No wonder our girls today are growing up too fast and struggling with body image issues.
When you see this:
And this:
This Vogue spread was entitled “Cadeaux” (gifts in French). One of the pages is titled “Beaute” – beauty under 10 years old?
Ok, it’s Vogue – a high fashion, artistic magazine. But this issue (December) featured girls in heavy make-up, high heels, red fingernails and looking way too sensual for their age. Sexuality oozes inappropriately in this spread.
This 15-page spread was crossing the line – portraying girls in this way is dangerous and plain wrong.
I also feel the same way about TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras. We know beauty pageants exist but why do stage mothers push their children to grow up way before their time?
On a recent episode, a pageant mother forced her terrified five-year-old daughter to get her eyebrows waxed. She continued to have it done even though the little girl was clearly upset from once having her skin ripped off.
Dressing up girls in women’s clothing and make-up simply sexualizes our youth – which in turn harms our girls (and boys) and today’s society.
Too much emphasis is put on beauty and sexuality which leads girls to develop shame and fear regarding their own bodies. This, of course, can lead to poor body image, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.
Unfortunately, magazines and television networks keep pushing the envelope – for ratings and subscription sales… bottom line, for money.
By the way, Carine Roitfeld, the editor-in-chief of Vogue in France, is no longer in that role… she stepped down, stating that she tried to do “something every month that is… not politically correct.”
