This week we read, "So sexy so soon: The
new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids. Reading
this week article really made me more aware how young girls today are having self-esteem
issues today, but I did not realize how big sexualization of early childhood
is. Levin & Kilbourne (2009) shared that young kids are talking about “blow
jobs.”
I can recall a few examples of how prevalent sexualization is in early childhood. I remember growing up and my best friend was very busty and sometimes the children would make fun of her. This started when she was in third grade, and it is to the point that my friend didn’t want to go to school. Looking at some of the tv shows like that show young beauty queens really shows how the people really glamorize little beauty queens. Watching this program you see how serious the program is. You see little girls crying on national tv when they don’t win or they think they’re not pretty enough that’s why they didn’t win. Last of all, in my classroom I seen little girls try to kiss the boys on the cheek and sometimes the boys would react and say, that’s my girlfriend four years old. I’m not sure where they learn this behavior from but with everything that goes on in children’s houses and in the media, children are bound to pick up this type of behavior.
Sexualization in early childhood is a big problem because children are still developing themselves (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009). Children are growing up too fast and missing out on their childhood because they are worrying about adult issues. As an early childhood professional we have to talk to our students but first making sure that what we talk about is ok with parents and the institution we work for to discussing age appropriate behavior that young children should be doing.
This topic of sexualization in early childhood has really opened my eyes. I think children today have it a lot harder than when we grew up. They have to worry about so many things. This discussion this week has made me aware that children are growing up to fast because of the bias environment they live in. As an advocate and as a family of early childhood professionals we can make a difference in the world by educating families and children about sexualization.
I can recall a few examples of how prevalent sexualization is in early childhood. I remember growing up and my best friend was very busty and sometimes the children would make fun of her. This started when she was in third grade, and it is to the point that my friend didn’t want to go to school. Looking at some of the tv shows like that show young beauty queens really shows how the people really glamorize little beauty queens. Watching this program you see how serious the program is. You see little girls crying on national tv when they don’t win or they think they’re not pretty enough that’s why they didn’t win. Last of all, in my classroom I seen little girls try to kiss the boys on the cheek and sometimes the boys would react and say, that’s my girlfriend four years old. I’m not sure where they learn this behavior from but with everything that goes on in children’s houses and in the media, children are bound to pick up this type of behavior.
Sexualization in early childhood is a big problem because children are still developing themselves (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009). Children are growing up too fast and missing out on their childhood because they are worrying about adult issues. As an early childhood professional we have to talk to our students but first making sure that what we talk about is ok with parents and the institution we work for to discussing age appropriate behavior that young children should be doing.
This topic of sexualization in early childhood has really opened my eyes. I think children today have it a lot harder than when we grew up. They have to worry about so many things. This discussion this week has made me aware that children are growing up to fast because of the bias environment they live in. As an advocate and as a family of early childhood professionals we can make a difference in the world by educating families and children about sexualization.
Reference:
Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. 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
Denice, I agree that kids are growing up way to fast and we have stomped their growth by how we want them to be portrayed at such an early age. When viewing the beauty queen shows, I only shake my head at how grown those girls are, and thank my lucky stars that I do not have a daughter to raise in this day and time. To me, those parents are only pushing their daughters to be adults way before their minds or bodies are ready while also showing them that beauty in on the outside (by the make-up and clothing they wear) and not what is on the inside (intelligence). What happened to those days?? As a parent, it is already hard enough to raise a child without all the outside pressures, but to raise girls with the images they see on tv, videos, etc. the focus is strickly on their image. We definitely live in a sexed out society.
ReplyDeleteDenice-
ReplyDeleteYour comment that we have to approve the discussion of sexualization with parents and the institution. My fear is that the parents and the institution may not see it as big of a threat as we do. I am printing this book excerpt out and giving it to my sons preschool. Great posting.