about girls in puberty. It IS about girls as young as 5 and 6 being targeted with sexy clothing. This is not comparable to all of the sexual revolutions of the 60s and 70s or even the 20s. Participants in those years were in their late teens and early 20s.

 

[*Stargazer*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerae I' I'm just clarifying your Mom Gossip which is blatently incorrect, and based on your biased opinion that somehow girls who wear turtlenecks and pants 365 give less head then girls in sphaghetti straps and mini's with silk thongs.

Have a child and raise it first before you attempt to "clarify" anything pertaining to being a mom.

At no point has anyone in this thread claimed that girls who wear slutty clothing are the only ones being sexually active. I have stated more than once that the correlation between AGE INAPPROPRIATE clothing and AGE INAPPROPRIATE actions is what we are discussing. It wasn't commonplace for 9 year olds to be giving blow jobs on the back of school buses 15 years ago and if you don't see the relationship between that and the fact that many, many mainstream clothing companies are offering slutty clothing to small girls, it is probably a good thing you aren't raising children.

 

[Moppit]

Clothes for young girls are getting ridiculous these days. Some of them really do look like little hookers. The parents that buy those clothes for their daughters should be given a big kick. Kids should be kids and not rushed to grow up. My daughter is 23 and I'm glad she still dresses tastefully. The only time she has looked like a hooker was for Halloween. I think it is a combination of the industry selling the stuff, parents buying it and seeing other kids their age wearing it. Parents should take a stand and not buy it. I'm no prude but little girls in thongs, short skirts and heels is just not appropriate.

 

[GalleyGirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by redambition my cousin's parents want to pull her out of dancing because they're worried that she'll be exposed to body image problems.. then there's the whole makeup thing they do to the kids at concert time. 8 year olds painted up in bright blue eyeshadow, full face of foundation and red lispstick... with a lycra minidress on. how is that appropriate for their age? :/

I don't know, I did dance at that age, and during our final performances, we did the same thing - blue eyeshadow (it was the 80's mind you), red lipstick, leotards and fishnets. The difference between now and then I guess though is that we were made to know that that was stage makeup and not real life makeup.

 

[Shimmer]

Ra:
You're working under a misconception that anyone who has posted thus far in this thread believes that a child is prevented from being promiscuous based on wearing neck to ankle covering. No one said that.
What every parent and numerous people who aren't parents have said in this thread is that encouraging sexuality and sexual expression through clothing and makeup is detrimental to the mental and physical wellbeing of the child.
The government's data is flawed. Realistic life experience tells us that but so do Newsweek articles about teenagers sitting around talking about sex, and their experiences with it. It's quite apparent what sexualizing small children can do to them.
With the lines between childhood and adulthood evaporating, it's little wonder parents feel confused about how to set limits or respond to a girl's adult-like behavior.
A 12-year-old who looks, dresses and acts like a 15- or 16-year-old tends to draw the attention of 18- to 20-year-olds who often have adult activities in mind.
Another reason kids growing up too fast, or being allowed to do so, is detrimental. Tweens are also becoming more sexually active. Between 1988 and 1995, the proportion of girls saying they had sexual intercourse before 15 rose to 19% from 11%. (Boys remained stable at 21%.) "We're beginning to see a few pregnant sixth-graders, "says Christy Hogan, a recently retired middle-school counselor in Louisville, Ky. The data supporting this trend are sketchy, since most studies of risk behavior begin with 15-year-olds. But the clearest evidence is found in crime statistics. Although children under 15 still represent a minority of juvenile arrests, their numbers have grown disproportionately in the past 20 years. According to a report by the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, "offenders under age 15 represent the leading edge of the juvenile crime problem, and their numbers are growing." The crimes committed by younger teens and preteens are growing in severity, too: "Person offenses, which once constituted 16 percent of the total court cases for this age group now constitute 25 percent."

As an aside from the obvious, we have to consider the subconcious effects of kids growing up too fast, including the things they can't control, like hitting puberty extremely early. This article blames it on the girls being overweight but other experts acknowledge that the sexualization of our children may have a part in it.

Students who develop early may be treated differently by peers or teachers because they look older, Blythe said. In addition, they are usually much taller than others their age, and may be teased by classmates or seen as more mature by students of the opposite sex. Blythe said a fourth-grade girl who gets romantic attention from eighth-grade boys may not know how to handle it.

While you've accused me of being defensive, I have to say you're the one who really seems defensive here. I've not slighted you, nor attacked you. I've simply pointed out how once again you've swooped in and shown us all the error of our ways.
And, given your history of arguing just to argue (through your own admission) it's a reasonable conclusion that you would be continuing your past behaviour in this thread.

 

[Shimmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybug10678 You are missing the point. The point ISNT about girls in puberty. It IS about girls as young as 5 and 6 being targeted with sexy clothing. This is not comparable to all of the sexual revolutions of the 60s and 70s or even the 20s. Participants in those years were in their late teens and early 20s.

This is actually a really good point regarding the topic of the thread.

 

[little teaser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybug10678 Have a child and raise it first before you attempt to "clarify" anything pertaining to being a mom. At no point has anyone in this thread claimed that girls who wear slutty clothing are the only ones being sexually active. I have stated more than once that the correlation between AGE INAPPROPRIATE clothing and AGE INAPPROPRIATE actions is what we are discussing. It wasn't commonplace for 9 year olds to be giving blow jobs on the back of school buses 15 years ago and if you don't see the relationship between that and the fact that many, many mainstream clothing companies are offering slutty clothing to small girls, it is probably a good thing you aren't raising children.

wow!! you dont have to have children to have comen sense and even though you have kid's dont make you "know it all" you learn as you go and yes parents do make mistakes it's called being human you live and learn and please dont start shooting dagers im a mother and still dont "know it all"

 

[Shimmer]

I really don't think she said she "knows it all" but being a parent is a wholly different perspective than not.

 

[*Stargazer*]

Umm yeah, I can certainly tell that you don't "know it all"

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladybug10678 Have a child and raise it first before you attempt to "clarify" anything pertaining to being a mom. At no point has anyone in this thread claimed that girls who wear slutty clothing are the only ones being sexually active. I have stated more than once that the correlation between AGE INAPPROPRIATE clothing and AGE INAPPROPRIATE actions is what we are discussing. It wasn't commonplace for 9 year olds to be giving blow jobs on the back of school buses 15 years ago and if you don't see the relationship between that and the fact that many, many mainstream clothing companies are offering slutty clothing to small girls, it is probably a good thing you aren't raising children.

The data I provided indicates otherwise. If you'd like to offer data that shows something different, I would love to see it. Just because a nine year old gave a blowjob on the bus doesn't mean that 15 years ago 9 year olds weren't giving head in the bathroom at recess. The frequency of sexual activity hasn't changed, if anyting it has gone down.

However...

Your statement does indicate that teens are less inhibited with regards to visibly displaying sexual activity today, than they were in years past. This i completely agree with. Perhaps this is where the confusion is? These are two completely seperate topics. While sexy clothing (sex in media etc) statistically doesn't increase the frequency of teenage sex, it does increase the visibility. I think the media has done a fine job in desensitising the general public (especially the young) to the taboo of sex. So while teens 15 years ago thought that giving head in the bathroom was risky behavior, now that doesn't seem risky at all.

Thats typical behavior though. Every generation gets more risky in it's behavior than the one before it. Thats only normal, as once you get used to something it loses it's shockvalue, so the envalope gets pushed a little farther the next time. Eventually though, there will be a breaking point and trends will swing back the other direction.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shimmer And, given your history of arguing just to argue (through your own admission) it's a reasonable conclusion that you would be continuing your past behaviour in this thread.

Thats limited to discussions on religion actually. It's fun to do when thats involved because the otherside is always so pationate about it.

 

[*Stargazer*]

How is a 9 year old a teen? MY point has repeatedly been that we are seeing age INappropriate sexual behavior in YOUNG girls. Not teens. My concern isn't what teenage girls are wearing. It is what is being marketed to children as young as FIVE! I honestly think that if you could see some of the stuff that is aimed at really little girls, I think you'd really be shocked. And I hope that you would agree that there is no call for a 5 or six year old to be running around in a skirt that is up their butt with a tube top on. Does that make sense? Maybe we are missing each others arguments because we are talking about two different age groups of children.

Regardless of the stats that show that TEENAGE sexual activity is probably at a stagnant rate, girls younger and younger are getting involved in doing things that are wildly inappropriate for them. I don't think anyone can argue that isn't a good thing.

 

[little teaser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shimmer I really don't think she said she "knows it all" but being a parent is a wholly different perspective than not.

i wasnt calling her a "know it all" i was generally speaking but im not gonna even bother im in a good mood and im gonna keep it that way.. and as far as the 10 year olds in hooker outfits i dont agree either!!

 

[Shimmer]

LT I can't blame you for not wanting to ruin a good mood.

 

[Raerae]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shimmer Ra: You're working under a misconception that anyone who has posted thus far in this thread believes that a child is prevented from being promiscuous based on wearing neck to ankle covering. No one said that. What every parent and numerous people who aren't parents have said in this thread is that encouraging sexuality and sexual expression through clothing and makeup is detrimental to the mental and physical wellbeing of the child. The government's data is flawed. Realistic life experience tells us that but so do Newsweek articles about teenagers sitting around talking about sex, and their experiences with it.

I never contested that children are much more visible with regards to sexuality now, than ever before. I agree they are. I thought freak dancing during highschool was risky behavior, it's pretty common now.

And regarding preggo 6th graders, I doubt it's the first time. I remember in 6th grade seeing the kids who spent recess making out together. It's not a far stretch to think that some of them were doing more than making out. And with how public the media is regarding these topics these days, what was once handled very hush hush to prevent embarasment to the family, is now very public in the media.

Also the studies on earlier menstration in girls could be partially to blame with the increased statistic. If more 6th graders (and younger) are menstrating today, than in years past. It's only logical that there would be a rise in the number of pregnant 6th graders. As there are more girls able to get pregnant at that age today than before.

 

[MxAxC-_ATTACK]

Personally.. When I see "sexy" revealing clothing in the Little girls Isle ,What comes to mind is not little girls wanting to have sex, Its more of That looks like the perfect clothing for little girls to wear, to attract sexual predators. The Pervs out their who get off on seeing those little tiny silk undies.

 

[Hawkeye]

Ladybug- I'm not missing the point. Because I see it as perfectly valid. I never said it wasn't. I am saying that I do believe historically that this is just part of human nature the rapidly growing number of children who wish to express themselves sexually. I think this has happened even before the 60's-as a matter of fact i will dare say that the children even as young as 10 have had interest in sex even farther back to biblical times. Wasn't mary like 14 when she had Jesus?

So it's perfectly natural their longings. THat's all I'm saying. Do I agree with it's sudden immergence? No. I don't think it should be played into and asked to come out more as today we have tried to do so with dolls and clothes etc.

In no way am I missing the point.

 

[*Stargazer*]

Quote:

Originally Posted by youbeabitch Ladybug- I'm not missing the point. Because I see it as perfectly valid. I never said it wasn't. I am saying that I do believe historically that this is just part of human nature the rapidly growing number of children who wish to express themselves sexually. I think this has happened even before the 60's-as a matter of fact i will dare say that the children even as young as 10 have had interest in sex even farther back to biblical times. Wasn't mary like 14 when she had Jesus? So it's perfectly natural their longings. THat's all I'm saying. Do I agree with it's sudden immergence? No. I don't think it should be played into and asked to come out more as today we have tried to do so with dolls and clothes etc. In no way am I missing the point.

Maybe Mary was 14 when she had Jesus, I don't really know nor am I terribly interested in finding out. The difference is that people rarely lived past maybe 30 back then.

This isn't about children as young as 10 having an interest in sex. This is about children of 5 and 6 being sexualized. I'm sure there is a trend of young teens and tweens wanting to express themselves sexually, but I don't believe for a second that any young girl (keep in mind my 5 and 6 year old reference for "young") even has a clue what expressing themselves sexually is, let alone wants to do it voluntarily. It is not natural to sexualize such young children.

 

[Hawkeye]

We are going to have to agree to disagree then because I think it is natural that kids have an interest in sex. Yes even 5- 6 year olds. Why do they look up in the encylapedia (yeah i know I mispelled that) dirty words? Because they are interested in it. Even young kids-girls want to know why they have a vagina and not a penis. Yes, even as young as 5. It's happened for a long time.

And yet I still agree and I know you don't believe it but again I agree that it is wrong to sexualize these children. I seriously do not think you even read my posts all the way through because if you did you would know and you would realize it is VERY CLEAR that I agree with you that it is wrong to sexualize children.