The Sexualization of Early Childhood
It was shocking for me to read the examples
provided in the So Sexy So Soon
excerpt. Being that I work with mostly preschoolers, it is hard for me to
understand how they change so fast and in not such a positive way.
Sexualization of early childhood is disturbing, but it is the world we live in
and as educators, we need to find a way to limit the sexual ideas that they
view. If as educators we keep a close eye on our children and limit their
social media, we are taking a step in helping the parents feel more at ease. As
a mother myself, I am worried that my daughter will feel that she needs to be
sexualized. I hope that by the time she goes to school, I am more knowledgeable
in the topic and can help her feel strong so that she doesn’t need to be
pressured into looking like the standard girl.
An example from my personal experience was
growing up; I always wanted to be skinny and blonde. As I grew and became more
educated, I learned to love myself as I was and now do not wish to be the
standard look that everyone wants to be. This is why I can relate to young
girls who are influenced by the standard and sexualization. A second example:
last year, a preschooler was singing a popular song about stripping while she
was in the bathroom. When she walked outside, I asked her why she was singing
that song and why she knew the song. She began to tell me, innocently, that her
father listens to that song all the time and she began singing it again. She
had no idea the meaning behind the lyrics, but these are small starting points
of sexualization. The third example is media and television. I watch Disney
junior and Disney channel with my daughter all the time, and notice that in the
commercials they are very sexist. Girl dolls are beautiful, thin, and fit the
standard of modern beauty.
Sexualization may have negative impacts on a
child’s healthy development. My reasoning behind this is because instead of a
child focusing on play and acting their age, they are expected to act older and
more mature, which leads them fit into standards that they shouldn’t even be
thinking about.
Angela,
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the article this week is that I am in shock and awe. The advertisement market is forced on children. They have no knowledge of what to think when it comes to choosing what is right. The advertisements sends false messages. Which are not good for their social emotional development. As educators we have to obtain ways to help parents with the competition of media influences.
Evelyn
Hello Evelyn,
ReplyDeleteWhen reflecting on the topic this week and reading the article I was taking back by the amount of harm that is occurring towards children's development due to the messages of overly sexual messages that the are receiving from many sources. You shared your experience listening to a young child singing a song dealing with exotic dancing. I am not surprised by your experience because the radio stations and television is fill with sexual content that they refuse to filter. Many media outlet are unaware of the harm that they are doing to young children. As a parent I personally do not allow my children to listen the radio because I the overly sexual music played.