OWNI.eu

Our article on bras in Europe designed for 8 to 10 year-olds created quite a stir on social networks, provoking outrage on many blogs and on Facebook. The French version of the article was shared by over 2500 people.

On the other side of the Atlantic, a blog brought to light sales of similar bras triggered a media storm from angry parents. Clearly this a problem beyond national boundaries….

“Another example of the sexualization of young girls”

On March 19, Lisa Wade, a professor of sociology and specialist in gender and sexuality, expressed shock on her blog to discover “Another example of the sexualization of young girls” in the form Abercrombie Kids’ padded bikini “push up.” Beyond it being disturbing that the targeted group is children between the 8 to 14 years-old, the “small” size is 70-72cm, which generally corresponds to girls that are 10 years-old.

Lisa Wade has on many other occasions criticized the sexualization of young girls. In France, Vogue’s December issue featured young girls dressed as “ladies” of luxury. The models in the ad for a supplementary gift were six years-old.

Lisa recently posted a video of a 2 year-old girl in a beauty pageant for children. At the direction of her mother, the girl preformed Madonna inspired choreography, taking off her angel costume on stage to reveal golden cone breasts.

Good Morning America stated “tweens” (a combination of the word “between” and “teen”) spend nearly $24 million dollars every year on beauty products such as lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow. Chains like Wal Mart have even launched a special makeup line targeting this young age group.

On the same note, ABC also referred to the 2010 World of Dance competition, which a group of 7 year-olds performed risque choreography to Beyonce’s Single Ladies.

Interviewed by ABC, Michael Bradley (the author of a book on the difficulties of parenting teens) originally thought the new bras by Abercrombie were a joke, although he also mentioned that certain other companies try to sexualize children as young as 4 years old.

For him, this type of marketing can be harmful to these girls because forces an inappropriate level of sexuality while teaching them that their bodies are not enough, that they need to enhance their own breast…

Interviewed by CNN, Gail Dines, a professor of sociology, affirmed these products lead girls to start thinking of themselves as sexual objects. Additionally, it also sends a disturbing signal to men that these girls are already desirable sexual objects – before they are ready to live their sexuality:

On Fox News, Dr. Janet Rose asserts that parents who buy these type of undergarments for their children should be reported to social services. According to her, these products drives children (far too early) towards sexuality and in the long term creates girls with low self-esteem.

Patrick Wanis, an “Human Behavior & Relationship Expert” and a coach to many celebrities,  considers padded bras not only annoying but also dangerous:

Are we in the process of sexualizing girls to attract the attention of men? Are women encouraged to use their daughters to project a sex appeal which they might lack themselves?

For Shirlee Smith (a children’s advocate and the host of a TV show on parenting) the problem is not as much the industries who offer these products, but the mothers who don’t hesitate to consume inappropriate bras and underwear for their children:

I am against those mothers who can’t see deeper than the short term breast enhancement when it comes to buying padded bras for girls who do not even have breasts.

Today, it’s these mothers whose money supports marketing that sexualizes children. In the end, it’s their own girls, turned into sex objects, who pay the price.

A few years ago Abercrombie Kids came out with a string thong for 10 year-olds named “wink wink” and “eye candy,” although this product was pulled from the shelves. They refused to answer questions from journalists, and have only erased the word “push up” on its website.

Confronted with intense international media coverage, Abercrombie Kids announced on Facebook to have “re-categorized” the 3 push up bras, which are no longer available under the swimsuit section online.

Yet while the specific words were deleted, these inappropriate padded bras are still on sale.

On another note, the toy manufacturer Berjuan Toys released a doll designed for young girls to breastfeed. The toy comes with a bra with flowers in the place of nipples, which triggers the doll’s mouth to “suck and swallow.”

(The Breast Milk Baby) lets young girls express their love and affection in the most natural way possible, by simulating natural nursing. According to Dennis Lewis, U.S. spokesman for Berjuan Toys, ‘the whole purpose of The Breast Milk Baby is to teach children the nurturing skills they’ll need to raise their own healthy babies in the future.”

In response to 20% of their feedback being negative, the manufactures defended their product, explaining “God supports the Breast Milk Baby.”

We’re being called perverts and pedophiles for promoting feeding our babies the way God intended? Churches all over the world are filled with images of Mary nursing baby Jesus, and yet we can’t imagine letting our daughters learn how important breastfeeding is for our society?”

According to the blog Crêpe Georgette[FR], after girls are done playing the “whore,” they can switch to mothers feeding their dolls with fake breast. The post sarcastically proposed other toys that the Berjuan company could manufacture:

1. The chapped nipple
2. The penis doll (for introducing girls to their future roles….)

In the UK, a beautician injects her 8 year old daughter with Botox every 3 months. Her explanation shows the disturbing gender confusion that exists between the reality of their children’s lives and the fantasies of their parents:

What I am doing for Britney now will help her become a star.I know one day she will be a model, actress or singer, and having these treatments now will ensure she stays looking younger and baby-faced for longer…More mothers should do it for their daughters.

The little girl’s reaction is equally alarming:

I check every night for wrinkles, when I see some I want more injections. They used to hurt, but now I don’t cry that much. I also want a boob and nose job soon, so that I can be a star.

—

Translation: Stefanie Chernow