The Sexualization of Early
Childhood
I think
now children are growing in a sexualized environment, at media TV, shows them
products that are for boys or girls, commercial culture bombard children with
graphic sexual images, and this type of information the children can understand,
and sometimes confused to them. “For instance, younger children have Bratz dolls, which
surpassed the sales of Barbie dolls in 2006, and Star Wars action
figures, which experience an explosion of sales of highly realistic violent
toys every time a movie is released. So
girls learn about how sexy is her appearance, and boys learn how strong they
are to fight.”( Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne,
J. 2009) They learn at a
very young age that their value is determined by how beautiful, thin, “hot,”
and sexy they are. And boys, who get a very narrow definition of masculinity
that promotes insensitivity and macho behavior, are taught to judge girls based
on how close they come to an artificial, impossible, and shallow ideal.
These lessons can seriously harm their
ability to grow up to have healthy attitudes about themselves and their bodies
and to have caring relationships in which sex is an important part.
·
We can help children feel safe talking to us
,is important to guide them in a correct way, asking questions, clear their
confusions.
·
Work together with parents to support children
with issues of early sexualization.” is good for parents and schools to give
them honest and age-appropriate information.”( Levin,
D. E., & Kilbourne, J. 2009.)
·
“Provide models of caring and affectionate
intimate relationships in our own families.”( Derman-Sparks,
L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Pag.96)
References:
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
Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias
Education for young children and ourselves.
Maria,
ResponderEliminarYoung children are definitely growing up in a sexualized environment. They are exposed to sexy children movie on TV, sexy toys, and even wear sexy under garments. Children learn these things at an early age by watching and listen to older adults and older children. We have to not only tell a child to say no; we have to be very watchful and use other strategies as well. Great Posting!!
Ida,
Colleague Maria:
ResponderEliminarI am in total agreement with your blog post! The pictures that you have chosen are very powerful and they speak volumes on the type of values that advertizes and merchants are placing on the Sexualization of little children.Certainly our children are being harmed as they are growing up to have unhealthy desires and thoughts and attitudes about their bodies. They are even being desensitized about the beauty of healthy caring relationships. No wonder we as early childhood educators must partner with parents in helping to educate our young children on healthy sexual behavior and relationships( Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. 2009).
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