Just What Every Toddler Needs to go With Those Heels: Skinny Jeans!
As if high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, and denim diapers weren’t enough, parents are now able to buy their toddler their own pair of skinny jeans.
Skinny jeans are just the latest item in a larger cumulative force that is turning babies, toddlers and children into miniature adults, in large part through overt sexualization.
Between the celebration of gyrating 7-year-olds, Baby Gaga‘s featured on Youtube, sexy toy makeovers, virgin waxing, glammed up toddlers in fashion advertising, and clothing with sexualized content such as “I’m a boob man,” “Lock up your daughters” or “Does this diaper make my butt look big?“ girls and boys are being harried into premature adulthood by corporate marketing forces seeking profit.
Cross-posted at Elephant Journal.
Jezebel wrote it about, but Gap also sells baby “boyfriend jeans” – whatever happened to babies wearing onesies?
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=25781&vid=1&pid=762971&scid=762971002
Comment by Rachel — August 15, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
Wow, stunned I am. Thanks for bringing this to light.
Comment by Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul — August 16, 2010 @ 2:50 am
I get the high heels, padded bikinis, and stripper poles, but whats so wrong with skinny jeans?
Last time I checked, my skinny jeans are not meant to sexualize my body, my skinny jeans just happen to be a style that goes great with my non skinny legs. I like the way they look, and are non fussy (there are stretchy ones).
Same thing with young girls and boys wearing skinny jeans, it’s a look, they are tights, but with more durability and wearability.
Comment by Nanci — August 22, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
that is truly disgusting! Unfortunately in today’s society, everything is about sex, even children’s clothes which is really disappointing. Do little kids really need skinny jeans or other such items? It’s rather sad what our society has come to.
Comment by Debora — September 29, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
Thong underwear and stripper poles, really? That is truly horrifying. But I don’t think skinny jeans are such a big deal, especially compared to thongs for kids. I do think its unnecessary for young children to be wearing skinny jeans, but not totally horrible. However by doing so, we’re introducing kids to an adult world they don’t need to be introduced to yet and it’s definitely not healthy for their future.
Comment by Sharon — October 3, 2010 @ 3:19 am
It’s as if their childhood is being taken away in a sense and they’ve lost all innocence. I didn’t even know that stripper poles and thong underwear existed for kids and I’m beyond shocked. It seems as if every younger generation has already developed far beyond their years due to all the inappropriate items they’ve been shown.It’s so sad to see how children and babies today are exposed to this whole world of sexuality and promiscuity.
Comment by Melody J — October 3, 2010 @ 4:46 pm
I also did know that stripper poles and thongs were available for kids, thats un heard of. what shocks me the most are the parents who actually buy these things for their childern. as skinny jeans have begin to become the new trend, i think its only fair to let the kids decide what to wear and parents or the media should force their opinion on the child
Comment by Delyla M. — October 4, 2010 @ 2:58 pm
Wow! Stripper poles, padded kiddie bikinis, is this really necessary?! I do not see anything wrong with skinny jeans, since its just a trend/style. But, sadly the goal of the mass commercial media is to maximize profit, which leads them to not really consider what they are doing to these young kids emotionally or physically. These kids are growing up so fast and encountering mature subjects at a very early age, which is not only depriving them of their innocence, but also not allowing them to fully enjoy being a kid.
Comment by maxine — October 4, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
The other day I had a economic class and my econ professor was complaining about how his 12 year old daughter insisted on him buying her skinny jeans and skinny jeans only! My professor was against the idea of buying his daughter skinny jeans because he felt that she was too young to wear them. I felt sorry for him and I realized that the adult apparel industry is not only targeting adults and teenagers but young children as well. I’m disappointed to see this occur because back in the day I was a tom boy and I was surely proud of it. The normal boy jeans made me feel like one of the boys and it was convenient for me to have fun and play sports and get dirty in the mud. Unfortunately, young girls might not have that opportunity if all they’re limited to are skinny tight jeans that prevent them from performing all these athletic fun activities.
Comment by Joanne S. — October 4, 2010 @ 8:52 pm
Kids are supposed to be innocent and to live their lives not knowing certain ideas until they are old enough to completely understand them. It is amazing how society is teaching kids about “sex” through clothes and accessories at an age in which they cannot completely grasp the subject. Instead these ideas will be instilled in them and they will grow to accept that this is how a girl or boy must look in order to be considered attractive.
Comment by Sadaf Abrishami — October 4, 2010 @ 10:55 pm
I completely agree with this post and I have heard of little girls having spa birthday parties which seems to be the new trend and it’s crazy. The first time I got my nails professionally done was towards the end of middle school and it wasn’t easy to get my parents approval at the time. With such trends coming out, kids aren’t able to live their lives and cherish their childhood because at this point they are growing up to fast and may regret it as they grow up.
Comment by Dalal C. — October 4, 2010 @ 11:12 pm
I am guilty of buying a pair of skinny jeans for my three-year old daughters… and soon after i regreted doing so. I saw how uncomfortable they were in them because they weren’t able to move around and play. And it’s true that exposing children to such trends make them even more exposed to the sexualization of our culture.
Comment by ElizabethP — November 18, 2010 @ 2:06 pm
I think the blame lies not only with the companies making these products, but also with the parents that keep buying them up. if their was no market for them the companies simply would not waste their money making and marketing these types of clothes.
Comment by Shawn S — June 1, 2011 @ 5:22 pm
I recognized this earlier today! I saw younger girls at a store and I do not remember dressing like that. (a mere few years ago) They are forcing them to grow up way too fast and if damage has been done without that — it can only get worse.
Comment by Biana B — October 9, 2011 @ 10:16 pm
Children are being rushed into adulthood through the availability of products such as the ones listed above. Absurd, but true. This is what society is becoming.
Comment by Tiffany Majdipour — October 9, 2011 @ 11:33 pm
As if we weren’t putting enough pressure on girls behaving “the right way”, we are now giving them no option at all to behave just as they like. Just give them a pair of skinny jeans when they are 2 years old and they are set for life, good to go. Probably thinking that ” if we start at an early age, we can influence them more”. STUPID!
Comment by Tandis Shams Fard — October 10, 2011 @ 1:31 pm
I am surprised to know how all these secluded messages are thrown to our children, even more amazing, we aren’t even aware of it.
Comment by bianca castilo — October 10, 2011 @ 5:39 pm
It is quite shameful, how advertisement has looked into profit by tearing away kid’s innocence all for money. In today’s culture, not only are kids being en-trapped in this economy, but young parents as well. The parents that are attracted to these styles are usually young, in their teenage years, and they themselves find it “cute†when their young kids “look like mom.†Truth be told, they are still young and naïve, and are blank on the idea that society and they themselves (sometimes blindly) are inflicting in their kids this maturity that is coming in such an early age.
Comment by Erika Escobar Monreal — October 11, 2011 @ 12:45 am
This is so horrifically true! It really makes you stop and realize how media has so much power to normalize something that doesn’t make any sense and shouldn’t be acceptable.
Comment by Natalie Hoorfar — October 11, 2011 @ 8:00 am
I myself have never quite understood whatever happened to toddlers just wearing onesies. Apart from the fact that children are forced to learn to grow up more quickly by the media, they are also being brainwashed with unreasonable pressure to dress a certain way and have a certain body type; just the name “skinny jeans” conjures up images of overly thin supermodels and celebrities in some of these jeans on the covers of tabloid magazines. What’s more appalling is that most of our society does not even attempt to question these kinds of messages and clothes that get sold.
Comment by Jennifer S — October 12, 2011 @ 8:24 pm
I concur. Those baby shirts stamped with controversial catch phrases are what bothers me most. I cannot understand why anyone would want their child wearing such a piece of clothing. This article reminded me of the line of Bratz products. Those dolls play a part in promoting “mature wear” to the kids, which include but are not limited to, skimpy tops, glamorous heels, and sparkly jeans. Honestly, what will become of our future should our children continue to be influenced like this? I cannot even imagine…
Comment by Bridget Tang — October 17, 2011 @ 10:59 pm
it’s true that big corporations do anything they can to sell their products by advertising and brain washing, but the question is how can parents buy these clothes for their children? how can children explore and play by all these fancy, tight, and uncomfortable clothes?
Comment by Negar Azadbadi — October 18, 2011 @ 3:58 pm
This just demonstrates to what extent present day society and culture will go to sexualize children. Just look at the models on the run way half naked, they are all in their teens, a good majority of them around fifteen. Not to mention if you just step out your door you are bombarded by ten and twelve year olds in short shorts and extra padded bras. Unfortunately as seen with these toddler skinny jeans, present day culture, society, and media, is giving the message to young impressionable girls that they must be sexy in order to be valued, and therefore young kids are hyper sexualized.
Comment by Chloe Shenassa (women studies 10 scholars) — December 6, 2011 @ 5:52 pm
Clearly society is corrupting childhood by bringing these material objects into the lives of kids. And now skinny jeans? Society and media are pressuring kids in the wrong direction. Instead of advertising to “just be a kid†they unconsciously advertise sexuality and adulthood. Skinny jeans just fit into another one of society’s molds. Kids are being rushed into growing up without really experiencing a meaningful childhood. Even more incredible, are the parents who are buying these jeans for their kids. They are just reinforcing what media and society is trying to pursue.
Comment by Sahar — January 9, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
I wish the topic about sexualizing children and infantilization of women was more talked about. I have no idea why people come up with the idea of padded bras and thongs for young girls. This is giving girls the message that what really matters is how big one’s breasts are and to look sexy. Then they take the message because they want to be expected by their peers. I’m glad many parents have complained about these products and some were even taken off the selves. Society needs to stop sending young girls a message of worth relating to body and self image.
Comment by Skye G. — January 11, 2012 @ 3:16 pm
This is absolutely horrifying! I can’t believe they are selling thongs, padded kiddie bikinis, skinny jeans, high heels and not to mention the stripper pole!! Society and media are influencing young girls to dress and act like a promiscuous and sexy adult in order to be accepted. However, the only thing they are achieving is ripping away the innocence of these young girls by predisposing them to the adult world. Kids are supposed to be raised innocently and to live their lives not knowing certain ideas until they’re old enough to understand them and make their own decisions about them.
This also comes to show the gender stereotyping where it is believed that the girls shouldn’t be as active and outgoing as the boys. How could a child run around in the playground wearing high heels, a thong and skinny jeans?! Is this what the media is saying… a young girl should be dressed like an adult and playing in her playground…which is her stripper pole?!?
The blame is also on the parents for continuing to buy these products rather than speaking against them.
Comment by Rosemary A — January 15, 2012 @ 4:47 pm
Today so many companies are running out of ideas of what to invent in order to make money, so the next best thing is to encourage parents who have toddles/infants to begin their social status early by wearing adult lingerie, shoes, jeans, makeup, etc…There are now shoes on television that are for toddles to be america’s next top model. It is disgusting and wrong.
Comment by Alexandria Scott — January 15, 2012 @ 11:54 pm
Through this article, I was very surprising this issues because I didn’t know about padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, denim diapers and skinny jeans for their kids. This is all about sexual things. It is very disappointed for our society and I know that time is developed very quickly but this is very wrong. I think this society bring it up a bad future for our kids. I felt really bad about it.
Eun Hee Chung- Women’s studies 10
Comment by Eun Hee Chung — January 17, 2012 @ 10:34 pm
Children should not be exposed to anything sexual before developing the sense of sexuality. There is a certain age where the parents have that special talk with their children about sexuality, but these corporate owners are doing it subliminally way before the parents do. It is a backwards process in which children are exposed to it and their parents are the ones buying it for them. I feel the parents are to blame just as much as the people who sell these items. A seven year old can not just walk in and buy a bikini,its all the parents thats to blame.
Comment by Payne T — January 23, 2012 @ 12:56 pm
I think today’s fashion industry is going overboard with the type of clothes that they’re making for young children. Like seriously why would you make a 3 year old wear a padded bikini when they have nothing their to support. And yet parents wonder why older men look at young girls the way they do. Its because the way their dressed is catching their attention. Parents also have some part in this to because they have the ability to put an end to this but they dont. They to want their children to fit in with society and not seen as an outcast so they just go along with it. And whats up with the thongs for little girls thats just ridiculous!
Comment by Guadalupe Y — January 28, 2012 @ 2:33 pm
Welcome to our sick world! It aggravates me that kids are forced to grow up faster these days. What is the rush? Give them time to be kids. It is atrocious how this society is all about sexualizing everything. I mean, even kids! What kind of message does that send to kids? That they should also lose their virginity in a very young age?! Why would anyone want to “force” their little girl to wear skinny jeans? Let them grow up and make their own decisions. This world is all about fitting in an being the hottest one. It is not about your inside anymore. It sends messages that it doesn’t matter how you are in the inside, it is your outside that will take you further. Imagine being merely 2 years old and getting these messages. It is sad, very sad how this world has become so superficial.
Comment by Simone — January 29, 2012 @ 12:22 pm
To be honest, I don’t see nothing wrong buying your kids skinny jeans but it depends how tight it is and do they feel comfortable. I do believe today’s society fashion is going extreme with their clothing for kids. I went shopping and I saw they have high heels for kids and i was like damn it so funny because I couldn’t believe it. I don’t meant funny in way of a joke but rather are you Serious!!! Some parents who allows their children to dress like woman, sometimes grow up too fast for them age. They haven’t really enjoyed being a kid. Also when children are exposed to these types of fashion they want their parents to buy it because they think its cool and it looks cute so they should wear it.
Comment by Tiffany M — January 29, 2012 @ 4:25 pm
I don’t understand parents who want to dress up their kids like little adults. I think it’s funny maybe for Halloween only if my child asked. I recently was watching Anderson and he had on some of the mom’s from Toddlers and Tiaras. This show has really got people talking about the sexualization of children and this shown definitely does that. Those pageant moms go really far to make their little girls look like adults. I have seen more than one picture of Katie Holmes’ daughter wearing heels. It looks so silly to me. This is teaching young girls that looks are everything.
Comment by Jessica — January 31, 2012 @ 7:16 pm
In my opinion fashion places a big role in today’s generation. Even though it is something new to moms, skinny jeans are just trendy. I don’t think that skinny jeans are too much for toddlers to wear. However, I have seen many girls with smalls skirts and high heels. Also, I have seen a television commercial advertise high heels for toddlers. That is way too much for a young child to be wearing at only 2 years old. Even though it is introduced to toddlers, parents should not buy it that way they will take them out of the stores. Toddlers should only wear cartoon clothes and sneakers. Anything like mini skirts and heels, or belly button shirts are unacceptable. Toddlers should not look sexual in any way.
Comment by Juliana C. — January 31, 2012 @ 7:47 pm
These are not good signs.
We are destroying our next generation by teaching them what it is to be an “adult”, by the media. This is teaching them how to be when they grow up, and from my point of view, every year we have worse and worse generation being sent out to the society. Everything is being moved towards sexuality and kids think the definition of a grown up is SEX.
Comment by MATAN P — February 3, 2012 @ 8:22 am
What goes around comes around. This is an age of skinny jeans so most people regardless of sex or age want to wear skinny jeans. But I don’t think children need skinny jeans because children are in the period of growth, they should be comfortable and active. But skinny is not comfortable one for children. So I think that many adults commercialized the children as adult.
Comment by Youjung An — February 4, 2012 @ 6:22 pm
“High heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, and denim diapers..”
Wow! Can all those companies who produce those things for kids just step off and let kids just be kids! I think its terrible that they are now making skinny jeans for kids. It’s sending the wrong message and we just keep corrupting our kids younger and younger. I think it is quite sad that these days kids ask there parents for high heels and skinny jeans because what do they have to look forward to when they are teenagers? The kids f today are going to be very screws up to say the least.
Comment by Lori H — February 5, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
I am all for dressing kids up in cute outfits but I think some of these items go a bit too far. The function of clothes – whether for babies, children, or adults – is simply to cover us up and keep us warm. For babies and children I think it’s especially important that clothes be durable and, above all, comfortable. To sacrifice this to put tots in items like skinny jeans is simply ridiculous. The figure of a baby does not need to be shown off and it’s impossible that any sort of denim on a baby would be more comfortable than, say, cotton.
Upon looking further into the high heels for toddlers I found out that they are soft like slippers and the shoe itself is shaped for baby feet. While comforting on the surface, it still bothers me that we socialize little girls so early that they are wearing a form of high heels before they can even walk. This only sends them the message early on that we expect nothing less as they grow up.
Comment by Antonia C. — February 7, 2012 @ 12:31 am
Skinny jeans,high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, and denim diapers for toddler is some absurd idea to me. And that there are parents buying such sexualized products. These parents are teaching their girls to look “sexy” by buying such products and making their daughters to wear them. Therefore, the girls are cultured at an early age to conform into the socially constructed definition of beauty in order to look pretty even before they form their own sense of right or wrong. It is problematic for future generation because the girls are being taught to accept the patriarchal idea that they need to look pretty and sexy to boys, and that it is okay to buy into the ideas set by patriarchy.
Comment by Jin Min — February 7, 2012 @ 3:45 am
I feel that giving children clothing and accessory options that are meant for adults, is robbing children of their youth. Kids are already trying to grow up too fast and this doesn’t help. It is sad that mothers would actually choose to buy their children padded bikini tops and thong underwear. We already face so much pressure to look a certain way and to always be aware of what our appearance is. It doesn’t help that pressure when you are making your baby look like a mini adult. If children see that their mom is dressing them in this type of manner and choosing to “sex them upâ€, they are going to learn at such a young age that they are supposed to look sexy and dress to please others. I feel that if mothers are actually purchasing these items, they are not taking motherhood seriously by treating their children as dress up dolls. When children are young, they are innocent and imperishable; we don’t need to promote sexiness to them. We should be dressing them for comfort, not to show off how grown up they can look. It is scary to think that these types of items are on the market and it only shows what kind of society we are, a society obsessed with sex and appearance. It isn’t healthy.
Comment by Destiny O — February 21, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
WOW. I never really looked at skinny jeans from this point of view. Very interesting. I’ve always thought skinny jeans were really cute and fashionable. I love wearing skinny jeans with a nice heel when I’m going to a restaurant for lunch. Skinny jeans help to bring out my shape and play a role in me looking extremely attractive for the day. For some reason skinny jeans cause a lot of attention when wearing them. However, after reading this I have been exposed to a different view of skinny jeans. They are form fitting which does provide a sense of “growness” because your clothes are finally filling out your shape which catches the eyes of men. In addition to skinny jeans, as mentioned in this post, there are other things taking place in society that is influencing our younger women. You have the sexy and grown bathing suite, lingerie and makeup, all of which leads to our young daughters growing up really fast. Thank you for writing this and bringing this issue to our attention. Really great!
Takisha B.
Comment by Takisha B. — February 22, 2012 @ 11:23 pm
The sexualization of our children appears to be a relatively new concept that sprung up in our materialistic society. Our kids are becoming sexualized at younger and younger ages. I remember seeing commercials for a television show called something along the lines of Toddlers in Tiaras. Basically it looked like a show that glamorizes beauty pageants for toddlers. I honestly cannot believe that such images are tolerated in a modern society. I cannot fathom what the rationale is behind such things. Exploitation in the media is already bad enough as it is, we don’t need to include our children in that category as well.
In my mind this all appears to be driven by capitalism and the materialistic nature of our country. Businesses are continuously thinking of new ways to make money, and the sad fact is, is that many will stoop to such low levels in order to do so. These ideas are just another indicator of the perpetuation of beauty, especially in the case of girls. Girls are being taught at younger and younger ages what society views as beautiful, and as a result, they are shown that this sexualized behavior is okay at such young ages.
Comment by Logan S. — February 24, 2012 @ 12:49 pm
I agree that clothing companies will do anything to make more profit, but I also think that the majority of the companies in this country is greedy. They could care less who they are hurting until it happens to their children, nieces, and/or nephews. I do believe, though, skinny jeans are a style as were peddle pushers when my grandma was a teenager, but to promote little two piece bikinis or low rise jeans for 7 and 8 year old is pushing the envelope. Do we want all little girls singing a Nicki Minaj song on Ellen Degeneres? Me being a mom, I thought there was nothing adorable about a young, innocent child dressing up trying so hard to be an older seductive woman. That goes for the Toddlers and Tiaras show as well. Why are we trying to push little girls to look and act like women? Why can’t we let kids be kids?
Comment by Salina G — February 26, 2012 @ 12:37 pm
I do agree that the fashion industry will do whatever it takes to sell, even if its sexualization young children. But, i think the person that has the control over what their child wears is the parents. Children will wear what their parents buy so I think we should not blame the fashion industry.
Comment by Yuliana R — February 27, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
Working retail for over 5 years I’ve seen how much children’s clothing has changed. When I look at young children cloths it is almost identical to young men’s and young ladies clothes. When I first began to notice the change in clothing it was in girl sized clothing, now I have notice that even toddler and pre school sizes looks like mini adult cloths. Clothing companies will continue to make these cloths because children like it and all their friends at school are wearing it. In a sense parents are forced to buy it because all the clothes is being made the same, so they are left with little or no options.
Comment by Angelica E. — February 28, 2012 @ 3:48 pm
This article is very disturbing. I was actually thinking about this the other day as I was out shopping with a cousin of mine who is a teenage girl. We were in a store that was directed towards the ages of 12 to 18 or so and the only underwear available to buy for the girls were thongs and other lingerie type items. It was strange for me to see how comfortable she was with these items being around and mentioned to me that all the girls in her school have them. What happened to enjoying childhood and allowing kids to be kids? I feel like the idea of being an adult is pushed on these teenagers through this type of marketing and then we wonder why teenage girls seem to be so much more sexualized now than they used to be.
Comment by Kristin F — March 1, 2012 @ 3:38 pm
It is devastating the way our young children are being allowed to dress like young adult, especially when dealing with girls. As mentioned above, they are wearing padded swimsuits and mini heels, they are basically dressed like 24 year old adult swimsuit models. I feel this places our young girls in danger, because parents are glamorizing their kids which is making them more appealing to pedophiles. The media enjoys depicting young women to be like adults. There are often tv shows that have “high school” roles being portrayed by women 23 and up. They allow them to wear some what sexy clothing and paint that image to be normal for “16” year olds. It is absolutely frustrating and it needs to change because our children are being over-exposed.
Comment by Brandy S. — March 2, 2012 @ 1:21 am
I completely understand thong underwear or stripper poles, high heels when they are too young, and so on, but I am not getting the big deal with skinny jeans! I have a younger sister, much younger by 16 years, and she tries to do everything I do. Of course I do not condone her going to bars and dressing inappropriately, but if she wants to be like me and wear skinny jeans I see no problem with it. There has to be a line somewhere. Also, I work with kids ages 10 mo. to 12 years and some of the stuff I see baby girls wearing interests me. Their parents put them in socks that look like high heels or trendy clothes. I see no problem with that. It does not promote promiscuity, or fuel bad habits, actually the babies look cute. But I do agree there has to be a line… And I think it works both ways, adults should not try to dress like kids. Boundaries need to be set in some aspect, thats just my opinion of a 23 year old.
Comment by Jennifer L — March 2, 2012 @ 5:53 pm
I believe certain outfits are too grown if you dress your child in an adult fashion and teach them to act a certain way. I believe there is nothing wrong with a child wearing skinny jeans with a onesie and sneakers. I do have a problem if that child has on more make up than I do, has heels on, and is swinging her hips more than me. Society is already showing our kids to much at an early age; therefore it is the parents responsibility to ensure the child understands what is appropriate. I have nieces that want to wear “lip gloss” because they see their mom put it on; however it is clear chapstick that just gives them a little gloss. I would never allow my niece to wear any colored makeup because I do not want anyone to think she is older than she is.
Comment by Justine B — March 2, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
I agree that dressing kids in mini skirts and high heels is too much for any child to wear at any age. I am 21 years old and have a problem with wearing mini skirts and high heels so I would hate to see a 7 year old wearing that out. I feel like adults try too hard to make their little girls look older than they really are when they dress them in these things. I strongly believe that children should act and dress like children for as long as possible and every parent should be for that same objective. And in reference to the glammed up toddlers, I personally hate watching the show Toddlers in Tiaras because it honestly makes my stomach hurt. Those poor 4 year old wear more make up than I do and are made to wear those fake teeth so they look older. Four year old’s were not meant to look older! They were meant to look like children! I hope that when I become a mother I do not dress my daughter up in any of these things. I hope that I am able to let my children be children for as long as possible.
Comment by Jessica Serrano — March 4, 2012 @ 5:11 pm
Skinny jeans? Its hard to believe that we live in a society that doesn’t care about the affects products or images such as skinny jeans, high heels for toddlers or keeping to the idea that “Sex Sells”- does to our society as a whole. Not only are the products damaging to the development of children but it is also damaging to our society and how the different genders are treated in a non-beneficial way. I once saw laced training bras at a young girls clothing store, the bra was accompanied by laced panties. This product was aimed at girls between the ages of 7 through 14 years of age. I couldn’t believe that there was such a product for young girls. I feel that products like skinny jeans, toddler high heels, and make-up boxes for little girls, ect. Is not only encouraging our youth to grow up too fast, but forcing them to dress and act in ways their minds aren’t developed to understand. I agree with the article that skinny jeans is just another way for cooperate marketing to make more money.
Comment by Venezia R — March 5, 2012 @ 10:42 am
I’m sorry but what is the difference between skinny jeans and cotton leggins or cotton tights? I am a child of the 80’s and grew up in that attire. You found it in the children’s clothing section over thirty years ago and you still find them there today. The fact that there are pockets and a button doesn’t make them any “sexier.”
Comment by Avery G. — March 7, 2012 @ 12:36 am
Loved this article finally someone decided to give society a reality check!! What is going on kids are warring makeup, have boyfriend jeans, two piece swimsuits and now skinny jeans? I have to say I blame the Disney channel growing up we had cartoons and stuff like boy meets world, were the actors had very little to almost no makeup. Now a day’s just on the Disney channel you have 7 to 13 year old girls warring so makeup tight clothes dressed just like an adult. Oh and I don’t even want to get started on toddler babies that to ma is just plain sad and parents living out their own dreams because in almost every episode the babies are yelling and crying. Parents need to stop and think before they go out and buy these items for their babies and young kids because it sends the wrong image. Kids need to be warring comfortable clothes to run and play in not play Hanna Montana.
Comment by Merri Abramyan — March 7, 2012 @ 2:16 pm
Fashion will sell no matter what the gender norm is. Everybody is into to fashion; therefore if ads put out the latest skinny jeans for men, then it will be sold. It’s being in tune with the latest trend. It is not what you look like but what is inside. Yes, I believe that some teenagers can take fashion a little bit overboard and it happens, because they die for attention or want to be unique. If a kilt for men was advertised by Ed Hardy, with different kinds of colors over it, it will be sold!! Just for the sake of fitting in with fashion. Social labels are what actually derail teenagers from feeling normal. It is what is put into their heads, is what they believe. If you criticize the youth, they will in return rebel to society and that’s what happens. Social codes are being set and are being broken at the same time just because.
Comment by Gloria T. — March 7, 2012 @ 8:02 pm
This article of course is outdated mainly because toddlers can now purchase jeggings
http://www.target.com/p/Circo-Infant-Toddler-Girls-Denim-Jegging-Indigo/-/A-13798276?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=%7C13798276&CPNG=baby&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=13798276
I think what is the worst aside from the companies wanting to make profit and “hidden agenda,” is that we are not allowing for the kids to be kids. Of course there are things that parents can do to limit the exposure for kids, but as I am learning, my 10 yr old brother knows more dirty stuff if you well compared to when i was his age. They are being perverted left and right.
Comment by Brian C — March 8, 2012 @ 1:36 pm
I understand the concept of children wanting to be like their parents in every way. Remember the days when we dressed up in our mom’s clothing? Oversized high heels, draped ourselves in their jewelry and even painted on some of their makeup. I think it’s adorable but during play time. Although I think the idea of skinny jeans for toddlers is ridiculous its not nearly as bad as the high heels and stripper poles mentioned in the post. Nevertheless, I am not surprised by these skinny jeans as this is just a result of the sexualized dolls kids are playing with these days. It’s fine for kids to play in their mom’s clothing but its a bit much for them to parade around in a smaller version of their mom’s inappropriatly tight clothing. Parents need to stop trying to speed up the growing process of their children and allow them to be kids. They can wear skinny jeans all they want when they hit the rebel teenage phase but as kids its just way too soon.
Comment by Jessica E. — March 8, 2012 @ 4:29 pm
I believe dressing kids at a young age by girls wearing mini skits and heals it’s sad and awful since they are so young and they are being exposed at this issues at a young age. When this is happening I believe that children aren’t enjoying their childhood life at the age there are in. We see hoe media portrays a huge part of this, but the person that has the power to stop this is the parents of the children. This then relates how parents have the entire blame top put on. For example, the parents are the one’s always dressing up their kids in which majority of the parents buy their children the last fashion trend such as skinny jeans. For me being 21 years old, I barely try and fit into the new fashion trend since it’s a bit hard to afford. Not only this is shocking, but if it’s hard for a college student as myself to buy the latest trend, I find it being extremely sad since parents are spending tons of money on their children for parents to make their children fit into society. Not only this shows how the parents want their children to feel accepted, but there are not letting their own children be themselves and them picking their own style they like. Not only I believe that having children being dressed up with the latest trend being awful, but I feel sad how a lot of little girls want to have the ideal body and not be fat. I have seen little girls at a elementary school not eat food since they feel there are going to be fat in which they don’t feel accepted in society. I believe all this comes into a conclusion, which people care too much about how society wants everyone to feel accepted by how society is seeing every “normal†people which its extremely awful and sad.
Comment by Alicia S. — March 8, 2012 @ 7:27 pm
It is unfortunate that young children and now babies are being sexualized. I remember growing up and not being concern about my body image in elementary. Maybe in fifth grade that is when I started to learn that girls needed to have curves and boobs to be considered pretty, but it became more clear until I was in middle school. I remember that in elementary school if I wanted to look cute, I would do my hair or something that small. When I started middle school I realized that doing my hair was not good enough, that it was based on your body development. Of course my body took forever to develop or at least it felt like that. But my whole middle school years I was considered too skinny and not pretty do to my lack of curves.However, I am stil very surprised on the type of clothing that are being design for babies, however, that would be up to the parents if they dress their children like that.
Comment by Analila B. — March 8, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
There are obviously boundaries of appropriate clothing, accessories, and activities for children. Stripper poles- BAD. Suggestive underwear- BAD. Skinny jeans- really? I feel that these jeans are just a cute way for parents to turn their children into little duplicates. It is the goal of procreation to replicate ourselves, so I am not terribly surprised that skinny jeans are the latest and greatest toddler trend. When I was little, I grew up in stretchy leggings so I could run around the play ground and be comfortable. How are those any less sexual, but widely more accepted than denim? Skinny Jeans are also gender neutral. I have seen boys and girls alike in skinny jeans and it is the one fashion trend that is so popular, gender expectations need not apply. It is important in our world today to remember that children should remain children, but sometimes we also have to let society progress in fashions and simple joys so that we do not become over zealous over the small things.
Comment by Montana.C — March 8, 2012 @ 10:40 pm
One fear of mine in the over sexualization of young children is the fact that this becomes idealistic for many disturbed individuals, pedophiles. They are already attracted to children and by making a child become “sexy” not only are parents stripping them of their innocence but they are unknowingly making them the targets of danger. I really don’t think pressures of appearance or anything sexual should be associated with children before they are even able to understand it for themselves.
Comment by Melissa Mata — March 9, 2012 @ 2:33 pm
I do not support Dr. Keith Ablow’s claims that painting a boy’s toe nails pink color (or any color for that matter) contributes to “psychological sterilization.†If, in fact, it was true that applying nail polish to a little boy’s toe nails could erase gender differences and homogenize males and females, then we would have the magic formula to an egalitarian society. Many wish it would be that easy! It is possible that J. Crew, a part from advertising and selling its garments and products, is unknowingly contributing to shape gender identity. It is a start. As people evolve and change, so does culture and behaviors.
What I think is happening here is that, powerful advertising campaigns can work both ways. They can promote and perpetuate sexual norms or, in the case of J. Crew’s new campaign, help open new gender possibilities. Unisex clothing can in time help balance gender differences.
I find Dr. Ablow’s concerns homophobic and sexist. I wonder if she bases her conclusions on the connection between color, gender and sexual identity, in scientific research or in her own beliefs. I do agree with Dr. Klein and Dr. Logan Levkoff in that colors are socially constructed and they do not have genders.
Media’s cultivation, or the stability of male and female prolific messages versus the change-oriented model, supports and perpetuates gender conditioning through our lives eliminating any possibility of personal choice.
Comment by M. R. Salvat — March 10, 2012 @ 7:48 pm
What happened to letting kids just be kids? I do not know how parents could dress their kids as if they were adults. I cannot picture myself making my daughter wear a thong, or buy her a stripper pole. This is too extreme. Sexualizing a toddler is not a good idea; I think that this affects children’s self-esteem as they grow up. Kids are being pressured on being sexy at such a young age that it is ridiculous. I also believe that this brigs up specific gender stereotypes as they grow up, they are given an idea of how women and men should dress and look when they grow up. I hope that this changes and that parents realize that they are harming their children by dressing them as if they were adults.
Comment by Tanya G. — March 11, 2012 @ 2:57 pm
I can honestly say what are these parents thinking these days. I am a mother to my 4-year-old daughter, and it’s depressing to here things like this. I do not understand why people would want to take away their child’s childhood. I know its cute dressing up my daughter to look like a mini version of me, but there has to be a limit to where to end it. She’s always asking me to buy her chap stick, because she sees me put on makeup, and I feel like sometimes it’s our fault for doing these adult things near our children. I know some people might think its just jeans; we should just get over it. But if its jeans now, what will they wear later, what will they demand later. I am very sad that our children don’t have that childhood we had growing up, and sometimes I fear their children are going to grow up so different, and cant imagine the things that are going to change in the future to come.
Comment by Marianna B. — March 15, 2012 @ 12:22 am
Walk over to the nearest Target, Walmart, or shopping mall. Go into the girls section or a girls store (The pink one with rhinestones covering the windows), what do you see?
Well, ten years ago you would’ve seen some jumpers and overalls. Maybe a skort that looks great with that light green Rugrats shirt with puffy sleeves.
Now there is no distinctive style for little girls. All the clothes we see in the girl’s section are just smaller sizes of clothes for teens. Little bikini’s and mini-skirts. Skinny Jeans with flower designs. Sure, all of it’s sparkly and pink, but what happened to comfy shorts with bright designs? T-shirts with cartoon characters and sneakers that light-up?
There is a new generation of little girls, and they have a new style, one that involves growing up and wearing big-girl clothes as soon as they’re out of the womb.
Comment by Lauren B — March 15, 2012 @ 2:33 pm
This is one post where I can see distinctly opposing views! It is a trickier subject because I don’t know if it’s so much about the cut of the jeans. I remember in the 80s shopping for jeans with my mom; all the pants seemed to be skinny jeans, they just weren’t called that. I laugh how much I hated my tight jeans because they are so popular now and I have purchased them again for myself. I think most of the pants that are made for children are not baggy. Especially cotton pants for toddlers. These pants could be likened to leggings.
I think the issue more is a marketing one. I do agree with some of the other comments that I don’t necessarily agree that skinny jeans should be compared to a stripper pole for children. If the cut poses issues in the child’s movement or comfort, I agree they shouldn’t be purchased. However, like everything else we demonstrate and teach our children, we should be aware and involved in the messages media, those in our environment, and we as parents are giving our children. If we present skinny jeans in the context of being sexual it would be different if we demonstrate that both genders wear skinny jeans because it is a style.
Comment by Noel L. — March 23, 2012 @ 5:05 pm
I can understand the desire to dress your children in fashionable clothes but last time I checked kids are energy machines, constantly running, playing and falling down. Skinny jeans are uncomfortable and most the time are low in the waist, exposing your lower back and sometimes butt. Parents number one concern for their children’s clothes should be durability and comfort, not fashions made for older women.
Comment by MarenW — March 23, 2012 @ 8:34 pm
I see this all the time, with my younger brother and cousins. My 12 year old year old cousin refuses to wear any other kind of jeans. I take her shopping every once in a while and I can’t believe half the things that she picks out. Her outfits don’t look like anything that I used to wear at that at age. What happened to just trying to be comfortable and having a little fun?
Comment by Melody A. — March 24, 2012 @ 10:02 am
i find it rather disgusting that mothers and fathers buy their toddlers thong underwear. that is totally unappropriate and they are racing their maturity by twelve years. i also cannot believe that parents also participate in virgin waxing. what truly baffles me is that they are choosing and essentially deciding for their daught to remove all hair, so that the vagina will look like an pre-pubescent vagina for the rest of her life. unfortunately, i dont understand why skinny jeans is a problem. i don’t think they have any sexual connotation and in my opinion they are just a new style.
Comment by Chantelle A — March 24, 2012 @ 1:58 pm
Using “sex†to sell has a very profitable outcome for many advertisers in today’s market. However, where do they draw the line? I find it outrageous that people stoop so low as to sell inappropriate and outright unethical images to today’s youth. And what’s worse is that there is actually a market for it! It is mind boggling that parents would actually buy these items for their children. I walked into a footlocker a few weeks ago and saw a Jordan toddler outfit, equipped with mini shoes and the rest of the Jordan attire, for babies straight out of the womb. I thought it was cute, but then I realized that advertisers have found our weak spot-babies. Additionally, advertisers would stop nowhere in order to expose our soft spots for tots. When researching this article, I clicked on some other links that showed other ways that advertisers sell sex to children and by far the most disturbing link was the Tesco pole dancing toy. I mean seriously? How is that not considered pedophilia? And most importantly, how is there even a market for this? There should definitely be higher standards for our children.
Comment by Ben B — March 25, 2012 @ 12:46 pm
It astounds me how children are loosing their child hood. Many parents these days carry the idea that their children need designer clothes and things like skinny jeans because they are another version of themselves. Parents seem to use their children to show off their own personalities. When you walk into a department store, the clothes for children are in a separate area than adults for a reason. Kids need clothes they can run around in and get dirty in. The kids that are in these thongs and skinny jeans are expected to sit quietly on the bench, effectively taking away their child hood.
Comment by Mohit Sharma — March 28, 2012 @ 2:17 pm
I frankly think this article is ridiculous. How do legging jeans that are stretchy and comfortable for kids sex up toddlers. Come on! They are the perfect jeans for toddlers! They do not have excess fabric that gets caught on things. And if you have children, or have watched a toddler play in jeans, their jeans are constantly riding down. Even if they have the jeans with elastic at the top. This is because you do not want to put your child in uncomfortable jeans that are too tight, but the looseness of the stiff cotton causes them to ride down when crawling, walking, or climbing. That is why many parents put their kids in cotton leggings for comfort and movement. Now with the jegging kids can have comfort, movement, and get to wear jeans. They are the perfect children’s pant! And stretch jeggings are also softer than regular jeans. This article is nitpicking at an issue that isn’t there. Next are they going to say having your infant in a onesie is sexing them up because it is a popular fashion trend to wear sexy adult onesies right now? As long as the toddler doesn’t have their midriff showing I think some jeggings are okay.
Comment by S.Lockey — April 6, 2012 @ 10:04 am
I do not agree with this at all. There are many trends that are overly sexualizing young girls such as thong underwear or padded bras. I do not believe that skinny jeans are some how making little girls look sexy. Skinny jeans are what is in style right now. I don’t even feel skinny jeans make women…or men for that matter look sexy. I will never be against children playing with plastic high heels. As a child my mom bought me dress up high heels and they were my favorite thing to play with. All little girls want to play dress up and if my daughter wanted some small 1 inch heels to play with I would buy them for her. I think sometimes we need to take a step back and think when things are outrageous such as child thongs and when people are taking things too far such as saying skinny jeans are making little girls look too sexy.
Comment by Patrina C — April 7, 2012 @ 9:05 am
Skinny jeans can have many interpretations. Skinny jeans are being used among many kids which it is causing for kids to grow up fast. The clothing they wear is often also worn by adults which has caused skinny jeans to be popular. The reason is because kids want to look like adults. THe way they can feel that way is by wearing clothes that adults. They are minnie me’s. The skinny jeans are popular because parents buy them for their kids. THey want their kids to be in fashion. I think that parents should dress their kids according to their age.
Comment by Maira Pacheco — April 7, 2012 @ 9:18 pm
My god what ever happend to dresses, regular little pants? Today there are small little bikinis, thongs for kids and skippy little halter tops for children!!!I would never let my girl child wear that stuff! Onesie, or frilly underwear that go over the diaper, regular little dress, shorts and t-shirt are what toddlers and kids should wear. I even saw a 3rd grader wear knee high boots! My god what are these moms thinking!Kids should dress according to their age group and parents need to stop making their kids grow faster, if a child looks a older than what they are assumptions are made and something bad could happen. Teenage pregnacies, date rape, underage drinking, etc. This starts with parents trying to make their childern grow up faster that what they are.
Comment by Eternity Holloway — April 10, 2012 @ 9:38 am
This is so weird to me that parents are actually participating in act that sexualize their children . When parents do this they don’t think about what they are truly doing they do with humor. Parents think that it is funny, cute, or fashionable to dress their daughters up like this. Many don’t realize that they are pushing their daughters to be grown up. Why dress girls in woman clothes the only explanation I can think of is to make them look good. These skinny jeans are made to show off your curves. Young girls do not need to be showing off their curves that they do not even have. The blame is not just on the parents because the clothes they get comes from clothing stores that are producing this type of clothing. They are producing this type of clothing because they want to set trends for people to consume their products. Society also has affect on this because they also encourage this type of sexualization by putting humor to these situations.
Comment by LilianaC — April 11, 2012 @ 7:03 pm
When I heard about Abercrombie & Fitch: Kids, made a padded bikini top for girls, I was stunned. I could not help but think to myself, how to kids even know what it means to have big breasts? But then I thought, right, times have changed. Am I surprised that skinny jeans are now on the market? No! But what I am surprised about is how many parents buy them. I have family friends that I have known since their oldest daughter was 8 months old. She is 11 now and when we went back to school shopping for her in August, she picked up a pair of hot pink skinny jeans from the popular store Justice. First I thought, won’t these be uncomfortable when you’re playing? Second I thought, your butt looks so cute in those. CLEARLY that is the problem. The pants are too tight! They leave nothing to the imagination. Nevertheless, her mother bought them because what kid doesn’t want to fit in with the fashions? What needs to happen is manufacturers and designers need to stop shrinking clothes meant for adults, for children.
Comment by Catie Smith — April 14, 2012 @ 2:45 pm
After reading this article, I am truly in shock! I can’t believe that these days, kids just can’t be kids. I believe that there are certain clothes for certain age groups. Like thong underwear. I’m an adult and I barely wear them, but I see girls that look like they are 9-10 years old shopping for thong underwear when I’m purchasing mine! It really shocks me that clothes are being changed in order to go along with society. These days it seems that society is becoming more sexualized, television, commercials, and even clothes (for children?) especially. I remember the commercial for the denim diapers, which showed a little baby who was suppose to be the “studmuffin†strutting around saying that his diaper was “chicâ€. I also saw on television someone talking about Suri Cruise wearing high heels for her age! The person discussing it said that “she is too young to be wearing heels everyday and that she should just be allowed to be a kidâ€. Unfortunately, news and ad’s like this is what is making society be ok with these types of clothes for children. Seeing commercials and famous children wearing these things makes society want them. Skinny jeans came out as a trend for teens and adults, not children. What exactly is too far? I think in the end that kids are just that, kids, and they should be treated as and dressed like that, instead of being treated or dressed like adults. Let them live!
Comment by CandaceR — April 15, 2012 @ 3:44 pm
I am truly disturbed by the way that children are being sexualized. Children are no longer free to act like children instead they are being pushed toward looking more like sexified adults. A little girl who is wearing high heels would be unable to run around the playground or participate in any other physical activity. A child should be able to enjoy acting their age without having to worry about the way they look. It seems like pushing heels and skinny jeans onto children only inhibits them from having the full child experience. How is a little girl supposed keep up with all the other kids in the playground if she can’t even move around because her jeans are too tight? Children are left vulnerable to the images that are sold to them. They see Miley Cyrus or Selena Gomez on popular disney shows wearing heels and sometimes other provocative clothing so of course they are going to try to emulate them. It is up to the parents to protect children from outside influences and to guide them into the right direction. What disturbs me even more is that parents are willing to buy these provocative clothing items for their children. Kids should be free to act like kids without having to worry about wearing the latest and sexiest clothing. Selling adult clothing to children only has damaging effects. Children need clothing that will allow them to play, grow and develop.
Comment by Gabriela V — April 17, 2012 @ 1:32 pm
It is crazy to think that parents actually treat there children like that. Things such as this really make it hard for kids to be protected. At such a young age we are raising our children to believe that they are older and more mature than they are. It may seem like just a little thing but its not because it messes with the development of children in our over sexualized society.
Comment by Matthew Smit — April 17, 2012 @ 8:30 pm
Stripper poles, thongs, and high heels for kids are outrageous. But, skinny jeans? Last time i checked skinny jeans were a style of cut, not necessarily a way to sexual degrade your two year old. Skinny jeans are simply the latest trend, just like bell bottoms and capris were. Yes skinny jeans are a successful product of commercial marketing, and the goal of commercial marketing is to maximize profits. Unfortunately, the next target audience happened to be toddlers. But this definitely is not the worse thing to happen to toddler fashion, especially since the diaper thong!
With that said, these days age four seems like the new fourteen! The constant pressures and speeds of society encourage kids to grow up way to fast. What’s the rush? I believe with the right parenting and understand of age appropriateness for child, you should be able to set examples for your child so they grow up at the right pace and do not give into societal norms. However i’m almost positive that pair of skinny jeans is not going to make them want to become a stripper.
Comment by Raven G — April 18, 2012 @ 5:31 pm
Skinny jeans should be the least of this article worries. The makeup, tanning, the waxing, the over sexualization is the more important factor to skinny jeans. There is an age appropriate limit for some of these actions. It is important to understand that children need to be children, and this doesn’t just go for girls, it goes for boys as well. I would much rather my children to grow up in the early 90’s like I did, so they can understand you don’t need all these things to entertain yourself.
Comment by Kevin Moore — April 19, 2012 @ 8:32 am
Am I the only one who’s curious about what goes on in the board meetings during the development of these products?
It boggles my mind that there are people that stupid that they come up with products like these to market to children…and it kills my soul that there are even stupider people because they actually GO OUT and buy these products! WTF is wrong with these idiots?
I’d love to personally sit on one of those board meetings and engage in Socratic discourse with the development/marketing team as both of my feet approach the speed of light and are shoved so far up their asses that they taste their own fecal matter. Maybe then, they’d understand how retarded their ideas are.
Comment by David A. — April 22, 2012 @ 11:49 am
I think its ridiculous how some parents are raising their children. It is unnecessary to do adult things for them like styling them in women’s jeans. They are little kids for goodness sake, they do not need to look “sexy” or glamourous!! I work at Abercrombie & Fitch and we have a sister store “abercrombie” for kids. We have sold padded bikini tops and thongs. I disagree the fact that those products have been put on the shelves for sale. Children don’t need to be wearing padded bikini or thongs when they are that at age, they are still immature and still growing. This also reminds me of the television show called Toddlers and Tiaras. This show is about how toddlers are in fashion competitions. I don’t think I would ever put my kids through this because it is ridiculous! They are shown with big puffy dresses with hair and makeup done just to look glamourous like an older woman. They are kids. They should go out and play or read a book instead, not competing for who looks good with makeup etc. The world has gone crazy about raising our children.
Comment by Linda Piyawadhanachai — April 23, 2012 @ 6:50 pm
I never agreed on trying to make our kids look older. Now a day I see all this “cute†clothes that are for little kids but little kids should not be wearing short shorts or skirts, their bellies should not be showing, and especially they should not be wearing bras as shirts. This is just wrong because we live in a world where pedophiles and child rapist exist. As if all that sexualized baby clothes wasn’t enough, now skinny jeans are being brought up to the market. What is the point to skinny jeans really? I don’t think its main purpose is to make someone look skinny but rather it is to show someone’s curves and to wrap around the lower waist tighter than other pants. These type of jeans were so popular when I was in high school all the girls wore them. It was obvious skinny jeans were the trend because girls wanted to appear attractive and of course tease the boys with their bodies. It is apparent that the parent is the one who is stealing the childhood from his kid trying to sex him up while they should be wearing clothes with flowers or crayons. Even though skinny jeans don’t seem that much of a deal, I see my nieces were them and come on it is obvious they look like teenagers from the waist down with the pants so tight and their hip bones almost showing. I have seen parents proud that their children are wearing such sexualized clothes it is like they are proud society thinks they are sexy and hot when they are only children.
Comment by Jovanna G — April 25, 2012 @ 6:11 pm
I don’t think “skinny jeans” for toddlers is an outrage — they are called skinny jeans because they have a tight fit, almost like leggings, and are stretchy, durable, and comfortable. I don’t think this is a sexualization of youth nor does it put a premature focus on their appearance — in my opinion the only thing odd about this is that mothers are putting an excessive amount of thought into the appearance of their children. If you have a toddler, they don’t need to be wearing all of the latest trends… however, the padded bikinis and thongs for children is just disgusting. What really got me though, was when we discussed “virgin waxing” in class. Kids are just growing up way too fast, and their parents, the media, and friends are perpetuating this.
Comment by Lyndsay — April 27, 2012 @ 10:16 am
Touching on this subject always makes me sick to my stomach because it makes me so angry. It’s crazy how now they have skinny jeans for toddlers, just until recently I started to wear skinny jeans and I’m 23. Children are being exposed to sexual clothing and accessories at an extremely young age and it blows my mind on how common it is and parents are encouraging it. On the show toddlers and tiaras,these young girls are have fake tans, fake teeth, and hair, tons of makeup and the parents think it’s just the most amazing thing. Their sexing up their kids and downright disturbing and awful.
Comment by Erica — April 27, 2012 @ 6:00 pm
Children should not be given the option of wearing “grown up†clothes. I have a niece that adores her little high heels. I think that it is ridiculous because when she wears them she cannot run around and be a child. I know that at times my skinny jeans get on my nerves because I don’t feel I can not be as active as I want. If I feel this way imagine how children must feel. When I heard about the padded bras I was in shock. What girl of age 8 needs a padded bra! We are sexualizing the children of this generation. I find it sad that we allow these companies to target children.
Comment by Teresa H. — April 27, 2012 @ 10:25 pm
I feel that it’s extremely difficult to counter the productivity of corporate market forces except for grassroots efforts to sell items that don’t overtly sexualize toddlers and children. It’s ever more prevalent in today’s society that children are pushed to grow up more quickly compared to the past, excluding the traditional value of children equating a family network or familial value in terms of generating labor force, by which they tended fields instead of attending school within their network of kin; however these are not those times people! I feel that it is rancid, how we are influenced to believe that buying products that are supposedly “cute†are actually accelerating and exacerbating the problem of overt sexualization in early childhood.
Comment by Byron — April 28, 2012 @ 11:25 am
This post reminds me of Suri Cruise – since she was born, she’s been walking around in high-heels, lipstick, dresses, etc. Kids (especially girls) are introduced to grown up clothing way too early, and are being exposed to our body and looks-conscious culture. Our toddlers shouldn’t be sexualized or made to look like grown women. Way, way, way too young.
Comment by Kyle Rudell — April 29, 2012 @ 3:12 pm
I find it very saddening to see little girls walking around looking like adults. Recently, I have seen little 5 year old girls walking around with straightened hair and lip gloss on. When I started to think about this, I came to one conclusion.Patriarchy. Is it a surprise that little girls are dressing like “loose” women in a society that wants “sexy” women? It is grotesque, but not shocking. Men want to condition women to be sexual objects from the get go; therefore, having little girls dress like common strumpets that can be found on any street corner. This conditioning of women when they are young sets up the foundation for havinf overtly sexualized girls. For example, when I got to my sisters middle school, I’m literally flabbergasted by the appearance of 12, 13 and 14 year olds. Some girls seriously look like they’ve walked off stage at a strip club! They have a lot of make up on and clothes that off their body in an indecent way. Further proof that patriarchy, society, wants overtly sexualized girls.
Comment by lucero Medrano — April 29, 2012 @ 6:11 pm
I remeber when i was a kid the only thing on my mind was playing sports with my cousins and friends, the last thing on my mind was “what i was going to wear”. Im sure no 5 year old id thinking about a diapper making their but look big, or people locking up their daughters. Kids really just want to be kids, what happened to those close from back in the days with firetrucks or cartoon caracters? Just look at some of the parents from the tv show “toddlers in tiaras” do some little girst really need to be wearing make up and high heals by age three. Lets let kids play and have fun they will grow up some day but in the mean time lets not try to speed up the process.
Comment by Luis G. — April 29, 2012 @ 11:36 pm
When I look back at old baby pictures of myself and what I was dressed up like, my clothes had patterns, cute designs, funny animals and in a sense girly but enough for me to run around freely when I can. Today society the whole concept of putting your baby in skinny jeans is just a trend setter for adults to make their babies look trendier than other babies. You see this common in a lot of young adults because those are the main ones saying “my baby has to look better than other babiesâ€. Nothing is wrong with making a baby look nice but it is a baby enjoy their innocence and be a parent to a baby and not dressing them as a teenager that may give you a problem in the long wrong in school for wearing to tight of a skinny jean. Children are starting to look the age of 5 when they’re only a few months I wish people would stop aging their child because they will miss them once being just a baby a few years down the line.
Comment by Kayla Ainsworth — April 30, 2012 @ 1:38 pm
I do not see the big deal in having skinny jeans for young children or babies. I have seen the clothing change over time and all the clothes seem to be the same now just changed depending on the age it is intended for. Clothing should not be what our biggest concern but our child and them so focused on the media instead. Children these days are going up very fast but we are also pushing them in that direction with the media and women need to be. There are many different clothing articles that can be picked out at the store but not all of them are going to be advertised but the more popular ones, and this starts a trend because women want to be popular and liked. Parents are the ones that pick out the clothing at a young age so I’m not entirely to positive on what the hype is about with this article.
Comment by allison — April 30, 2012 @ 2:06 pm
It is hard to believe that parents would actually put their children out there in skimpy clothing, and then men actually wear these offensive pieces of clothing in public. Babies and toddlers have practically become accessories to moms, almost like little dressed up dogs in purses. What ever happened to preserving the innocence of our young? Although skinny jeans to me are not necessarily a bad thing, padded kids bikinis are taking it too far. It’s almost as if clothing corporations want bad things to happen to little girls. People, especially little girls, go missing everyday due to human trafficking and sold into sex slavery. Children should be better protected from these kinds of things and not be so sexualized.
Comment by Katy S — April 30, 2012 @ 3:50 pm
What happened to our society. It’s no wonder that parents are putting such restrictions on their daughters and that children are trying to become grownups faster than in the past. Not only that but parents should be ashamed by not only accepting this, but also advocating this by buying this for their children. I really hope this doesn’t lead to a dim future.
Comment by PhilipW — April 30, 2012 @ 6:20 pm
I can definitely see why companies are making clothing articles that adults wear in kid sizes. Kids look up to adults and want to look like them so companies are not thinking about the images they are portraying but rather the profit they will be making. I would not let my child wear heels, dye their hair or wear revealing clothing. Kids grow up too fast anyway and by allowing them to wear and do things that an adult does is only giving them the green light to bypass their childhood.
Comment by Michelle A. — April 30, 2012 @ 9:22 pm
I feel as if our society and culture is truly stealing our youth’s childhood. It seems as children are more worried about looking good, then just be able to freely play on the playground and be a kid. This fast pace society seems it is trying to make our youth into adults a lot more quick then needed. Parent’s shouldn’t be given into this problem, let your kid be a kid and play in the mud and not worry about dirtying their skinny jeans. Our young girls have no reason to be wearing scandalous clothing, that’s only leading them to negative notions at such a young age.
Comment by Ally P — April 30, 2012 @ 11:41 pm
It’s so sad to hear how our society is putting so much importance on how we dress and how we look. Not only has this phenomenon affected adults, but it’s also now trickling down to our children. Media is now telling us we have to “sex up†and keep our children trendy! It’s disappointing that parents would fall into this trap and buy high heels, skinny jeans, and short skits for their toddlers. At the age of 22 I find it extremely uncomfortable to be walking around in short skirts, high heels, and tiny tops. If at 22 I find it uncomfortable, how can a toddler be expected to wear the same things? If a toddler is told its ok to wear these types of seductive clothes at such a young age, then when they’re 22, what would they consider to be ok to wear? By introducing skinny jeans to babies we’re sending the message that even as a baby you need to look trendy and fit in. If at such a young age we’re conditioning our children to put so much importance on clothes, how are they going to have any self-worth or respect in who they are as people? By selling and buying these types of clothes we’re sending the message out that sex and material things are how we should value people.
Comment by Scarlett G — May 1, 2012 @ 10:16 am
This article is something that I agree with and disagree with. Yes, the way jeans are being sold to children is becoming a little too inappropriate for the age being advertised. However, the choice of whether or not to buy them is completely up to parent of that child since they are most likely in charge of the purchase. It’s also funny to read some of the comments involved with this article that are claiming skinny jeans are not bad they are just the style and what not, but I’m not so sure that the word “style†was taken into consideration very much. The reason that skinny jeans are the “in†style is because of the way they make people look while wearing them, they are meant to express the butt and to make the legs look skinnier than they are. That is why they are considered to be in style, and because they are in style the companies are starting to produce them for younger targets so that the parents will buy them for their toddlers so that they can match or be cute because they are wearing adult clothes made for kids. These people really do get sucked into the advertisement which is exactly what the corporation is hoping for, that because it is the style of the older generation that the product will be bought if put on toddlers or young children since it is the same style of clothing as them.
Comment by Kincaidw — May 1, 2012 @ 6:44 pm
I find it extremely disturbing that there are thongs, padded bikini tops, and stripper poles for children. What is going in on in our culture? In a world where sex sells, it seems that companies are going to extremes. It is so inappropriate for these items to be marketed to young children. It is unhealthy for young girls to see these things. They are learning at such a young age to dress sexy and ultimately impress boys, when at their age, this is the last thing they should be thinking about. I have seen the video of the “gyrating 7-year-olds,†and I was in complete shock. I was so disgusted to see 7 year olds dancing and dressing so provocatively. Sex is too predominant in our culture and media, and is negatively affecting children. They are too young to even know what sex is, yet they are dressing as if they are ready to engage in the activity. Although I completely agree that is horrible to sell such items to children, I do not see the problem with skinny jeans. Jeans do not automatically become sexy when they are skinny cut; they become sexy when they are worn with stilettos, and a revealing top. As long as the child is not wearing the latter, then I think skinny jeans are just fine.
Comment by Nicole D — May 5, 2012 @ 5:45 pm
Thinking back when I was a little girl I rebebber I would wear anything as long as it was comfortable because I used to like doing what kids do PLAY! Now I see a lot of little girls that they can;t do that because they are wearing tiny little skirts, tight jeans not just the girls cause some boys wear skinny jeans as well. I believe the media and society don’t allow kids to be kids no more they are growing fatser than what they should. With shirts like “lock up your daughters” they are reinforsing heterosexual preference; and in the sciety that we live in not all boys like girls. Parents buying their little girls skinny jeans its almost an encouragement to make them think and look as they are suppose to wear thight clothes and be sexy. I live close to a junior high and I see a lot of the young girls wearing a lot of make up,their hair different colors, little clothes and they just thinking they look sexy. In reality they are just growing to fast because of the society and the media.
Comment by Gladys S — May 7, 2012 @ 11:57 am
I don’t get it. It’s becoming more popular for parents to dress up babies and children like adults, and society is completely intrigued. They aren’t personal mini me’s, they’re children. Shows like Toddlers in Tiara’s are appalling. Especially when their skin and hair are being damaged by all the make up and hairspray. I’m not a parent, but I don’t understand the reason behind attempting to make a 4 year old sexy yet at the same time being worried about pedophiles. I suppose most are not looking at the bigger picture of what is being implicated, which is sexualizing a child. Personally, I wouldn’t want to struggle with attempting to get a toddler in and out of a pair of skinny jeans, but at least they’re still jeans. Compared to bikinis, make up, and high heels, I’d take the jeans. Still, there is an issue with why the mainstream culture wants to mimic adulthood in young children and I hope it does not continue to be popular for long.
Comment by Jessica C — May 7, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
Thong underwear and stripper poles for children are a very bad idea but for skinny jeans I don’t think there is much of an issue. Im not sure how these oversexualize children. Skinny jeans is marketed to both boys and girls. Its interesting in that skinny jeans was first started by men who would wear woman jeans to get that skinny look.
Comment by AL P — May 8, 2012 @ 9:36 am
I understand the concern with kids in high heels, padded bikinis and stripper poles, but I don’t think skinny jeans are an entirely bad thing. Most people who wear skinny jeans are not using it as a way to sexualize their bodies, it’s just a different fit of jeans. Not everyone wears skinny jeans and there are different selections of jeans for kids as well. However I do think that fashion of kids are becoming way out of hand. Little girls do not need to be wearing heals or any other type of clothing meant to sexualize their bodies. They are kids! They should be running around in tennis shoes, playing games and being care free – not worrying about what they look like.
Comment by Kristin Singleton — May 8, 2012 @ 10:52 am
From an open and broad perspective, speculating with as little bias as possible, I see this article as both a progression and a regression. Human kind is progressing by training our younger generation to “grow up faster.†This can be positive in some ways because the faster our youth grow, the faster technology and science will respond. It is regressing however by lowering female standards in regards to ethics and morality. It teaches our young female children to follow the standards set forth by our current society, however provocative or degrading it is. I really i am grossed out by this. When ever i see little beauty pageant girls with make-up, hair, nails, heels, and mini outfits on i feel really bad. I do not understand why mothers feel the need to do tell little girls anything but natural beauty. They grow up to be materialistic and discriminative amongst other kids. When you put skinny jeans on babies or children yes it is cute and fashionable but the message that is being portrayed as a baby is bad. He or she does not need to fit in by wearing the new clothes or priciest clothes. At this age our children should be enjoying their lives as children’s not clothing ads or target to rapist or molesters. Although you can blame the parents for buying them you can blame the makers and society for having you believe that it is okay to do such a thing.
Comment by Bri Davis — May 9, 2012 @ 11:28 am
Managing to hold down my breakfast was a miracle after reading this article. As if inevitable sexualization by the media during the awkward teen years isn’t enough now sexuality is being pushed on the seedling years of a child’s life. I thought beauty pageants for little girls was prostitution at its peak but now there are clothes that are even lazier with sexualization by simply directly pasting suggestive statements on clothes for children. I hope with all my being that parents even as a joke do not buy these clothes for their children. The whole point of the childhood years are to be messy, tacky, comfortable, and carefree. This has been made virtually impossible with the more and more grown up clothes being pushed on children. This reminds of AP European History when my teacher old us that during the Renaissance children were treated and dressed as young adults which is exactly what is happening again. History has a way of repeating itself and most of the time not for the better.
Comment by Melody Sabet — May 10, 2012 @ 1:06 pm
I can honestly say that the sexualization of children has heightened over the past decade. I do not recollect any memories of shows featuring toddlers wearing makeup from my formative years; I also do not recall skinny jeans, padded bikinis, or thongs in my childhood closet. The only image that sticks out in my mind, that is somewhat similar to the phenomenon we are witnessing today, is Jonbenet Ramsey. I remember seeing her name and picture plastered all over the media because of her impending murder case. Her face is still ingrained into my memory, primarily because I remember wishing that I resembled her. She was undoubtedly beautiful, but her face was masked with heavy makeup and hair teased to the heavens. Her pageant outfits were far beyond her years, but nonetheless, I still found myself yearning to look just like her. Nowadays, we are observing a new resurgence in the over-sexualized child as evidenced by the popular show “Toddlers in Tiaras.” Young girls are glorified for their seemingly advanced knowledge of sexuality. They shake their behinds at the judges and perform sexy dances in hopes of gaining a few extra points. Girls should not be subjected to this type of feminine devaluation at such a naive age. I feel a sense of remorse for these exploited children because they are unknowingly exposed to a system of patriarchy.
The term “skinny jeans” is two-fold; they are tight from the waist to the ankle, and you must be thin in order for them to fit appropriately. Skinny jeans are marketed to the young, fashion-forward female, not the stay-at-home mom. This fit of jean is meant to show off every nook and cranny of the feminine form; there is no room for imperfection. A considerable number of women stay away from skinny jeans because they do not want to induce vulnerability. The ideal woman who adorns this type of denim is in her early twenties, wears a size 2, and is employed at a white-collar job. I simply cannot comprehend the sense in marketing this fit of jean to children. It’s reprehensible enough that only a select demographic of the population is designated as suitable enough to wear skinny jeans, but now children have been added into the mix. Children only have a small amount of time to enjoy their youth. It is an injustice to strip them of this carefree time by imposing inappropriate attire restrictions. I cannot even fathom a six-year-old wearing a thong! It is disgusting and quite disturbing. This trend needs to stop now before any further damage is incurred!
Comment by Nicole Z. — May 10, 2012 @ 9:15 pm
In having younger cousins, I can see how greatly affected these kids are by these advertisements that encourage them to look and want to act older. I have my five year old cousin telling me how she was so upset that she didn’t get makeup for her birthday. I was completely shocked by this but happy that her parents did not give into her request. ‘m 22 and I still don’t even wear makeup on a daily basis. So I try to teach my younger cousin, that she should not want to wear makeup at such a young age. And then having my other eight year old cousin telling me how much she wants purple skinny jeans. She literally came to me crying because she asked her mom if she could get skinny jeans and her mom told her no. I was shocked to hear both of these requests from my my younger cousins. How are they so young and already obsessed over their image? Not only that, but how are these things being encouraged to them by the media. It truly makes me sad to have my eight year old cousin coming to me and telling me how she wishes she was my age because she wants to wear skinny jeans and makeup. She’s even into things I’m not into myself. At such a young age, she’s already so concerned with her image. I do not remember being that young and being concerned with my image and the trends the way she is. So every time I walk by the girl section and see the kinds of clothes that are on the rack for them, I cringe. These young girls shouldn’t be wearing booty shorts, skinny jeans, and flashy sequins tops. These kids aren’t even getting the chance to truly enjoy their childhood because they are being feed with this idea of being obsessed over their image and looking older.
Comment by Melissa Muniz — May 10, 2012 @ 11:10 pm
I don’t think that skinny jeans for young children is necessarily a bad thing. While growing up I assumed that my parents did not buy me nice clothes until I was in high school or college because they knew I would easily grow out of those clothes. That may have shaped the way I view fashion for children, but I think that skinny jeans for children would be perfectly acceptable. High heels and padded bikinis, I agree, do seem a bit much, but compared to jeans, an article of clothing known to be durable and known to cover up much of the lower body, I see no harm in buying a pair or two for one’s children. Fashion is an ever-changing industry and eventually trends will die out and clothes will be outgrown. Children wont be wearing these forever and the negative image will eventually pass. Although I think jeans are perfectly appropriate, I do believe that children should stay out of advertisements that may exploit them.
Comment by Jason Guanlao — May 11, 2012 @ 2:47 am
Comparing skinny jeans to that of thong underwear and stripper poles, is a bit much. Personally, I see nothing wrong with skinny jeans for children, as the only difference between them and regular jeans is the width at the ankle. Skinny jeans is almost identical to straight leg jeans, and those are classic. Skinny jeans, are just a different style and fit of jeans added to the likes of wide leg, straight leg, bell-bottoms and so fourth. Skinny jeans do not overtly objectify children and should never be compared to the likes of padded kid bikinis.
Comment by Jasmine M — May 11, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
I couldn’t agree more with this article! When “skinny jeans†first became popular I thought to myself, “now why in the hell would someone want to wear something that is THAT tight!?†As someone who enjoy comfort over style, I will never understand this. In addition, I am not “skinny†as a matter of fact I would be considered “obese†in our society, and there are “skinny†jeans that come in my size. This does not even make sense, I am not skinny so why would my jeans be called skinny jeans!?
In more relation to this topic, I have to comment on the show Toddlers and Tiaras. Quite honestly, I do not even see how the show is legal, let alone televised for the world to see. I think it is absolutely DISGUSTING that these children are turned in to real life baby dolls. The outfits that these children wear, the make-up they wear, and now the tanning, are pathetic. Why does a 4 year old need to be tan or skinny!? Whatever happened to a baby being able to look cute in a onesie and a pair of sweats?
Comment by K — May 11, 2012 @ 11:37 pm
This is quickly getting out of hand. What’s next Botox for children? Similar to this is this show I just caught my girlfriend watching, it was some cable show about toddlers in tiaras or something like that. It was incredibly disturbing how these mothers are putting make up on these little girls, really caking it on, and using chemicals to dye, perm, and curl their hair makes them look years older. This doesn’t seem right to allow these parents to project their own insecurities onto the child. They are kids they should be pretending playing dress up like my sisters did, that is cute and adorable.
Comment by Albert Q — May 12, 2012 @ 11:13 pm
People wonder why our children are growing up so fast and why our youth seem to be having babies before they can even legally drive a vehicle. This article highlights the sexual features presented to our younger generations within their clothing options and in doing so, it is obvious that sexuality is beginning to be more important at younger ages than in the past. “Padded kiddle bikinis†are emphasizing the importance of having boobs if you are a female. So how is it that our society does not see teen pregnancy as inevitable when items like these are being worn by our children? Our society needs to wake up and take responsibility, for our teens are just going off of what they have been taught. In this case, sexuality seems to be very important and most importantly, it seems to be acceptable.
Comment by Brittany Fisher — May 13, 2012 @ 9:56 am
Kids are supposed to be innocent, play with video games, play outside, run around, get dirty, and to live their lives not knowing certain ideas until they are old enough to completely understand them. It is amazing how society is teaching kids about “sex†through the media at an age in which they cant completely understand at all. Instead these ideas will be mosconstrued in them and they will grow to accept that this is how a girl or boy must look in order to be considered attractive. The world is changing by the second
Comment by VicG — May 13, 2012 @ 3:53 pm
Skinny jeans are not a bad thing it’s just a fashion statement unlike thongs and heels for children, skinny jeans are used by everyone redardless of age and gender which doesn’t happend quite that often. If we continue to blow up small details like skinny jeans we will loose focus on what really matters like the gender socialization of media and advertisement. Let us come together in the fight againist what really matters which is what is found in the media, which includes cartoons, commercials, and toys.
Comment by Tania L — May 13, 2012 @ 6:20 pm
Seeing this is pretty disheartening. Aside from the fact that they exist, there are parents out there who actually get them just because they want their child look cute. Toddlers are not skinny, but yet they are already putting the idea that being skinny is appealing. Aside from that, toddlers like to move around. Skinny jeans would be uncomfortable and detrimental to a toddler trying to play. What upsets me most though, is that parents actually buy these ridiculous products mentioned in the article. Kids should just be playing and exploring their world, not trying to be models.
Comment by DannyM — May 13, 2012 @ 6:41 pm
Nowadays, children are growing up too fast. Kids are not supposed to be exposed to this sexualized society we live in today at an early age. It is unfortunate that young children have to play with toys that have been too “sexed up†such as Bratz Dolls to the altercation versions of toys such as Strawberry Shortcake with a shorter skirt or Barbie dressed provocatively. Toys demonstrate gender roles as well such as Bob the Builder for little boys and Mini Bake Oven for girls. It is sad enough that children are exposed to this with toys, but now it has gone to clothing. Skinny jeans are now available for toddlers. I believe this is wrong because skinny jeans are typically worn by slim young women which shows every aspect of their body. Why do these companies that manufacture these items think it is appropriate for toddlers to wear skinny jeans? It is a shame that in today’s society, young children are getting their youth taken away from them by these products that influence them to grow up faster. Kids are meant to be carefree, especially on how they look and not experience low self-esteem.
Comment by MaryD — May 13, 2012 @ 6:50 pm
I don’t see how skinny jeans are meant to sexualize a child’s body? I can see how the high heels, padded bikinis and thong kids underwear (which I had no idea existed) are wrong, but than again, it’s up to the parents of the child to dress them with what they think is appropriate?
Comment by Vanessa Ochoa — May 13, 2012 @ 7:36 pm
9. This is exactly why the show 16 and pregnant exists, and is so popular. I don’t know what happened with the last couple of generations, but they (we) are overly sexualized. Children are exposed to sexuality so early they think it’s the norm. They aren’t children they are miniature adults. I thank the heavens for my parents being older (75 dad and 65 mom). so they come from a different time. The things kids these days are allowed to wear, say, and play with my mother would have killed me for. I do not think that skinny jeans are sexual in the least, but i do feel that children’s clothes companies are making miniature adult clothing. What happened to Osh Kosh B’ Gosh and Gymboree, instead people flock to Forever21 kids or H&M to have their child looking like their mini me.
Comment by Corrin M. — May 13, 2012 @ 7:41 pm
This post was interesting because it highlighted the socialization and gender roles large corporations force onto consumers. The post highlights clear socializers within toddler and baby apparel and does an excellent job connecting those socializers to the overt sexualization of our current culture. The most important issue, which the post identifies, is the overall effects the apparel have on the children and youth who wear them.
Comment by Masis H — May 13, 2012 @ 8:52 pm
I am not to sure If I think the companies are necessarily pushing this on the media. Its more of irresponsible parents. If they weren’t buying then they would stop selling it. When it comes down it parent should dress then children right.
Comment by Amber S. — May 13, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
This is crazy because kids shouldn’t have so many choices in what they wear. I think that kids should be dressed in something that is presentalable and not very fashionable. Childern don’t even know whats going on because they spend all their time playing. I think it would be best if we stop trying to make them grow up so fast.
Comment by Vincent McGhee — May 13, 2012 @ 9:31 pm
I don’t even comprehend how the words heels can be in the same paragraph with the word child. Everyone knows that skinny jeans are the latest roar for fashion for women. How are are they allowing them to be sold to kids? I’m not saying skinny jeans are exploiting any sex messages, but it does create images and ideas that kids will eventually pick up in their growing process, and that can alter their state of mind later. If kids will be wearing skinny jeans, lets say at age 5, then what will they want to wear at 12? Everything has its time frame, skinny jeans do not belong in the time frame for children. As a designer, I wouldn’t dare desire to see skinny fit jeans on any child or adolescent personally because it creates stimuli for the future on how they will dress and how sexy they will want to be. When you look at kids in the park, you see them wearing little loose sweaters or those osh bagosh overall jumpers but you don’t usually see skin tight clothes. For starters, it’s not even healthy to wear such tight fitting clothes on a child whose organs are growing. Studies I have read have stated that skinny jeans are horrible for adults, yet alone, think about kids! All that pressure of the tightness is not good for a growing kid.
Comment by Anna Kleyman — May 17, 2012 @ 6:41 pm
It’s scary to know that we are socializing the younger generations to be older than they really are. What happened to childhood, being happy and care free, not caring about getting dirty and messing up clothes. Does our culture really have to begin turning our children into these sexual images? It is not okay for children to be wearing padded bikinis, let alone getting waxed. It amazes me that parents would actually allow their children to wear and do such things especially because their children do not really have a choice. Yes it is disturbing that corporations would create things for children but parents should really contemplate the choices they are making for their children, including what they wear.
Comment by Mitchelle Bareng — May 24, 2012 @ 9:19 pm
After reading this article, I chuckled at the thought that my seven year old sister has a new pair of skinny jeans. As the article says, skinny jeans is part of the new fashion trend that has come about these past seasons. It makes sense that the introduction of these skinny jeans to young girls is a way to mature them. I did not think of that at first, I just thought it was another way for kids to dress. I do not believe that this idea is a way to sexualize young girl, like the idea of heels. I believe that the term “skinny jeans” is used to define the style of the jeans as it become more narrow toward the bottom. The only pair of jeans that I prefer are skinny jeans, for they seem to fit me the best and match well with most clothes and shoes.
Comment by Giselle A. — May 27, 2012 @ 7:01 pm
As if our society needed any other ammo to defeat over sexualized advertising…here comes the clincher Skinny Jeans. Really? Skinny jeans? The purpose of skinny jeans is to, ehem, make you look skinny. Why would be allow this type of harm to our children by introducing a device used by older girls and women to appeal to the potential sexual partner? We already have our young girls playing with Easy Bake Ovens, obsessing over make overs at age 7, and being concerned about their weight at ages where it shouldn’t matter…not that it should matter at all. What are we doing to our younger generations? We are literally setting them up to feel insecure and unsatisfied with themselves. The media seems to all ready strive to tell you that you are not good enough so take these diet pills, buy this type of bikini, don’t eat this, look like that, etc. Baby skinny jeans are yet another step in the wrong direction is persuading our young generation that they must start early if they ever want to be desired. Where are the lame t-shirts, and hot pink pants you just HAVE to wear when you five? We are diminishing the fun of looking like a child when you, in fact, a child! We cannot let these essential components of growing up fly out the window. We eliminate these devices of insecurity and remember that childhood is key in development.
Comment by Ryan F. — May 29, 2012 @ 1:00 pm
This article is so true with children being sex objects. I’m sorry to say this but it’s like major corporations are feeding young children to pedophiles and getting away with it. What ever happened to cute conservative kid wear? I remember the first time I saw baby juicy culture outfits and being appalled. It’s sad to say but my five year old cousin dresses better than me in designer outfits. Parents need to have some what of a say in what their young children are wearing, since major companies are in it for the money.
Comment by Mary Marrone — May 29, 2012 @ 5:15 pm
I do not understand why parents think it is important to dress their children as if they are older than their actual age. When I was a toddler, my mom dressed me as if I was a doll– in skirts, dresses, and cute head bands. Even though I was dressed as a girly girl, I also wore overalls and sneakers. Parents should try to have their children be open to all types of styles. This way, they can be more open minded in all aspects of their lives in the future. I believe skinny jeans are okay for toddlers, as long as they are made with a stretchy material made for comfort. But for the sexist comments on T-shirts, I find that repulsive. If a child is not old enough to voice their own opinion, the parents should not be putting nonsense on a shirt for them to wear.
Comment by Pauline T — May 29, 2012 @ 9:24 pm
It is completely ridiculous that children are wearing these types of clothes. It is not necessary because they are babies and they can’t control what to wear. It is their parents fault for being okay with having their children wear such outfits, but I know that patriarchy is to blame for the larger whole. Babies or toddlers shouldn’t be wearing skinny jeans because I’m sorry but they don’t have to look skinny or impress anyone.
Comment by Sarah Vincent — May 29, 2012 @ 11:15 pm
This problem is extremely bothersome to me. Its one thing for advertisements and other companies to aim their products at adults who understand just what it is they are buying into, but children dont know what many of these articles of clothig represent. I will never forget the day that I was watching T.V and saw the commerical for a show called “toddlers in tiaras”. Their exploitation of children is disgusting, especially children who have not even reached five years of age. The problem, truly lies with the parents who allow such things to happen. I allways have wondered how the mothers in toddlers in tiaras allow such demeaning representations of their children. Then again the motive is the same as any other media induced problem, money. The fact that now, they are creating a fashion line for children shows that the media and other companies simply look to bring children into their advertising circle to begin the induction of children into their image of the perfect woman as soon as possible.
Comment by Sharona m — May 30, 2012 @ 9:13 am
After reading this article, I contemplated how and when we are socializing our children. Yes, children are socialized since before they are born, based on their sex, but not only are we socializing our children, we are sexualizing them. Now in terms of skinny jeans, yes this is sad, as kids shouldn’t worry about how good they look in jeans, but the most disturbing thing is in terms of padded bikinis or virgin waxing. I could understand the skinny jeans, jeans are jeans and skinny jeans are a new trend but things like padded bras or thongs for children, truly over sexualize our young girls. I agree with Mary’s statement above which she states that “major corporations are feeding young children to pedophiles and getting away with it.†This is completely true, as children are not seen as innocent and playful anymore but are being oversexed through clothes and things that some older women don’t even wear or do.
Comment by Yasmine T. — May 30, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
3. This problem is extremely bothersome to me. Its one thing for advertisements and other companies to aim their products at adults who understand just what it is they are buying into, but children don’t know what many of these articles of clothing represent. I will never forget the day that I was watching TV and saw the commercial for a show called “toddlers in tiaras”. Their exploitation of children is disgusting, especially children who have not even reached five years of age. The problem truly lies with the parents who allow such things to happen. I always have wondered how the mothers in toddlers in tiaras allow such demeaning representations of their children. Then again the motive is the same as any other media induced problem, money. The fact that now, they are creating a fashion line for children shows that the media and other companies simply look to bring children into their advertising circle to begin the induction of children into their image of the perfect woman as soon as possible.
Comment by Sharona M — May 30, 2012 @ 8:52 pm
This is crazy. the way we have to sell our merchandise to babies. My aunt just had a baby and I’m glad no one bought him boob man, like it’s taking notion to kids that its okay to wear slutty things. parent who buy this and corporation who try to make these product should be ashamed. why would you want your child to wear skinny jeans when they are trying to grow. Toddlers are not play dolls people. These new shows are not helping either. the show toddlers and tiaras. these girls are forced to wear make-up and heels like they are some 30 year old woman, society needs to look at what there doing before it gets out of control and babies are babies.
Comment by Christopher T — June 28, 2012 @ 9:33 am
Baby skinny jeans, skinny jeans for babies really. Kids need to be kids, why is the media pushing them to adulthood. Adulthood is somethings toddlers should have to deal with as kids they should be thinking of playing in the play grounds and having fun. Yes the advertisements can cause some chuckles. I just don’t understand why the media is trying to push children to adulthood, why so fast.
Comment by Amanda A. — June 30, 2012 @ 3:38 pm
Coming from someone who is into fashion, I think there is a big difference between a child wearing skinny jeans and a child wearing high heels or being exposed to things such as lady gaga and other media videos or products that are definitely not appropriate for children. I really see no problem in dressing a child fashionable as long as appropriate and skinny jeans are not provocative. Jeans are jeans really.
Comment by Dylan B — July 2, 2012 @ 10:33 pm
Its all marketing But kids and toddlers are to young to wear clothing like adults but it depends how its worn to. But i don’t know who comes up with all these ideas for babies do parents really buy heels and clothing like this for their kids i question the parents. So its really the parents fault for dressing their kids like that and accepting it.
Comment by Yanira S — July 4, 2012 @ 9:35 pm
I understand that children now a days are growing up very fast, but I dont think that clothing is promoting rapid adulthood. I am unaware that kids are wearing thongs and using stripper poles and to my knowledge, these have been around for awhile. I was also unaware that skinny jeans represent sexualizing a culture. I think more than clothing, music (ie Miley Cyrus, Vanessa Hudgens, Beyonce…) and TV shows (Toddlers and Tiaras, Dance Moms…) promote a sexualization of young kids. There is nothing wrong with dressing a child fashionably but we must look at who and what promotes these things. IF clothing is sexualizing our youth, then parents must be aware of how kids get these ideas and messages. Who wears these skinny jeans, high heels, thongs, and use stripper poles? What TV shows, music videos, and movies do you allow kids to be exposed too?
Comment by Marissa P — July 5, 2012 @ 9:16 pm
When I first read this article, I could tell the writer didn’t percieve skinny jeans in a positive aspect. I on the otherhand think it’s a great idea to give skinny jeans to toddlers. It gives them an idea of what fashion is. Not to sound flamboyant, but I didn’t know what kind of style I wanted until I became a senior in high school. If I was a girl, I would want my parents to dress me up in a popular fashion so that I would get a head start of what kind of clothing I should wear for the future. Plus in my opinion, skinny jeans look good in almost every occastion, regardless of what the age is.
Comment by Alexander K (Wom Stud. 10 Scholars) — September 5, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
I completely agree with this article about how young kids are growing up way too fast. They are becoming more mature sexually but not mentally.I see children as young as 7 wearing the same outfit as me, a 19 year old. I understand the excitement that may come from dressing up your kids fashionably, but their are certain things young children should not wear! Society and parents are responsible for the sexual exploitation of children through clothing. I feel very uncomfortable when I see children in crop tops showing their midriffs, and short mini skirts. Society will jump at the chance to make money off of anyone, even adolescent children. I am in awe to hear that a “denim diaper” exists and am losing hope in humanity. Has the innocence in youth completely vanished?
Comment by Jasmine B (Women Studies 10 scholars t,th) — September 26, 2012 @ 8:30 pm
I personally do not see anything wrong with kids wanting to wear skinny jeans. It is what’s in fashion right now, just like they would want to wear flare jeans if everyone else was too. I do, however, see the problem in stripper poles, padded kiddie bikinis, and thong diapers. These new styles of kids clothing is pushing them to grow way to fast. At a young age, they are learning that sexuality is okay before they are even old enough to understand anything about it. WIth shows like Toddlers and Tiaras on television, kids are shown that diva behavior is okay, and so is a face full of make up and inappropriate clothing. Children being exposed in all these different new reality shows are just new ways of gaining attention, and using the exploitation of children to do so. Just last night I saw my sister playing an online virtual world game. Her avatar, along with all the others I took a quick glance at, were half naked wearing a bra like top, booty shorts, high heels, and bunny ears over her flowing brown hair. My little sister is 11. This is the idea that young girls perceive as “sexy.” The word sexy should not even exist with girls that young. If I were to guess where my sister got this idea of what girls should look like from, I would definitely have to say the media. Because it sure as hell is not from her older sister. Toys like Bratz dolls introduce sex appeal to young children way before their time.
Comment by Nadia A — October 3, 2012 @ 2:37 pm
This is truly astounding. Why on earth would parents buy their children skinny jeans as toddlers? They are just babies! They don’t need to look fashionable. By buying skinny jeans for your toddler, you are only enforcing the system of patriarchy we have today. Women, especially in their toddler years don’t need messages telling them that they need to be beautiful. Skinny jeans unfortunately are telling them this message. This also applies to padded bras, thongs, etc… This promotes sexualization in children at a very young age. Sex is already predominant in our culture already. Is it really necessary to make our children sex dolls? Is the future self-esteem of our children really worth dressing them up at such a young age?
Comment by Nathan R — October 3, 2012 @ 6:41 pm
When you are a kid, you always want to make yourself look older by dressing older and acting older. When you get old, you want to look younger and miss your childhood. While reading the article it made me realize that the future generations to come are dressing much more sexual and older compared to what I wore growing up. On Tuesday and Thursdays I pick up my two younger cousins from elementary school. I see some of the girls who attend their school dress in outfits I wear today. It is very shocking and it is unfortunate how the future generations to come are becoming more and more about sex appeal. Parents play a great role in how their children should dress. If a mother sees her eight-year-old daughter wear a mini skirt that shows her behind, the mother should tell her daughter that her outfit is inappropriate. If she allows her daughter to dress like that at a young age, when will her daughter ever learn what is appropriate to wear and what is not. What morals and values are we teaching our kids?
Comment by Dorsa D — October 11, 2012 @ 9:37 am
I definitely agree with this type of situation that is occurring throughout our society. I believe that parents dress up their children in a sexual manner just so they can show others that they are well aware of how their kids should be dressed; with the items of clothing that are “in”. It is shocking to see young children wearing items of clothing that I myself wear, making these little kids look older than they are. I believe that if parents begin to dress up their kids inappropriately at such a young age, then their children will learn from it and will never learn what is right and what is wrong when it comes to wardrobe. I also greatly believe in setting an age limit to the types of clothing that are designed for young children. When I someday become a mother, I will dress my children appropriately, teaching them about age appropriate clothing.
Comment by Sheerly A — October 15, 2012 @ 4:20 pm
The fact that baby girls would wear high heels and skinny jeans is disturbing.Not only is it the parents fault that they would even buy these clothes for their young childen its also the fashion industries fault for making and promoting these clothes.I am no fashion expert,but I know what is appropriate clothing and what isnt appropriate clothing for people especially children.I remember I saw young gils at the age of 8 and 9 walking around in tank tops that were so lowcut and were wearing like short shorts/booty shorts.I was shocked because these are the type of clothes highschoolers and gils my age would wear,not children!
Comment by Saman M — October 18, 2012 @ 8:41 am
It is truly strange to see society regress. It represents how fluid our society is about perceptions we accepted as the norm. It provides hope to me that things that seem unfair today can be changed so the main question is how and what is the best change. That opens up a whole new can of worms regarding how you can be the judge of what is fair for all. Nonetheless as mentioned in class, children used to be considered young adults and adolescence was a newly constructed stage for children to postpone entering adulthood and it’s responsibilities. Today younger kids are trying to look older yet the spirit of entitlement allows them to look the part but not have to take on responsibilities. There is a concentration on the sexual part of being an adult as well. There are other aspects of being a mature person that are not presented as desirable or attactive in society such as wisdom, independent, reliable, experienced, aware, pragmatic, etc. As the adults, we should change the image we are presenting children of what it means to be an adult. For example, my parents would always block my view of the T.V. whenever a mature scene came on. This sent a subtle message to my young mind that this particular content was reserved for adults. However the rest of the scenes were acceptable to watch. Why do we censor that one category? A general example but it continues to lead me down the path of never ending questions. Time to get my research on.
Comment by Sharon K. — October 18, 2012 @ 9:36 am
Wow, after reading this article I am in complete shock because I was never aware that such provocative items were being distributed throughout the baby world. I believe that such clothing/items take away the innocence from babies. It feels as though kids these days are maturing a lot more quickly because of society and the media, such as this. I did not know what the term “sex†even meant until I was about 13 years old but I think that kids in future generations will learn to understand this concept a lot more quickly. Maybe if parents stop buying these inappropriate products, they will stop being manufactured. I don’t think that skinny jeans should be compared to high heels, stripper poles, and thongs, but it is still going a bit overboard with children’s clothing and getting closer and closer to matching the clothing of adults.
Comment by Natasha N — October 22, 2012 @ 5:29 pm
I find it ridiculous that parents feel the need to sexualize their children in the first place, and the fact that they are doing so to toddlers makes it all the worse. Especially when they are younger, children absorb eveything like a sponge. They already have the social media brainwashing them, and so the last they need is to have their parents—the people who they look up to and have as role-models—to also sexualize them.
Comment by JasminB — October 25, 2012 @ 9:42 am
Kids are supposed to be innocent and to live their lives not knowing certain ideas until they are old enough to completely understand them. It is amazing how society is teaching kids about “sex†through clothes and accessories at an age in which they cannot completely grasp the subject. Instead these ideas will be instilled in them and they will grow to accept that this is how a girl or boy must look in order to be considered attractive.
Comment by PanteaP — October 27, 2012 @ 11:37 am
I’m not going to lie, I can remember being in the 4th grade and trying to find the tightest jeans I could find. At the time, I didn’t understand what I was trying to accomplish by having super tight jeans, but I knew all the celebrities were wearing them, and so I felt that I could be like them by wearing them too. And I recall my mother getting extremely mad at me and saying “what, do you want to look sexy?” Not surprisingly, I had no clue what sexy meant, but I figured it wasn’t good. As the years go by, I’ve started to realize how sexualized the younger generations are becoming. Why would a child need a thong, or a stripper pole, for that matter? It comes to how the mainstream society is sexualizing children in not only their clothes, but t.v. shows, movies, and in ads. We’re blurring the lines between what is for adults and what is for kids. Maybe this is why we have so many pregnant teens, girls in middle school doing sexual acts at 12, and elementary kids talking about sex. It’s not normal, and it will never be normal for such overtly sexual clothing to be associated with kids. It also reinforces the concept that you need to be sexy, and now it’s being reinforced at earlier and earlier ages. We need normal girls who aren’t overtly sexual to be the role models for the younger generations, so they know sexuality at a young age isn’t what they need to showcase.
Comment by SoleilH — November 4, 2012 @ 12:07 am
I was grossed out my the content of this article. I remember going on the Abercrombie Kids website a few years ago and seeing the padded bikini top and thinking I accidentally went to the Abercrombie adult website. Sexualizing little boys and girls is disturbing. What ever happened to the traditional times. I feel that the media is strictly to blame with the pathetic reality T.V. shows like Dance Moms and Honey Boo Boo that reveal in the absurdity of child behavior and encouraging sexualization. Nowadays little girls like Suri Cruise are strutting around in high heels. I am an adult and I do not even wear high heels everyday. Smothering toddlers in makeup for beauty pageants has become a house hold idea. There is something seriously wrong with this corruption and more parents need to be educated of the absurdity so we can put it to a stop for the future generations. We cannot allow this to get any worse than it already has.
Comment by Jenna H — November 4, 2012 @ 7:22 pm
The desperate need adults have speeding the natural process of child development is absurd. Sexy toy makeovers, virgin waxing, heels and “glammed†up toddlers is an equivalent to missing your childhood. I have seen little girl’s wear heals, makeup and sit at nail salons getting a mani/padi. All of it causes extreme discomfort for me. Not only is it not good for the underdeveloped posture to wear heels, it also sends a message to the child that wearing heals to the grocery story is the “normâ€. It’s uncalled for unless it’s Halloween or a county fair for a small child to wear any makeup. I feel it causes imbalance in perception and expectations for both sexes. When a little boy wears a t-shirt that says “Stud Muffin†or “I Love Boobs†it also sends a message of how girls and eventually women “should†treat and perceive this boy/man: leading to continuum in tension and assumptions between genders.
Comment by MilaB — November 7, 2012 @ 4:29 am
Younger children don’t have a set sense of style, they don’t own their own opinion and they generally don’t prefer one color over another. Its society that shapes these children to mock what they are seeing in the ads, billboards, magazines etc. Children aren’t aware that wearing high heals with a mini skirt and top that covers only your boobs can be considered as slutty. They just do it because they see people doing it. Skinny jeans is another example of this. Its been the latest fad to wear skinny jeans, and people, including myself, wear them almost every day. Obviously companies are going to make skinny jeans for children, and obviously the children’s parents are going to buy it for them, AND OBVIOUSLY the children’s parents will buy them heals also and once the outfit is complete the child will look “cute”. Little does the parent know that he/she is the reason why children these days are wearing clothing that is far too revealing for their age.
Comment by BrittanyP — November 8, 2012 @ 12:06 pm
This should be a form of child abuse forcing these ideals on young children. I mean are people seeing what is occurring under their noses who are these parents who gets the child a padded bra or a thong. These poor girls are taught to look pretty and when they grow up to be sexually active they are considered whores in a sense it is planning there suicide regardless of what happens there will be a negative connotation and the truth is yes corporation are pushing these for profit just as they push soda and other products that can be harmful in different ways that does not mean its there fault I believe it is primarily the parents fault!
Comment by Daniel S — November 9, 2012 @ 2:10 pm
Kids in our society these days are developing very quickly. In the society we live in, children are shown to a society that is sexualized. Kids are exposed to the clothing our adult society wears. Women usually wear skinny jeans. When wearing the skinny jeans it shows every part of the body. Now that manufacturers make this line of skinny jeans for toddlers I believe that it completely strips kids from their youth. A child plays with toys that are completely inappropriate for their age. If you look at the way Barbies and other dolls, they are dressed in a sexually way, and the way Mattel makes their Barbie’s bodies are very graphic. Also, gender role plays a huge role on toys that children play with. Whether it is building sets, and blocks for boys, and a kitchen set, and dress up high-heeled shoes for girls. Also, If kids were to grow up in a relaxed society, and these particular products weren’t made for kids, we wouldn’t be judgmental, and kids wouldn’t have a low self esteem.
Comment by Yael K — November 21, 2012 @ 12:46 pm
Okay, even though I don’t see the big deal with kids wearing skinny jeans, I do understand the message. I have seen numerous little girls especially dressed in highly inappropriate clothing and parents of course think the children are looking “cute.” By all means the child can be cute but “cuteness” has an innocence associated with it and I highly doubt high heels and a short skirt would fit the definition. I don’t believe sexualizing a child is in any form okay, there are enough child molesters out there and there definitely does not need to be another case of a child be molested. As, terrifying as sexually objectifying a child is, imagine you, “the parent” being the cause. I think this piece has brought a very important topic to light.
Comment by Anhjia L — November 24, 2012 @ 9:04 pm
I really agree with this article; the emphasis on sexual “attractiveness†for a price is getting way out of hand. I remember reading an article a while ago about the way an 8 year-old wearing clubwear at the airport (http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-19/opinion/granderson.children.dress_1_elementary-school-girls-push-up-bra-plastic-surgeon?_s=PM:OPINION). How ridiculous and how unhealthy for the child. No wonder girls are starting to diet and exhibit eating disorders at younger and younger ages. I read some of the comments following this article and I get the point about “maybe skinny jeans just fit better.†I’m pretty sure though, that fit is not the main selling point with clothes like these jeans. I think the jeans are a symptom of a bigger effort to sexualize young girls and get them on the relentless, hopeless path to pursuing unattainable beauty. Of course, the only result will be enrichment of those selling the dream and disappointment or worse for those trying to reach the impossible goal.
Comment by Sofia F — November 26, 2012 @ 10:31 pm
When I was growing up, I was not allowed to watch grown up movies, read grown up books or go to grown up places. So I was certainly not allowed to wear grown up clothing. If it’s [still] strange for children to walk around wearing make up and heels, then why should it be normal for them to wear skinny jeans? I know plenty of adults that are uncomfortable with skinny jeans, and it’s not even because they don’t like the way they look in them, why should children wear them? They’re young and impressionable and oh yeah, they’re babies! I feel it is things such as these that lead to future problems with self body image.
Comment by Michelle G — November 27, 2012 @ 11:53 am
This is an entry that is near and dear to my heart. I spent my entire life, from age 3 to the present, in the dance world. When I was dancing for fun, the costumes were cute, frilly and pink. As my sister and I started to compete in competitions, the costumes became tight, sexy and inappropriate. My mom was constantly trying to order our costumes bigger so that they would cover our lady bits, but our coach had her own opinion on how things should be. As we grew to young adults, my sister used the word “prosti-tots†to describe the inappropriate costumes that were put on little dancing girls. It doesn’t surprise me that in this world of growing up “perfectâ€, and growing up as quickly as possible, that the fashion world would seek to sexualize young girls. Girls are getting manicures at age 2, and wearing heels just as young. The little girls want to look just like their moms, who are also wearing sexy clothes just to go to the grocery store. It’s the style these days… skin-tight revealing clothes. Like mother, like daughter. The fashion market forecasters know this and will do whatever it takes to make money. Sad thing for the little girls. They won’t ever know what it feels like to play in yucky old big clothes that are comfy and get dirty without worrying about the tulle and sequins.
Comment by Ellie G — November 28, 2012 @ 3:04 pm
This idea of a trendy baby which has emerged through corporate marketing forces creating skinny jeans, high heels, etc. to fit toddlers, in a way in very wrong. By companies making clothing like such, they are actually sexualizing young children. There really is no need for children to be dressed in clothing that is meant for adults. By dressing young children in these types of clothing, we are rushing toddlers to grow up and their childhood is essentially stolen for them. They aren’t able to experience having fun and just being a kid and are taught even at such a young age they must look and dress a certain way.
Comment by NatalieA — December 1, 2012 @ 8:35 pm
Growing up in an over sexualized society, young girls look to the mass media for what they are to look like and what is considered acceptable. The culture has been socialized in a way that it is okay and acceptable for young girls to both dress and look like adults. Due to this type of sexualization, young girls are being taught that by wearing skinny jeans and padded bras, that is the only way they are going to look pretty and be accepted by others in society. Young girls should not be exposed to this exploitation this early on. Rather, they should be learning that they should be accepted and loved for who they are, not how they dress.
Comment by Angella F — December 2, 2012 @ 7:53 pm
If I may, I actually disagree with this argument. What you listed in the article (high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, and denim diapers) I can agree with. Of course these are atrocious, as not only as they attempting to grow their child up at an age where fashion shouldn’t even be a discussion, but they are also being exploited and sexualized, both things that adults shouldn’t even be exposed to. However, I must say that I believe skinny jeans do not fall in this category. To me, I just see them as an article of clothing. I do not see anything outrageous about them. Sure, it may be a fashion statement of some sort. But then putting kids in flared jeans would be completely acceptable? To me, I see it only as children wearing jeans that are shaped a certain way. It would be one thing if children started wearing mini skirts or tight dresses or something… That is something to be afraid of!
This isn’t to say that I don’t think that children are being sexualized at younger and younger age- of course I do! Like you mentioned, the gyrating 7 year old is on a whole other level. It is inappropriate in so many ways. And on a more general note, advertisements are being geared towards little kids (as we discussed in class). It is these attempts to socialize kids at such a young age that is brainwashing them and exposing them to the dirty schemes in the media.
Comment by SydneyO — December 2, 2012 @ 10:38 pm
Ok, so I am beyond shocked that their are such things as thongs, padded bikinis and stripper poles for children but the skinny jeans I don’t think it is a big deal. I myself have a 6 year old sister and she is a true girly girl. She does wear skinny jeans and regular non padded bikinis, and its her choice. She picks her own clothes and loves to put make up and my high heels on. I don’t think this would cause her to grow up too fast, or sexualize her. She sees what I’m wearing and likes to follow that. In my opinion what matters is to build her self confidence and teach her between right and wrong. My mom wont let her put on eyeliner or mascara, but she lets her wear a little fake blush and colored chapstick. I don’t see this as harrying her into adulthood though.
Comment by Samina A — December 3, 2012 @ 11:21 am
I can not believe a company would actually make a stripper pole for little girls to use as toys. There was even an accompanying disk that would teach pole dances! I have seen children younger and younger looking like adults. Just take Halloween as an example. It’s my favorite holiday because I get to be whatever I want. But now there really isn’t much of an option. If you’re a teen and you want to buy your costume you have to be a ‘sexy’ something, or you just make your own. However, this year I noticed that costumes for kids have become sexualized and the dresses are almost as short as the ‘sexy’ teen costumes. It’s a sad thing to see that kids are taught that the more adult and sexual they look the more they are valued.
Comment by StephanieR — December 3, 2012 @ 4:58 pm
I the believe the issue at hand is parents supporting their children to grow faster both physically and mentally. For a child to be raised wearing small exposed bikinis and thongs is very wrong. However I don’t believe wearing skinny jeans are such a problem. i believe that is just related to being comfortable. I also believe parents do this and encourage their children because its something they missed in their life.
Comment by Kevin Y — December 3, 2012 @ 7:09 pm
I agree with this article that clothing industries are pushing sexy alittle to young, but it’s not only the clothing industries but even shows and ad companies are joined in on the trash that is “sexy before your one”. shows like toddlers in tiaras that hang on the fact that little girls before their time should dress up, pact on makeup, and dance around a stage just to prove that they are the pretties but what I don’t think these parents understand that put their kids through this is that they are helping their child fit the stereo type sexy youth that drives most perverts by willingly sexualizing their child and pariaing them all over stages and television for free. Just like laws and limitations I think sexy should have it’s age limits because some people don’t understand that young just may be too young.
Comment by Carmel — December 3, 2012 @ 7:58 pm
It is horrible knowing how children are forced into adulthood by the clothing companies and their own parents. Children should not be wearing thongs or padded bikinis instead they should be wearing clothes that are meant for their age. Children are meant to be children not adults in a smaller version. I have heard the phrase “in every man there’s a child” but I’ve never heard it the other way around. Children are suppose have fun, be free of problem and not be concern with their image and the clothes they wear.
Comment by Gisela D — December 4, 2012 @ 1:14 am
I really don’t see what’s wrong with skinny jeans. I mean this could be my opinion but it’s just jeans. I mean sure it’s really tight and it accentuates your ass and your legs, but at least the topic of jeans is better than makeup or high heels. Honestly, I’ve tried on makeup because when I was little because I was copying my mom and wanted to be a “grown up†but I never started wearing makeup until high school. As for heels, I love them and how they look but I can’t even wear them for an hour, so I don’t know how a child would wear that. But the words heels, thongs, bikinis and the fact that it’s being correlated with young kids is kinda scary and weird. Those are words we correlate with women (adult women). But I guess more and more girls are trying to grow up fast enough. I really wish I could just tell all the young girls in the world to slow down, and to enjoy your childhood and youth, because if you try to grow up to fast, you’re going to regret it.
Comment by Mita S. — December 4, 2012 @ 2:06 am
Just by reading the title of this article makes me sick. I do not see anything wrong with toddlers wearing skinny jeans but i do see soemthing wrong in advertising the heels to go with it! I have two younger sisters and knowing what they will be exposed to adult clothes, along with other adult things, so soon makes me cringe. Everything a person does in their life comes with an age to do it. drink? 21 smoke ? 18 little do we know there might be an add tomorrow of a baby holding a new patron bottle and say “even babies love it!” But selling skinny jeans a lone i feel is okay, but heels for a kid!? its repulsing and this is just the start.
Comment by CharlleneA — December 4, 2012 @ 11:48 am
It is disturbing to me that clothing and toys like these are offered to toddlers. My baby cousin actually wears shirts like the ones written about. On thanksgiving this year his shirt said, “Ladies Man”. I dont even think he knows yet that he likes girls or that he is even different than a girl. He can barely talk. People need to realize what their child is wearing and being exposed to.
Comment by ZaneM — December 4, 2012 @ 1:53 pm
Just like a few of these other posts, I personally do not see anything wrong with little children wearing skinny jeans. What I do find upsetting, however is that the media is trying to “sex up” the little children. Children should enjoy their youth, because once they get older, they will want to be young again. I know this because I currently feel that way. Children should not be in such a hurry to grow up, because with growing older, comes more responsibilities. The media makes it impossible for little children to hit the pause button and enjoy their youth.
Comment by Tiffany N. — December 4, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
I totally agree with this article that babies growing up wearing high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, and using miniature stripper poles is absolutely wrong and just plain disgusting. But i honestly don’t find anything wrong with young toddlers wearing skinny jeans. Because in a way it is just simply fashion and in my opinion i see it as something parents do for fun and find entertaining, watching their kids grow up. And even though there is the idea that young toddlers are being taught to be rushed into adulthood, people should just see it as something fashionable and something fun to do as your child grows older. But as for the whole high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, and miniature stripper pole is just simply inhuman, wrong, disgusting, and should be absolutely unacceptable for toddlers and our society period.
Comment by Danny S — December 4, 2012 @ 9:53 pm
In our society there are telling younger girls to cook and clean with there toys there trying to sell and also they show younge girls about how they must have there hair, nails, make-up done at all times. There clothes must be top of the line and glittery pink. Parents are no help either., they buy whatever there child wants at times and the kids see that theres no harm there going to keep heading that diraction. Some parents paint there one year old nails thinking it cute and no harm. But little do they know thats how it all starts.
Comment by Alejandra A — December 5, 2012 @ 2:18 am
It’s ridiculous that we feel the need to sexualize children at younger and younger ages. People may think that it looks “cute,” or whatever; however, they need to realize that they are sending a message. Babies, or anyone, wearing shirts that say, “Lock up your daughters,” are promoting the objectification of women. The simple saying that people buy for their children is sending a subliminal message full of sexism. Our society continues to embed patriarchy and attention to self-image in us at younger and younger ages, and so many people look at it everyday without the realization of what the messages promote.
Comment by Matthew H. — December 5, 2012 @ 4:50 am
I don’t understand why people want to take away kid’s childhood. What’s the rush? It is selfish that companies make these products for their profit; they could make better toys that would help children learn the alphabets or teach them something but that requires money. So why bother when they can sell their products with the lowest costs? I am against the skinny jeans for kids because they’re bad for adults. They put pressure on veins and cause problems. Why would anyone want that for their children?
Comment by Nazli C. — December 5, 2012 @ 11:35 am
I disagree with the article because baby boys could wear skinny jeans. I personally do not see anything wrong with that. If I had a son I would buy him skinny jeans but in the begging in article she states high heels, padded kiddle bikins, and thong undwear for children is a no. Those things are for grown womens. Little girls don’t know what are those things unless their mothers expose that to them. Celebrities’ do that for their kids doesn’t make it correct for everyone to do so. Skinny jeans are not bad for baby boys; they are just a tighter version of jeans. For example Levis has skinny jeans and they really are not that skinny.
Comment by InokeT — December 5, 2012 @ 11:35 am
I think society now is rushing kids to grow up to fast. Because everything is being accepted, even the negativity. I’m not for skinny jeans for baby boys personally. I’d rather my kids wear some mickey mouse pants than some skinny jeans.
Comment by Oliver M — December 5, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
It seems that as time goes on, the more parents want to make babies into mini adults. I never knew about thongs for kids, but I’ve babysat quite a few little girls who wore bikinis and skinny jeans, and were preoccupied a lot with their looks from a very young age. Wer’re not only creating a problem by sexualizing these children, but also giving them long-term self esteem issues. Women already suffer with the idea that they are only worth what they wear and their body type, but now it’s being put on children.
Comment by Taylor W — December 5, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
hmm, I understand the criticism with padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, and stripper poles for toddlers, but what I dont get is the fault with them wearing skinny jeans? Its a style of pants that doesnt portray any type of inappropriateness. I feel like this, as a matter of fact, would be going against what the message of equality is and gender roles for children. Jeans are jeans, i don’t recall there being any fuss about flared jeans or a straight leg style?
Comment by Segal M. — December 6, 2012 @ 12:43 am
I think the level of narcissistic consumerism this type of apparel shows is really unsettling. I remember walking through gap the other day and seeing something very similar for boys as well. The problem is not that parents want their kids to dress well its more of the type of model your setting your children up for. The idea that self worth and ideals can be simplified down to a price tag is obscene. I hope this type of blissful parenting ends soon and we can expect to see greater solidarity amongst parents to fight against these obsessive tendencies.
Comment by Hasunk — December 6, 2012 @ 2:01 am
I dont see anything wrong with babies and toddlers wearing jeans that are skinny and tight, but the other clothing that is revealing and contains inappropriate content is a bit over the top. It is forcing an image and idea that the parents and the community is emphasizing maturity and making it seem as if it is not cool or appropriate to be a normal baby and just wear the common and most conducive clothing that matches a babies actually personality and age. It is wrong and i do not agree with the message it sends out.
Comment by Edwin P — January 20, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
This is how far it has gone. It’s not the simple idea that parents are buying their kids skinny jeans, but the fact that society is simply too caught up with these superficial aspects of life. Today, parents are starting to think how their kids look and what they wear is more important than how they sleep and what they eat. It is getting out of control how blatantly people are advocating sexuality, not just within themselves but even to their kids. I just find it really odd and disturbing that parents choose to dress their kids in such attires at such a young age. We all know they’ll pick it up as they grow anyways, what’s the point of implementing it on them so early and not allowing them to have a choice as they grow up?
Comment by Jun L. — January 23, 2013 @ 7:56 pm
You look at a baby and all you should be seeing is a pure innocent child. But now a days you see kids with all these clothes and accessories on them trying to make them look like grown ups. In class we had a discussion that Farah from Teen Mom had waxed her 3-year-old daughters eyebrows. This three-year-old girl had no hair to be waxed. This is how insane parents have gotten these days. You walk around the streets and you see a four year old child is holding an iPhone and playing on it for his entertainment. I understand that parents want to make their kids look as cute as possible but they do not have to do it in a way that makes them look like a grown up. They can tone things down a little bit.
Comment by Daniella L — January 24, 2013 @ 11:57 am
It is really shameful that the media and our patriarchal system is affecting children of such young ages. Gender socialization is touching upon the lives of these young children and it is having a detrimental effect on people.As if it wasn’t bad enough for women to be wearing clothes which make them look skinnier and more appealing to men, now little children are following the same trend. It is so wrong for these young children to try to follow other women’s footsteps and wear skinny jeans so that they can appear skinnier. This effect on young children truly worries me about the future of children in America.
Comment by Michael Z — January 25, 2013 @ 3:30 pm
I think skinny jeans are alright. There is nothing wrong with them and its not sexualizing anything, but the other clothes such as the “I’m a boob man” on a toddler is not okay. I just think there is an age for everything, and skinny jeans for a toddler isn’t a big deal compared to some other clothes that are being marketed for toddlers nowadays.
Comment by Alireza D. — February 3, 2013 @ 10:02 pm
Growing up in the 90’s I was a total tomboy. I truly did not care about my appearance, I just cared about going out there and having fun playing games like tetherball, handball and basketball. The advertising industry, wanting to make more money continues to promote items to the wrong age groups. They just want to make more money, and do not care about any affect it may have on the consumer. The advertising industry is creating gender roles and social genderization from an earlier age, not letting kids truly experience lifes joys for themselves with no restrictions on their sex. Letting little girls wear skinny jeans is letting them grow up too fast, it is not needed!!
Comment by Ashley M — February 5, 2013 @ 2:13 pm
Yes, thong underwear, stripper poles and padded kiddie bikinis are obviously not acceptable for toddlers to be dressed up in and exposed to at such a young age. However, I do not see a problem with toddlers wearing skinny jeans or denim diapers. In today’s world, fashion does play a big role in most human being’s every day life. I do believe that a parent must not dress their child as “sexyâ€, but I do not see an issue with skinny jeans, as they are just a pair of pants for toddlers to wear. I also believe that a child must not be forced to wear whatever he or she does not feel most comfortable in. Parents who dress up their children scandalously, leave their young toddlers growing up too fast for their actual age. Moreover, at a young age, girls are taught to accept the patriarchal idea that they must always look beautiful and “sexy†to boys.
Comment by Yasmin F — February 5, 2013 @ 2:49 pm
All of these clothing items, whether it be the skinny jeans or the padded bra, are all various methods of sexualizing the girl by emphasizing on their body parts. I find this very unfortunate because it is usually the parents who go out and buy these types of clothes for the young daughters. If these little girls are sending out this type of image now, I wonder how they will be dressing and acting within 10 years…
As for the boys, these derogatory messages on t-shirts are really not necessary. Personally, I never found any types of shirts with dirty slogans on them appropriate for myself to wear, let alone a 7 year old boy. These simple pieces of clothing send out the wrong messages into the world, making it seem as if it is ok for boys to act a certain way because their actions are justified.
Comment by Jonathan M — February 5, 2013 @ 5:45 pm
To be completely honest, the idea of marketing skinny jeans to young women is not too much of a big deal. I am inclined to agree with Ali and his comment above. Simple skinny jeans are alright to sell to younger girls, but I feel that if they are torn up in certain areas revealing too much is crossing the line. I also don’t think that selling leggings or “booty shorts†is way too much for they reveal too much and expose too many “curvesâ€. As well as the “I’m a boob man†is not acceptable whatsoever. I think that this may be a predisposition into making these boys think that raping women or molesting them is not a bad thing.
I believe that this early exposure to certain seductive or demeaning clothing can be the main source of blaming the victim. They girl may believe that if she is raped, then it is her fault for being dressed to seductively. She thinks that the supposed “superior†male is not to blame.
Comment by Arash R — February 5, 2013 @ 11:35 pm
Society is not allowing kids to enjoy their childhood anymore. Instead they are forcing them to grow up too fast. That is likely reason that there was a time not too long ago when you would see a lot of teen girls pregnant. From all the girls I knew in middle and elementary school, almost all of them have at least one child now. It is very sad too see this because both girls and boys are becoming promiscuous at very young ages. As for the skinny jeans, I don’t really see how they are so bad. I mean, babies usually wear tight cotton pants anyway. At least that’s what I have noticed. As for everything else, I absolutely don’t agree with it. It is true that society is sexing up kids at very young ages though.
Comment by Judith S — February 6, 2013 @ 8:45 pm
Stripper poles, padded bikinis and thong underwear are in my opinion much worse than skinny jeans. However, the point trying to be proven here should be that we are trying to make our children more into adults now and that is not right. And reading some other people’s responses, the point of the skinny jeans are that it is supposed to make the girl’s butt look bigger and become more “cute/hot” which i believe is horrifying to do to a toddler.
Comment by Jonathan Y — February 14, 2013 @ 11:16 pm
Simply choosing the lesser of two evils does not necessarily mean that the lesser evil is correct. The case being made in this article does not suggest that skinny jeans marketed towards toddlers are better or worse than high heels or denim diapers. It suggests that these skinny jeans are part of a culture which allows this style to achieve notoriety and subsequently success. It is easy to blame corporate marketing forces however, the blame ultimately lies with the parents. Yes, it is possible to make the argument that the parents are being brainwashed into buying their children these clothing because they wear them as well and their children are simply a reflection of themselves. However, no one is pointing a gun to their heads requiring them to dress their children in this clothing; these fashion statements are not a necessity but desires. These are desires which one could say turns to necessity after being made to think they are necessities. While reading some of these comments it seems that there is some confusion between a society where children are being made to grow up too quickly and where children simply look like they are grown up. I have not seen many young children wearing this clothing, but on the rare occasions that I have these children were duplicates of their parents who seem to care more about their appearance than their character.
Comment by Darien a. — February 23, 2013 @ 3:28 pm
Sexing up kids is not a good idea in my opinion. What kind of parent would buy their on baby girl a thong underwear with a stripping pole? Of course the answer is a bad one. Those parents are trying to set up their kids to failure. I am not against parents buying their children skinny jeans because they do not give out a sexual vibe. Parents like to dress up their kids as mini adults, which is not bad. I consider it cute, when it comes to babies wearing skinny jeans. I honestly do not know why they included skinny jeans with all these other sexual products because they have nothing to do with it.
Comment by Maria A. — March 17, 2013 @ 5:55 pm
I thought this piece was horrifying. In order to find new sources of profits, clothing manufacturers are the latest to jump onto the bandwagon of sexualization of children. It is ridiculous that children should be sold skinny jeans – any kind of jeans seems to be wrong for small kids. I think it is disgusting to see the depths to which marketing departments will stoop to find new customers for their products. Even little children are in their sites and knowing that sexualization sells, the advertisers are manipulating the opinions of pre-teens to increase profits. I think children should be allowed to be children and to think about the things to about and to dress like children should dress. It’s not that I’m a traditionalist but by manipulating self image in children, in order to sell them skinny jeans, is not only inappropriate but I worry could have lasting and damaging effects on the psychology as these kids grow up.
Comment by Lois P — March 19, 2013 @ 7:19 pm
I do not believe skinny jeans have any bad connotation for children or adults. I think skinny jeans are simply jeans that look way better than ordinary jeans on some people. This does not mean it had any “sex” related interpretation of any sort. Comparing to the other things listed in that I had no idea existed for children- padded children bikini’s and stripper polls. These absolute disgust me and I don’t know what kind of manufacturer or parent would buy things like that. In today’s society, I find it difficult to keep children from growing up too fast. This is extremely sad and bad for children because childhood is what shapes them and they are moving out of it way too soon.
Comment by Ashley K. — March 24, 2013 @ 3:16 pm
The very idea that letting a toddler wear jeans causing them to “grow up” too fast is flawed. No one declared a law which states that a child is not allowed to wear “adult-only” skinny jeans or wear make-up or even have a stripper pole. These things are just seen as items adults would have, they are not adult-only items, for anyone can get them. The very idea of “adult-only” is socially constructed. It goes without saying that some of the mentioned items may have a detrimental effects on mental, psychological, and behavioral attitudes, but that is a choice that the child’s parents make. We can sit here and criticize infant apparel all day, but in the end, it’s the parents who are at fault for any detrimental effects on their child.These big companies do not advertise to babies, they advertise to the parents who want to emulate an image of “beauty” within their child.
Comment by Pravesh S. — March 26, 2013 @ 10:11 am
I constantly emailed this web site post page to all my associates, since if
like to read it after that my contacts will too.
Comment by Ross — May 2, 2013 @ 2:01 am
It so sad. How can marketers, advertisers, and society as a whole create a mess around the purity of childhood. We sexualize products to fit this ‘norm of beauty’ who ultimately is a unrealistic, unattainable, and impossible reach itself. Shifting from the models who embody that images, now we she little girls pose in women’s magazines. We she products like Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake to slim down and become more flattering. We are on a constant shift to become a people centered around shallow ideas. Why can’t we let children be children? Why can’t we let them love themselves, be confident, strong, and find there own beauty? We gave the media the power to dictate our sense of reality? We did and its times to actively take charge and find our own truths.
Comment by Rita C — May 9, 2013 @ 12:41 pm
I find it extremely disturbing to see toddlers, or even young children, exposed to thong underwear, stripper poles, and other mature/ intimate objects and clothing. At a young age, children are learning about sexuality. I do not think jean pants are vulgar or inappropriate for toddlers to wear. Nevertheless, I believe it is incorrect for toddlers to wear uncomfortable clothing at such a young age. Toddlers should be wearing fuzzy socks, and soft ‘onezies’ with baby lotion; not high heels, vulgar t-shirts and makeup. Many ask why teenagers are behaving so rebelliously and immaturely these days, yet they fail to notice that these ‘foolish’ teenagers were exposed to these mature things when they were very young, which resulted in how they now behave as teenagers. I also think the media has a huge impact on this subject. Not only are young children influenced by what the media presents, but the media also influences parents. For example, teen parents may want to dress their toddlers with those types of clothing because of what they saw on the now famous television show, ‘Sixteen and Pregnant’, etc.
Comment by Jacqueline A. — May 21, 2013 @ 10:01 pm
I think its horrible how our society is making such items for kids such as padded bikinis, thong underwear, high heels, and denim diaperse. For what reason do they need those things? These are babies and toddlers, they are not aware of what they are wearing or what it means. They have not even reached puberty yet. Who are they attracting…other babies? Kids can barely walk and I do not think it is even slightly appropriate for them to wear heels. By wearing them, they are being more like adults. The worst items are the thong underwear and padded bikinis in my opinion. The first two things that come to mind when I think of thongs is sexy and uncomfortable. I cannot even begin to understand why you would want to sex up your child AND its impractical…wouldn’t you want your child to be comfortable? Unlike the others, I can understand skinny jeans. Yes, in a way they are “sexing” up our kids, but personally I believe that skinny jeans are more comfortable than regular flare or straight leg jeans. Regardless, children do not have a good grasp of what is going on and I think that by exposing them to such sexy things at a young age, they will quickly get used to it and it will become a norm for them.
Comment by Neda S — May 22, 2013 @ 11:27 am
I find it so frightening that the media has such a great impact even on children. Reading this article, I thought about toddler beauty pageants, and how ridiculous and wrong they are. Having little girls learn to portray themselves as sexy, and desirable at such a young age, conveys the message that the only thing that matters is their appearance. In my opinion that is just disgusting and wrong. This is just one example of how the media is forcing children to conform to these ideas of how a girl should look, be and act, and rushing them into premature adulthood. Skinny jeans are another example of ways to “sex” up your child. I believe that babies and toddlers should be wearing clothes that are comfortable, and convenient for them to be able to run around and have fun. Whereas skinny jeans are usually restricting and very form fitting. And are also worn show ones curves and extenuate thier butt. This should not be something advertised for children, because it is impractical and inappropriate for their age.
Comment by Brenda S. — May 24, 2013 @ 3:26 am
Wow this is really disturbing. You would think that companies that make products for toddlers would have more decency than to make thong underwear and skinny jeans. But what I think is more upsetting than a manufacturer making these disgusting products is a parent actually buying them for their children. I think parents need to be responsible and stop buying these products that sexualize their toddlers, thereby forcing the manufacturers to stop making them.
Comment by Bryan S — May 27, 2013 @ 10:57 pm
High heels, stripper poles, thong underwear, and skinny jeans; these clothing accessories should not be available to toddlers. That is ridiculous and absurd beyond belief. I find the toddler years to be detrimental over a person’s life so why rush them with such a drastic transformation into adulthood? Let them get the most out of their “learning years†in a natural way. These items should only be available to adults (and arguably teenagers) and that’s it.
Comment by Eli-Ran Y — May 28, 2013 @ 9:35 pm
The sexualization of our kids is a horrid thing. It is destroying their future to become normal adults, rather they will be pushed into adulthood way too soon. This is an absolute travesty because these kids are being robbed of their childhood which should include shorts and sandals, not skinny jeans and heels. Another disturbing fact thing i read was that these corporate firms are sexualizing the children’s toys, when in reality these kids should be playing with Sesame Street and Barney toys. Society should put more thought and sction into making sure that our kids grow up in childhood rather than adulthood.
Comment by Shahien Hendizadeh — May 29, 2013 @ 8:29 am
I have personally never come across thong underwear or stripper poles for toddlers, but I’ve definitely seen those stupid little bibs and tees that say things like “I’m a ladies man” or whatever, as well as baby high heels. I can’t like, I’ve always thought it was adorable to see a little girl dress up in her mother’s heels, but only because I see it as innocent fun as a daughter attempting to immitate her own mother, her Queen! However, stripper poles and thongs, and even padded bikinis seems really wrong. I can’t help but imagine what the hell these people were thinking by creating these products for our younger generations. I really do miss the days where fashion wasn’t important, where you can run around in a white tee that has chocolate ice cream stains all over and you wouldn’t look any different than your peers (boys & girls!). As someone mentioned in a previous comment, Abercrombie and Fitch are probably the biggest advocates of the sexualization of children. The advertisements of naked male and female models, topless with skin tight jeans, or extremely short skirts was some serious baby-prostitution type of nonsense. I remember being 12 and feeling really uncomfortable walking into one of those stores. It’s weird how their main target audience is younger children who are probably not even sexually active, yet they still have these ridiculously sexual advertisements! They need to get it together.
Comment by Ambar P. — May 29, 2013 @ 3:18 pm
this is absolutely horrid! I am stunned that parents are actually participating in the act of buying their own children degrading objects such as a stripper pole! they are children!It deeply saddens me that the children of this scoiety are being rushed through the best time of their life which is childhood. children should not be wearing thongs although i do not see anything wrong with them wearing skinny jeans because that is not sexualized unlike a stripper pole and a thong.
Comment by solomon kreik — May 29, 2013 @ 6:53 pm
Just like media is always trying to find what is most marketable, clothing stores, and even stores in general are constantly trying to find the newest and coolest trend in order to make a profit, even if it comes with major consequences such as sexualizing the younger society. “Stripper poles, padded kiddie bikinis, and mini skirtsâ€, that just sounds horrifying. It seems as we have lost respect and interest in our kids, whom ironically represent the future of our society. We care more about feminist capitalism than teaching the adequate norms and ideals that toddler and kids should have about feminism. Although I personally would not compare skinny jeans to mini skirts and stripper poles, skinny jeans are marketed to the young, savvy, progressive female/male, not the average women or men. Parents are sexualizing their kids by falling into the media’s capital tricks. We need to end this sexualizing of our kids, and let kids just be kids. There is no reason why we need to encourage kids from a young age to neither participate in sexism or be part of an “I need to be fashionable and trendy†society, nor dress them up as mini versions of adults. That is just absurd.
Comment by Julian G. — June 30, 2013 @ 4:27 pm
Being able to buy a toddler skinny jeans is not at all surprising. The things that have been invented for young children to wear are unbelievable. You can go into a kids store and find heels for young girls, mini purses,fake make up, tiny skirts, nail polishes, fake hair dye, and skinny jeans with no problem. Advertisers have good way of of selling their product through the mass media. We see celebrities’s babies with mini heels and purses so we want to follow that trend too. For example Katie Holmes’s and Tom Cruise’s daughter Suri is featured in several magazines sporting a cute summer dress, with little heels, and lip gloss daily that it has become a norm in our society. If you don’t buy your own children the same type attire then you’re considered unfashionable or uncool.
Comment by Johanna J — July 1, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
It is not a surprise on how society just keeps making all types of products for children. We can even witness it with the clothes that are seen in the baby stores where at a young age the parents decide whether or not to make their baby wear revealing clothes. this is mostly seen in the bathing suit clothes and sure it may look cute but many parents find it adorable to dress up their babies or children into clothes like for girls it would be two piece bathing suits. For me this is not right because at a young age one is incorporating that wearing two piece suits a young age is supposedly okay but parents are unaware that a young age they are incorporating ideas in their minds. For example my manager at work is already exposing her daughter to wear kinky clothes like what she wear and especially making her wear two piece bathing suit. My manager even told me that her daughter who is 4 years old is already looking at herself in the mirror and is saying she is fat. Is this what we really want to give the children to think about. in my view I see that society wants to make these children grow up really early and it gets me thinking of what happen to the old days where kids would enjoy their childhood but no things are beginning to change and not to something good.
Comment by Kimberly C — July 22, 2013 @ 3:35 pm
I personally think that the things people are coming up with for little kids to wear are disgusting. It’s horrible how society is making it okay for young children to wear things like padded bikinis and thong underwear. I don’t think skinny jeans are as big a deal as other items that have been made for little babies in the past but I do see how some people might still think that they are inappropriate. I don’t think anyone would normally expect to see a toddler going around with skin tight jeans. For me, skinny jeans are usually more comfortable than other jeans but as a baby who might just be learning to walk, I can’t imagine super tight jeans being that comfortable.
Comment by Jasmine P — July 23, 2013 @ 10:53 am
Its true that kids are being sexualized far too early with a whole slew of accessories, clothes, and toys; I don’t think that skinny jeans are meant to do that. Baby skinny jeans don’t expose the same that some adult skinny jeans do. I think that taking examples from adults are being applied to baby’s. Just because you see a woman or man exposing themselves sexually through clothing it doesn’t mean that everyone wearing that is doing the same.
Comment by Margarita H. — July 23, 2013 @ 7:21 pm
When reading this I did not understand what is so bad about skinny jeans. They are comfortable, cover everything and are quite flattering fit for most people. They are just trendy pants. I really do not see anything sexually wrong with skinny jeans. However I do see something wrong with everything else you said. There is something wrong when you see little girls in high heels and padded bikinis. Like you point out, there is increasing trend of adults treating their kids and toddlers like adults. Now days you see little kids all dressed up with manicured nails and wearing designer clothing. In my opinion it is just plain sad. Instead of enjoying their childhood, they are quickly learning to act and be treated like adults. There needs to be a major change to how society treats little kids.
Comment by Kayla A — July 23, 2013 @ 7:44 pm
I agree with this post, I have seen a lot of the so called ” I’m a boob man” shirts and bibs in plenty of stores I went into. these sort of products are making baby/kids grow up to quick and start learning about things they shouldn’t discover for a long time. i think making skinny jeans for babies is uncalled for because its putting the baby in a woman’s place. most women wear skinny jeans to show off their body most of the time so why do babies need skinny jeans.
Comment by Qujuan F — July 23, 2013 @ 9:08 pm
This is slightly terrifying. I don’t have children yet… but I am pretty worried about what will have happened by the time I do have children. I worry about the shirts, the pants, the shoes, the dresses… the makeup. Skinny jeans is just another add on to this category. These items of clothing teach children their roles before they are even able to read. The only way to stop these trends is to educate parents so that they don’t promote these items.
Comment by Skye J. — July 24, 2013 @ 11:54 am
When reading this i honestly do not see a problem with children wearing skinny jeans in todays world. it is the new style of clothing and very fashionable. most people think it is comfortable and that you can wear them at most occasions. But i do however agree with all the other stuff you said. High Heels? Thong Underwear? Stripper poles?!?!?! wow this is crazy. children should be 18 and over to do and wear these kinds of things. Each generation of kids keeps on changing for the worst i think. I hope people can change this.
Comment by Justin N — July 24, 2013 @ 8:57 pm
I agree it’s disturbing to see young girls wearing padded bra’s and skinny jeans. However, this is not the child’s choice. I can’t remember the last time I saw a toddler shopping for their own clothes, usually it’s the parents doing the shopping. If those parents believe that these kinds of clothing is appropriate for their kids then so be it. I mean I don’t blame them, the media has made them think that way. It’s simply just a way for companies to make money off parents who want their children to grow up faster than they should. They have plenty of time to wear those things when they’re older, why start now?
Comment by Matthew M — July 24, 2013 @ 11:56 pm
I don’t care if they want to dress their baby with any kind of dress but it should not be harmful for baby. I am pretty sure that could be dangerous for baby.
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Comment by Lucio — September 11, 2013 @ 6:45 am
Wow. This is so wrong. In the patriarchy system we have today, women are seen and applauded for their sexuality and beautiful appearances. However,skinny jeans for a two-year old– I can’t even begin to explain how wrong that is. It seems like girls at such a young age are taught to take advantage of their appearances and are told how to beautify themselves for the opposite sex. For example, when I was a little girl- around 5 years old, my girl friends and I used to love giving each other makeovers! Not only that, but we would love putting on our mother’s makeup and having people tell us how cute and pretty we are. But, now that I have taken Sociology and am in the process of taking Women Studies, I am now aware of the gender constructs and what we are told by our society. Why would a 2 year old need skinny jeans… that is absurd. Why would a 2 year old need to be worried about what makes her butt look big? SHE IS 2 years old, she shouldn’t have any worries. The point these marketing companies are willing to reach for profit is beyond words and should be stopped, not applauded.
Comment by Joanna E. — September 28, 2013 @ 9:12 pm
I recently saw a photo on a social media site in which a toddler (presumably 2-3 years of age) was wearing skinny jeans, a button-up shirt, & designer sunglasses. The baby himself looked adorable, however, the futuristic attire seemed to be more for the pleasure of the parents than the child. Furthermore, I had fell into deep thought about young boys & girls nowadays whom have their lives preoccupied with such social media sites and having the latest “swag” and accumulating “followers” to become Internet famous, rather than focusing on school or even just being a kid!!!! I do not know what the direct cause to this dilemma is, although I do know we must think twice about our actions because adolescents nowadays are mimicking every single move we partake in. We are corrupting the youth before they’re even able to logically deem right from wrong by themselves.
Comment by Michael A — October 13, 2013 @ 1:19 am
I’ve actually continuously wondered why my five, six, and seven year old cousins love to wear training bras everyday under their clothes for fun, and furthermore, why no one questions it……the learning to wear a bra process is one of the most awkward phases in pre-teen age. I say this from experience. The fact that little kids are now adopting this as a form of play is bizarrely absurd.
Comment by Jacqueline C — October 27, 2013 @ 10:38 pm
While I think padded bikinis and high heels are extreme for a child, I don’t feel that skinny jeans are an issue. I believe the issue is that children are being pushed into a very limited box where they are not able to express what they really like or even they want. From birth children are overwhelmed with different ideas and norms that society has constructed for their sex. As a result, children become limited and even worse they don’t even realize it. I feel that children who are limited and kept within a “box” will eventually lead to adults who aren’t able to reach their full potential.
Comment by Leslie S. — October 30, 2013 @ 8:25 am
While I am not overly concerned with this issue i felt this small article commented a lot on how society today is as a whole. I feel it is the parents job to buy clothes for toddlers and deem what is appropriate and what’s not. If skinny jeans for young girls are on the market and you do not want your child to wear them it is easy for you to just not buy these clothes therefore not participating.
Comment by Andrew — November 20, 2013 @ 7:03 pm
Woah…this is mind blowing
Comment by Vanessa M. — November 25, 2013 @ 5:33 pm
This article truly demonstrates how society can be revolting. I feel such a lamentation for these children because they are being gender socialized with these absurd measures. It is extremely sad that parents who are the ones that are suppose to do what is best for a child are actually buying their children high heels, thong underwear, stripper poles,etc. Children are innocent and should not be subject to such early adult-related concepts that they do not even understand. I do think it the problem lies with the parents, they must know that it is not acceptable to do such things. Unfortunately, what a child wears or does is ultimately up to the parents.
Comment by Bonnie O. — November 25, 2013 @ 5:45 pm
I do not believe that skinny jeans sexualize people but I do believe that a line should be drawn between what children wear and preteens. There is a time and age for everything and if markets like this keep trying to speed up the age that people use certain items it is no wonder that children are losing their virginity at a younger age and are doing things that most of us look at them and constantly say “at my age we never did that” or “since when are children able to do those things I recently discovered that.” Instead of thinking about the profits they would be making they should consider what our society is becoming now compared to just ten years ago when children still preserved their innocence from the media and market.
Comment by Jessica L. — November 25, 2013 @ 6:49 pm
I truly feel bad for the children that have to grow up in our society today because they are exposed to so much more. As if the pressure of grades, making friends, and winning sports activities was not enough now they are expected to dress up as adults. Our society values physical appearance to such an extent that it affects our children mental and physical health. These jeans place such a high value on “skinny.” I’d really like to see how this designer expects children to play, bend and run (basically be kids) in these jeans.
Comment by ChristinaB — November 26, 2013 @ 9:49 am
In these days, I can see younger than 10 years old children putting thick make up and dresses like adult models in television. I even saw beuty contest for children. I did not understand why the adults are making their children look like adults. I think this means that the gender socialization is starting in earlier age. I prefer the old age society which children started to put make up in older age. This society is too much focused on beuty and sex.
Comment by Jieun K — November 26, 2013 @ 2:00 pm
Kids today are in such danger of losing out on their childhood and innocent years. I look at this article and I see the group of women that would purchase this type of clothing for their child as just using their kid as their own life sized barbie doll. Kids are fun and yeah they are so cute in their little clothes, but there is a difference between dressing them cute and dressing them like they are an adult. Kids are innocent people that have not yet been corrupted or socialized by society and shouldn’t have be forced into dressing like a grown up so that their mom and dad can think its cute. Let them be young, let them stay innocent. Cosmetics, waxing, hair dying etc, are things that should be introduced gradually when it is age appropriate and only if they want to. If not, their outlook on life is going to be altered, which means if they start dressing like they are older, then they are going to feel entitled to act older and do activities that older kids get to do. Sex, drinking, drugs, can all be potentially introduced to a child way too soon if they are taught, by their parents, that its okay to behave older than what you really are. Be careful what you wish for!!
Comment by Serena R. — November 26, 2013 @ 3:03 pm
That is pretty outrageous that women are now shoving their young children into skinny jeans. Skinny jeans became popular because they show off the leg and frankly I do not believe that toddlers need their legs shown off. It can’t be comfortable for the child to be active in and they are probably not very easy to get on in the first place. I know sometimes it is difficult for grown women to get them on and now we are trying to put a squirming toddler in them?
Comment by Elizabeth C. — November 26, 2013 @ 4:05 pm
It’s as if our society isn’t already corrupt enough by all of these advertisements, but the fact that they are dragging these little children in with them. What do little children need high heels, padded kiddie bikinis, thong underwear, stripper poles, and denim diapers for? Almost all those things on that list are used to get a “sexy†title labeled for them, why do children need that? The purpose of thongs is so your underwear lines won’t show, who is going to go check that on a little girl? And high heels? Children are already struggling when they walk at such a young age, how is wearing hears going to make that any better? In my opinion that is very dangerous for these little girls, and it is really hard to understand why a parent would allow it, even if it is socially acceptable, which it is NOT. Aside from all of this I do not think skinny jeans is that bad for a child to wear because I am assuming it won’t be too tight on them, it will be like all their other jeans just a little tighter at the bottom. But all the other things that were listed were outrageous and I believe parents should be the one to put a stop to this, do not let your children wear those things; it is as simple as that.
Comment by Nicole R. — November 29, 2013 @ 12:57 pm
With women being raised to believe that there worth is in terms of their aesthetic. It’s no surprise that now large corporations are trying to sell the message sooner to younger audiences. At first, I see no problem with skinny jeans for young girls. However, with the types of clothing being sold to young girls today I see no connection to it being for comfort or practicality rather it’s too accentuate ones body. For that, if skinny jeans are being designed for toddlers then that’s where corporations should draw the line. But this wont happen, since these products are a byproduct of our cultures values. This is only an example of how far we have come in commodifying the bodies of women. Sadly, many wont find these products harmful but until consumers realize that these products are toxic, over sexualized, and additive to the media’s cloud of objectivity towards women, we cannot make a serious change.
Comment by Giovanni A — November 29, 2013 @ 10:54 pm
I do not understand why any children should wear skinny jeans. I doubt someone would argue that they are more comfortable than normal jeans, or shorts. Why should a toddler not be comfortable wearing clothes. If a parent bought skinny jeans for a child I would assume that the child might end up thinking that it is alright to be uncomfortable at the price of looking “cool”. I also believe that the value system of that child might be in danger because it seems that materials are important if high heels and skinny jeans are being presented to such young children.
Comment by Gabriel P — December 2, 2013 @ 3:45 pm
Who ever thought that young children would have the same style as adults? Why cant clothes for children be gender neutral instead of gender specific. What’s even worse like it says in the article is the sexing of children with clothes. Children don’t need to be wearing skinny jeans. Children don’t need to wear high heels and makeup. Children don’t need thong underwear! It’s absurd to even realize that there actual clothing for children that are meant for adults. It does nothing but socialize these children to already have a notion of what they need to wear in order to become part of society. What’s even worse is that parents are the ones making this happen. Some play it off as a joke, but what they don’t realize is that they are adding on to premature adulthood that can lead children, especially young girls into depression when they notice how different they are to what they see in media. They wont have the latest style and that’s all they’re going to care about. Companies and mostly parents need to stop making and buying clothes that dint belong to children.
Comment by Benjamin C. — December 3, 2013 @ 12:45 am
It is utterly disturbing knowing that children are being exposed to having their own stripper poles, wow. Children are born into this world as the purest and blank mind, so why would a parent want to expose this object or even want to describe the existence of a stripper pole to their naive and young child who soaks up information like a sponge. Also, purchasing their daughter stuffed bikinis is not sending them the right message, basically implying early on that they are not good enough the way they are, and they need to put on a mask to cater to the lustful desires of men. Leave the stripper poles for the grown ups.
Comment by Melody S. — December 3, 2013 @ 10:25 am
I am truly disgusted with part of our society after reading this article. Especially being the oldest sister all three toddlers, I am worried for the next generation to come. I don’t want my siblings to grow up while worrying about the way their hair look, if there butt looks too big, and wearing skinny jeans especially at such a young age. I can’t believe companies are violating babies at this point, just to earn some profit. I don’t want my siblings and their friends to be worrying about the way they look or how to achieve the best body. It’s absurd and extremely sad the lengths these companies will go to, and the fact that they just use children is worse. Parents as well need to become aware of the products that they buy for their children.
Comment by Tatiana Kohanzad — December 3, 2013 @ 10:27 am
Wow, reading this honestly makes me really upset. I can relate to this because I have a cousin that’s 8 years old who gets privileges like she’s a grown woman. She has a Facebook, wears extremely short shorts, has a boyfriend, has her own phone, and doesn’t even know what she’s doing to herself. If I had a daughter her age I would never allow such behavior. Not only are the kids growing up with the wrong ideas, the parents continue to bombard them with “the latest style†that completely interferes with these young vulnerable minds. Making skinny jeans, high heels, bikinis, and many more disturbing things is so wrong on so many levels it honestly infuriates me. This premature adulthood that their being fed is very upsetting.
Comment by Jason P — December 3, 2013 @ 1:34 pm
I have to admit, the ridiculousness of this is actually quite humorous. I mean its obvious that toddlers do not care about how they dress and how they look unless they are molded to behave that way. Therefore it is also obvious to me that products like these are not meant for the children, but for the parents and guardians who purchase them. They are using their children as trophies and showcasing how stylish they are and how proud they are for having a stylish child. I never really though I would see objectification of BABIES AND TODDLERS before but i guess there is always something new. Whoever is sick enough to buy high heels and skinny jeans for toddler for the actual purpose of making them stylish and sexy does not deserve to raise a child. Turning children into miniature adults? Well that right there says all you need to know about the person who buys this for their child. If they are dumb enough to believe that materialistic things like clothes are the important factors of adulthood and should be learned from a young age, then I think we should put IQ challenge tests at the checkout counters at every mall. If you fail you can’t purchase anything.
Comment by Nathan P. — December 3, 2013 @ 4:08 pm
What really pushes my buttons is the fact that children nowadays are being exposed to such vile and inappropriate images in society. When a child is born, whether male or female, they are so innocent and have no idea about anything or what to believe. However, in this modern day-and-age I feel as if kids are seeing terrible images and are ultimately exposed to the worst role-models possible. For example, Miley Cyrus twerking, I mean seriously? That’s just plain gross to me but to an innocent little girl with a blank slate in her head, Miley can be thought of as a hero.
Comment by Michael S. — December 4, 2013 @ 2:48 am
I don’t see anything inherently wrong with creating kid style clothing modeled after the current trends such as skinny jeans or denim diapers. For whatever reason people get a kick out of a baby looking like an adult, which is why items like that sell. Skinny jeans or denim diapers, I don’t feel, sexualize a child. They are simply a current fashion trend. However, it is so incredibly wrong and inappropriate to have bikinis for babies (let alone padded), thong underwear, or heals. Not only is it incredibly inappropriate, why would anyone want their baby or child to look like a sexy adult?! It’s disgusting. It also just adds to the sexualizing of women in general and starts the cycle before one can even talk. At least when you are an adult you can make the decision on your own to wear such items. Don’t expose a child to that.
Comment by Kari B. — April 2, 2014 @ 4:09 pm
There may be clothes that are most appropriate for adults to wear, and are now absurdly advertised in kids’ size too. Yet, does that necessarily deprive toddlers and ruin their reputation? It probably only does because that is what some of society has come to think of it as, though if you give it a good thought, society should not be able to decide what clothes should toddlers wear, or more so judge them based on their clothes. This is as similar to gender socialization as it gets. We prescribe males and females different roles when they are born by forcing them to like specific toys and have specific attitudes (this does not include disciplining them to have good manner). Just like we restirict toddlers of one sex, who are able to think for themselves, from playing with toys that “were designed” for the other sex, we also restrict toddlers from wearing clothes that they may be intereted in because those clothes “were designed” for adults. All toddlers will ultimately be adults one day. Hence, there is nothing wrong with exposing toddlers to adulthood at any stage, unless it something that can negatively affect their attitudes and behavior. If the clothes are not from an adult store (which only 18+ can enter anyways), then I believe that any fashionware would and should not have any affect on the attitudes and behaviors to toddlers under most circumstances. What does end up effecting a toddler’s attitude and behavior negatively is what he or she may hear from others such as stereotypes, rumors, and negative comments. If that’s the case,which is almost always so, then there you have it, the problem is with society.
Some logos and features on youtube regarding toddler clothes may be deemed inappropriate, but the general idea of toddlers wearing certain clothes such as skinny jeans are not at all. The author fails to write about the specific reasoning for why wearing skinny jeans is so wrong. And if the reason was that such clothes were “exposing toddlers to adulthood quickly,” there is nothing particularily wrong with that at all as already discussed.
Comment by Tamir M. — April 8, 2014 @ 11:07 am
It is so ridiculous and disgusting how society is teaching toddlers to already be more sexy and show off their bodies. They’re just toddlers who can’t even use a toilet yet probably, what the heck are we doing teaching them to already be sexy. I strongly believe children should keep their purity and innocence as children and this is just horrific. Children rely on their parents to teach them and grow them up the right way, but if parents buy these overly sexualized clothing and toys from birth, we are seriously raising messed up children who will just become worse. I have seen skinny baby jeans, baby heels, and more, and have always found them humorous, but ridiculous. I would not buy these clothes and toys because they will show the wrong message to my child, but apparently society has gone mad and many people accept and buy these things because companies are still making it. I just think it is so morally wrong to expose and teach innocent children like this from so early on.
Comment by Stephanie Hua — April 20, 2014 @ 6:06 pm
Lately, I just don’t understand why I see little girls dressing up as sexy as adults do. To me it already seems slutty when women dress sexy in public to arouse a male’s attention by wearing tight jeans, min skirts with more skin shown that clothes worn that show the thighs, legs, arms well shaven and light reflecting off the smooth skin from sunlight. That is a turn-on! Now to dress up underage, pre-mature females, that idea of corporations building profit off it is wrong. Doesn’t this idea promote young girls to seek to lose their virginity sooner and to live up to societal standards cultivated by mass advertisements of young girls being made seen as sexual objects at a premature stage of life? That is the impression I’m left with. Not aiding a young girl to grow up as an elegant young lady with self-respect and standards dressed appropriately.
Comment by Ariel M — May 16, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
Not even babies are safe from the pressures of society and the norms to be sexy, primped and fashionable all the time. The title of this article is enough to sicken me. It all seems like an over exaggeration until you think of toddlers and tiaras or walk into a store and see these articles of clothing actually being sold. This is real. How have we crossed this boundary to think these things are ok? As a mother, as a father, your child is a representation of you, of innocence and of learning, not duck faces and skinny jeans. What are you teaching your children when you change them at such an early age, when they don’t understand the concept of beauty or society? They see the person they look up to, the person they admire wanting to change them, are they not good enough? The baby bikinis and thongs may be the worst yet. In a world with child pornography, child rape, and everything in between, why sexualize a child, your child? Children should wear clothes that aid their growth, comfort to learn to walk and run, not be constricted with a thong between their tiny cheeks. These kids are learning that looks are at the top priority, and leads them down a path of self esteem issues and priority issues.
Comment by Daniella S — May 23, 2014 @ 4:52 pm
The fact that there is pressure on babies to be very dressed up and fashionable all the time is very sickening. Babies should be allowed to go through the early years of their lives freely, happily, and without any worries about looks. I believe that everyone should be able to live their life without worrying about how they look but babies especially should not have to worry about this aspect of life. It really makes me sad that nowadays parents think it is imperative for them to dress up their babies the way that an adult would get dressed up for an event. Babies should only have to wear clothing that is comfortable for them and allows them to be free when learning how to do simply tasks such as walk or talk. Their fashion should not be an issue at all and it’s very disheartening to see that the media today is starting to make this a priority for parents and their babies.
Comment by Matthew S — May 24, 2014 @ 9:59 pm
I agree with the fact that tiny little kids are being targeted through clothing products. Working in retail, I will see that they have legging jeans for little kids (which is even more fitted than skinny jeans). And they even have super short shorts for girls. And to be honest, I would not even suggest that for a customer to purchase or buy it myself. But at the end of the day, it’s the also the parents responsibility, I understand that when kids want something and its not given to them, they will sometimes throw a tantrum. But one should learn how to be strict without being mean. And make our kids understand that no matter how cute something might look it’s not always appropriate for them. And it’s sad that many parents don’t see how through clothes their children are being targeted and they don’t try to stop it, if anything they purchase them. If we as adults have self esteem issues imagine how a young child could potentially feel.
Comment by Raquel I-V — May 26, 2014 @ 10:35 pm
It is crazy how media has such a big impact on children. While reading through the article i got reminded about the show on TLC about young girls in a beauty pageant. And how it has such a negative impact on children. When children watch that show one thing they learn is to be sexy, and by being sexy people will accept you. Which i think that is wrong. This example shows us that media can play a huge role on children, teaching how to be pretty, but what they should teach them is how to be pretty in the inside. The other day i was watching t.v and i saw a commercial on baby toddlers wearing skinny jeans. Skinny jeans? really? I personally think babies should be wearing comfortable clothes, no clothes that makes babies look sexy and have curves. This thus, should not be something that should be advertised to r children, because children learn.
Comment by Hasti N — May 27, 2014 @ 11:47 am
The stripper poles, padded bras and high heels speak for themselves, completely inappropriate. But I don’t think skinny jeans are a problem, they are not bringing attention to their body or sexualizing their body. At the end of the day they are a style much like the tights that children wear anyway, only a thicker material. If anything, its society that makes this a much bigger deal than it is needed to be and convinces themselves that everything has a sexual correlation.
Comment by Dorsa Mehrannia — May 28, 2014 @ 7:19 pm
It is truly disappointing to see how money hungry major corporations are. And the fact that our government has no comment on this issue or does anything to prevent provocative clothing for babies. It is absolutely absurd that a baby is getting all dressed up to look fancy. The real people who are the blame are the parents. They are stupid enough to buy their babies thongs, bikinis, and skinny jeans. The babies have no choice over what they wear, but the parents think it is “cute” or “part of their child’s development into an adult”. What this really does is that it makes the babies influenced by society from an early age. Also, the major conglomerates and clothing corporations are the ones to blame because they are only concerned with making money. They do not care if it creates a sexual atmosphere for the baby. Babies are supposed to live their baby years with innocence and without worrying what they wear. When they get older, then it’s their own decision if they want to buy skinny jeans or bikinis. The parents are in total control of their babies and babies are reflections of the parents. And the notion that people think that babies wearing skinny jeans is cute makes me disgusted. I haven’t really paid attention to what babies wear because I assume that parents have the intelligence and the decency in themselves to dress their babies appropriately. This desensitizes the problem of indecent clothing in our society. And the fact that everyone claims that the first amendment gives us the right to express ourselves however we see fit has been taken too far. Their is nothing illegal about what these corporations are doing, but ethically and morally, these corporations are vile and corrupt people with the sole focus of making money.
Comment by Arya A — May 30, 2014 @ 4:12 pm
I mean I can understand why parents would want to buy their toddlers skinny jeans but I feel like they are not the ones to fully blame. I feel that it is the people behind the fashion department’s fault for even creating a skinny jean in that size. I can understand why parents would want their children and toddlers to look fashionable but it really a stupid aspect. I remember when I was younger my parents would buy me clothes and I would wear whatever they bought me whether it looked nice or not. Looking back at middle school children now, I see that the influence of a sensible fashion has greatly changed. The same kids that are probably ten years younger than me are dressing the same as me and they are buying the same expensive clothing I would buy. On the other hand, its quite a shame that they are teaching toddlers how to dress and what it means to be beautiful in this society. Are messing with children’s lives over material objects really worth it?
Comment by Daniel Nikravesh — June 1, 2014 @ 6:38 pm
This post is absolutely breath taking. I don’t understand why parents would feel the need to dress a toddler in skinny jeans. Babies aren’t there to look fashionable and if parents go out and purchase skinny jeans for their toddler they are doing nothing but imposing the system of patriarchy that we live in today. Girls, especially when they are toddlers don’t need to see or hear messages that they need to meet certain standards to be beautiful. They won’t be beautiful by wearing skinny jeans but they won’t believe that since the system of patriarchy that is forced upon them. I think this is a bad idea because it also advocates sexualization to children at a young age. It saddens me to see that they are now putting pressure on babies to be fashionable. Especially because it is their young years they should be nothing but happy, comfortable and feel free.
Comment by Jennifer P — June 2, 2014 @ 1:17 am
The fact that jeans are being made for babies that follow a current fashion trend does not bother me. It seems to me that this article got blown out of proportion- with reactions. While I am against thong underwear for children and stripper clothes for children, jeans that taper down at the bottom are just not the same as the aforementioned. If we want to fight the fight about not sexualizing our children and babies I think we need to do it in an intelligent manner and use our energy wisely. I just don’t think fighting the battle over skinny jeans is the way to make this argument. Skinny jeans are called skinny jeans because they taper, not because they are promoting having an eating disorder. Since the beginning of industrial revolution where fashionable clothes became more readily available due to mass production designers have been coming up with colors and styles to follow trends to put our babies in- this is just more of the same and I think balance is ok. Otherwise we should all just dress our babies in long white gowns like they use to and not follow any trends at all. It’s important to be reasonable when fighting these fights.
Comment by Jennifer. S — June 4, 2014 @ 9:12 am
The rise of skinny jeans hit everyone. And worse than people who don’t fit in them, toddlers. It is one thing if a person who is not meant to wear them does, (me, I am big guy, I stick to baggy or straight), but now the fact that they are available to children is just sad. But what is more sad, that they are available, or that parents buy them? The fact that all these tiny kids are walking around in skinny jeans just comes to show the influence that is around people. Skinny jeans are clearly meant to sexualize the person wearing them. It not only tightens everything, but parades it as well. If we give them to kids, are we telling kids that it is okay to parade around your body as long as you receive a compliment here and there? Kids should not be sexualized at any age, and parents should just know better.
Comment by Kevin Monterroso — July 30, 2014 @ 2:11 pm