5.17.2010

Sexualization Defined: Innapropriate Imposition

The fourth condition of sexualization, when it is inappropriately imposed upon a person, is especially relevant to children. Children do not usually choose to be exposed to sexually charged images, so that means it is imposed,or forced, upon them. Unfortunately, this is occurring more and more often.Take a look at these Bratz dolls:I love what the APA Task Force says about Bratz dolls:
Bratz dolls come dressed in sexualized clothing such as miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas. Although these dolls may present no more sexualization of girls or women than is seen in MTV videos, it is worrisome when dolls designed specifically for 4- to 8-year-olds are associated with an objectified adult sexuality. The objectified sexuality presented by these dolls, as opposed to the healthy sexuality that develops as a normal part of adolescence, is limiting for adolescent girls, and even more so for the very young girls who represent the market for these dolls.

Some parents even force sexuality on their daughters. One prime example are toddler pageants, where young girls are paraded around a stage in revealing outfits and more makeup than many adults wear. Here's a picture from the TV show "Toddlers and Tiaras":
I don't know about you, but I think this is a little bit frightening.

So What's the Big Deal?
Like we talked about with the other components of sexualization, children (especially girls) get the wrong idea about what qualities are valued in people. The girls on Toddlers and Tiaras get so used to hearing how "cute" they are in their feathers and makeup that they're going to have mixed-up ideas about what beauty really is. And when girls' playthings are scantily-clad, how are they going to feel that they should dress?

5 comments:

  1. This is all dumb! Bratz are not Sexualization! There and this outfit is super cute i would where them! What in there outfit is being sexual?! Bratz are very good in my opinion i love that there all about friendship and fashion! Not like other dolls like Barbie!! But i'm not here to start and arugement its just my opinion! You can think what you wanna think and i will do the same. I have a voice to so i decided to let it out.

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    1. I know they look so PUNK ROCK in this picture.
      TM
      But I must say that they do wear more makeup than a Vegas drag queen...idk maybe their just drag queens in disguise ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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  2. I mean yes i agree about the little girls but there nothing compared to the Bratz just saying

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  3. Lol you do realize that photo of the pageant is from Little Miss Sunshine, right? Y'all should watch it, it's a really funny but also heartfelt take on not only pageants but family and healing in general. And it's more about doing things for you than sexualizing little girls in pageants. It actually does a really good job of pointing out how gross it is. Seriously watch it it's one of my favorite movies

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  4. It's not from Toddlers and Tiaras. But I thought it was kind of funny that you used that photo because the film is completely in contradiction with T&Ts

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