Too Sexy, Too Soon?

[Miss_Pixie]

Are females getting "sexy" too soon?

Today, for the brief time I was actually at work, I noticed a younger female, who was probably about 11-13. She was wearing things that I would wear, at almost 19, to go out on the town and cause chaos.

Is it just me or is that a bit much? I understand wanting to look older but dressing like a grown woman at 11? It doesn't seem to be kosher, or is it just me?

I've heard 7 year olds, quite seriously tell their parents they can't leave the house looking "messy" or I have even heard "without looking hot". Barbie gone too far?

I remember when I was small I always had some sort of a "purse" (Granted it was almost always Disney, and almost always carried my inhaler and band-aids...I was incredibly clumsy) and I liked to play dress up and tea party, and all that mess, but now dress up seems to not be play-time, type stuff and has become an every morning routine.

And what about the babies that keep having babies? Girls in Middle school, even in upper Elementary, who are getting knocked up? It's been shown that girls are getting their periods younger, but is anything being done to actually prepare them for all of it?

Sorry, I know I've rambled quite a bit so I'll try to sum it up: Are Girls getting too much, too soon?

 

[djserani]

Are females getting "sexy" too soon?

Today, for the brief time I was actually at work, I noticed a younger female, who was probably about 11-13. She was wearing things that I would wear, at almost 19, to go out on the town and cause chaos.

Is it just me or is that a bit much? I understand wanting to look older but dressing like a grown woman at 11? It doesn't seem to be kosher, or is it just me?

I've heard 7 year olds, quite seriously tell their parents they can't leave the house looking "messy" or I have even heard "without looking hot". Barbie gone too far?

I remember when I was small I always had some sort of a "purse" (Granted it was almost always Disney, and almost always carried my inhaler and band-aids...I was incredibly clumsy) and I liked to play dress up and tea party, and all that mess, but now dress up seems to not be play-time, type stuff and has become an every morning routine.

And what about the babies that keep having babies? Girls in Middle school, even in upper Elementary, who are getting knocked up? It's been shown that girls are getting their periods younger, but is anything being done to actually prepare them for all of it?

Sorry, I know I've rambled quite a bit so I'll try to sum it up: Are Girls getting too much, too soon?

I never dressed like that, but I think I was on one extreme of the self-esteem thing. Since I had none, I tended to hide. I knew girls, though, who went the other direction and dressed in the most...well, you described it pretty well.

I sat my daughter down early and talked to her about all manner of things. She's 18 (or will be in two days *shudder*) and still a virgin. I didn't expect that so much, but she was always something of a tomboy. My other two are boys, so that's not an issue.

 

[Miss_Pixie]

I know all girls aren't like that, I had an extreme dislike of low cut tops until a couple years ago when it made it a lot easier to get boys to do what I wanted lol, but It feels like things have changed A TON even since I was a tiny thing.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I never dressed like that, but I think I was on one extreme of the self-esteem thing. Since I had none, I tended to hide. I knew girls, though, who went the other direction and dressed in the most...well, you described it pretty well.

I sat my daughter down early and talked to her about all manner of things. She's 18 (or will be in two days *shudder*) and still a virgin. I didn't expect that so much, but she was always something of a tomboy. My other two are boys, so that's not an issue.

We had to ride herd on our upper elementary students (10-12) especially the sixth graders at promotion time. Some of their mothers must have either been totally clueless or expected their daughters to be marriageable at 13! A couple of years ago, we just decreed that everyone would wear a class T-shirt, levi's and sneakers the last day of school. No arguments! And thus there were no longer any more problems. It's all due to parental dimness.

 

[Miss_Pixie]

Some of it yes, but the media can't be healthy either. Or all the hormones they pump into food now

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The media can be turned off and the most likely cause of overly-early puberty is too much food and not enough exercise. In both cases all the parents have to do is say, "What part of 'no' do you not understand?"

 

[Handley_Page]

But Daddy, (or Mummy), Rachael's mother always lets her wear a mini-skirt (or whatever).

I agree with Pixie. THe modern girl is almost forced into adulthood by a succession of stupid TV programmes, video games or Comics showing how "you can look older than you are."

I think a certain degree of thought by the networks (or, shudder, the government) is clearly indicated so we can get our kids to stay kids until their brains catch up with their bodies.

 

[Austin8]

Our girls were and are not allowed to go out in public in any thing thats not presentable, but I do know what you mean.

All the clothing manufactures gear their clothing lines to look that way, we have to really shop and I mean intensely to fine *normal* clothes for our girls.

The youngest is now 16, the oldest 19, and as long as were footing the bills for them including but not limited too: a roof over their head, and food that they eat, they will dress according to what we say.

We have really good girls, so it's not a problem the wife always finds stylish but tasteful clothes for them to wear.

This really is a parent whose non-parenting issue.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Until the 60s came along female attire was severely segregated by age and rigorously enforced. Then we went crazee.

 

[theravenfox]

There are low-riders and words-on-the-ass pants in the GIRL'S section of clothing stores. The junior's department is all skin-tight, itty bitty and flaunt it if you got it. It's really hard to dress your girl for something other than the redlight district.

I've heard "I wish she wouldn't dress like that, but all the kids do these days." Well, unless she's 11 years old with a job...YOU are buying it for her. And unfortunately, even if a girl is a young lady in every other aspect, she will still be treated like she's dressed. I think a friend of mine paraphrased this from a movie, but "She might not be a whore, but she's wearing the uniform!"

I have an eleven year old daughter. She's gorgeous, if I do say so myself. And that's not bragging (ok, maybe a little...lol) She's 5'6", b-cup, bootylicious and has legs for days. Add that to the bright baby blue eyes and pixie hair cut (often a variety of colors) she's often mistaken for much older than she really is. She likes her tshirts and jeans to be a bit clingy, but would never DREAM of letting her ass or her boobs hang out of her clothing. She prefers to wear ladies' jeans and boys tshirts. Furthermore, when she was born, the hubby said, "no words on the butt." He just isn't comfortable with anyone reading his daughter's ass.

I have final approval (or veto) on every garment in my daughter's closet. I have exercised it on several occasions, but mostly because she wants some hideous or inflammatory slogan tee shirt. A couple of times, the jeans were just too tight and they went back on the rack. She may pout, but I know that one day, she'll thank me for not letting her run around in the "uniform."

I am lucky, though. She thinks that girls her age who show too much skin are "preppy" or "clones." I love my little emo rebel!

 

[BardsLady]

Unfortunately I had a step mother who thought I should wear dresses and all that junk to school saying, "You're a Lady, dress like one!" And all the slapping and spanking in the world didn't do much more than making me even more stubborn in finding ways to chuck the girlie girl plaid skirts, the denim 60's ankle thingy, and whatever else that found it's way into my dresser.

*evil grin* Fortunately for me, I'm a tomboy, my wardrobe is made up of Jeans.. T-Shirts.. and either sneakers, sandals or boots. Nuff said.

Back then, being the black sheep that even the Geeks didn't want to hang with, I was the one watching the cheerleaders and the preppie 'Barbie' dolls try and get the Jocks to notice them.

These days, it's not just the girls that are wearing stuff that would make the Preppies blush, but it's the guys as well...Would you believe I actually found out the Significance of the jeans down around the knees? It started in prison... go figure.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

There are low-riders and words-on-the-ass pants in the GIRL'S section of clothing stores. The junior's department is all skin-tight, itty bitty and flaunt it if you got it. It's really hard to dress your girl for something other than the redlight district.

I've heard "I wish she wouldn't dress like that, but all the kids do these days." Well, unless she's 11 years old with a job...YOU are buying it for her. And unfortunately, even if a girl is a young lady in every other aspect, she will still be treated like she's dressed. I think a friend of mine paraphrased this from a movie, but "She might not be a whore, but she's wearing the uniform!"

I have an eleven year old daughter. She's gorgeous, if I do say so myself. And that's not bragging (ok, maybe a little...lol) She's 5'6", b-cup, bootylicious and has legs for days. Add that to the bright baby blue eyes and pixie hair cut (often a variety of colors) she's often mistaken for much older than she really is. She likes her tshirts and jeans to be a bit clingy, but would never DREAM of letting her ass or her boobs hang out of her clothing. She prefers to wear ladies' jeans and boys tshirts. Furthermore, when she was born, the hubby said, "no words on the butt." He just isn't comfortable with anyone reading his daughter's ass.

I have final approval (or veto) on every garment in my daughter's closet. I have exercised it on several occasions, but mostly because she wants some hideous or inflammatory slogan tee shirt. A couple of times, the jeans were just too tight and they went back on the rack. She may pout, but I know that one day, she'll thank me for not letting her run around in the "uniform."

I am lucky, though. She thinks that girls her age who show too much skin are "preppy" or "clones." I love my little emo rebel!

Yet here you are. She'll sense it and follow your example.

 

[Miss_Pixie]

There are low-riders and words-on-the-ass pants in the GIRL'S section of clothing stores. The junior's department is all skin-tight, itty bitty and flaunt it if you got it. It's really hard to dress your girl for something other than the redlight district.

I've heard "I wish she wouldn't dress like that, but all the kids do these days." Well, unless she's 11 years old with a job...YOU are buying it for her. And unfortunately, even if a girl is a young lady in every other aspect, she will still be treated like she's dressed. I think a friend of mine paraphrased this from a movie, but "She might not be a whore, but she's wearing the uniform!"

I have an eleven year old daughter. She's gorgeous, if I do say so myself. And that's not bragging (ok, maybe a little...lol) She's 5'6", b-cup, bootylicious and has legs for days. Add that to the bright baby blue eyes and pixie hair cut (often a variety of colors) she's often mistaken for much older than she really is. She likes her tshirts and jeans to be a bit clingy, but would never DREAM of letting her ass or her boobs hang out of her clothing. She prefers to wear ladies' jeans and boys tshirts. Furthermore, when she was born, the hubby said, "no words on the butt." He just isn't comfortable with anyone reading his daughter's ass.

I have final approval (or veto) on every garment in my daughter's closet. I have exercised it on several occasions, but mostly because she wants some hideous or inflammatory slogan tee shirt. A couple of times, the jeans were just too tight and they went back on the rack. She may pout, but I know that one day, she'll thank me for not letting her run around in the "uniform."

I am lucky, though. She thinks that girls her age who show too much skin are "preppy" or "clones." I love my little emo rebel!

My mom only had to veto some of my choices in shoes lol, other than that, I tended to (and still do) favor Hippie Dresses, jeans and tee shirts, my closet is pretty vanilla. Acessories are my Kryptonite lol. I create outfits AFTER i find the jewelry and shoes...

 

[Miss_Pixie]

The media can be turned off and the most likely cause of overly-early puberty is too much food and not enough exercise. In both cases all the parents have to do is say, "What part of 'no' do you not understand?"

I read a book recently that came back to me while I was posting this, It's called, The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumburg I found it very informative and I found some of the inforation alittle scary for instance,

In 100 years, Girls have gone form getting their periods at 16 or 17, to getting them at 11 or 12.

It certainly can't be all the parents fault can it? Especially not if their bodies mature so much faster than their brains and everyday, at school, home, wherever, they're bombarded with iimages of how they should look to be not only attractive, but successful and not given the proper tools or self esteem and self confidence/respect to deal with all the rapid changes.

 

[Austin8]

We love Claire's! Lol

 

[Miss_Pixie]

who doesn't lol. I get my birthday tiaras there

 

[Austin8]

who doesn't lol. I get my birthday tiaras there

oooh! cool plated plastic!

 

[TMNT_FAN]

I'm not big into claire's either... there's too much blue there...

 

[Austin8]

I'm not big into claire's either... there's too much blue there...

obviously you missed the pink and orange...

 

[TMNT_FAN]

I'm a one color kind of guy...

 

[jehoram]

I read a book recently that came back to me while I was posting this, It's called, The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumburg I found it very informative and I found some of the inforation alittle scary for instance,

In 100 years, Girls have gone form getting their periods at 16 or 17, to getting them at 11 or 12.

And getting breasts younger, too. A friend of mine is convinced that it's the hormone-laced milk that we're feeding kids nowadays. The milk today is very different compared to what girls were drinking forty or fifty years ago.

They're more adult in their bodies, and the media tell them that if you've got it, flaunt it. So it's a double-edged problem.

 

[TMNT_FAN]

It makes sense, I mean, it's basic biology right? All that food chain stuff. You pump the animals full of growth hormones, and then pump the kids with the meat, you get bigger kids.

It's not just girls that get it, guys get it too, though not as bad. We have to look rght or girls won't look at us. Girls have to look right or be social outcasts and get the hell teased out of them

 

[djserani]

It makes sense, I mean, it's basic biology right? All that food chain stuff. You pump the animals full of growth hormones, and then pump the kids with the meat, you get bigger kids.

It's not just girls that get it, guys get it too, though not as bad. We have to look rght or girls won't look at us. Girls have to look right or be social outcasts and get the hell teased out of them

Couldn't they have been doing that when MY breasts were growing? So not fair...

 

[theravenfox]

In 100 years, Girls have gone form getting their periods at 16 or 17, to getting them at 11 or 12.

My daughter and I both started at 9.

It certainly can't be all the parents fault can it? Especially not if their bodies mature so much faster than their brains and everyday, at school, home, wherever, they're bombarded with iimages of how they should look to be not only attractive, but successful and not given the proper tools or self esteem and self confidence/respect to deal with all the rapid changes.

Here's where I see it as the parents' fault:

• 1. Buying them suggestive clothing to wear.
• 2. Allowing them to model themselves after the Brittany Spears and Lindsy Lohans of the world.
• 3. Not informing them about what is going on with their bodies.
• 4. Not reassuring them every day that they are special/smart/attractive/wonderful individuals.
• 5. (as BardsLady pointed out) Not balancing parental expectations with individual freedom of expression. If you won't let them wear ANYTHING they want to wear, then they feel that they must rebel against EVERYTHING that you want.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I read a book recently that came back to me while I was posting this, It's called, The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacobs Brumburg I found it very informative and I found some of the inforation alittle scary for instance,

In 100 years, Girls have gone form getting their periods at 16 or 17, to getting them at 11 or 12.

It certainly can't be all the parents fault can it? Especially not if their bodies mature so much faster than their brains and everyday, at school, home, wherever, they're bombarded with iimages of how they should look to be not only attractive, but successful and not given the proper tools or self esteem and self confidence/respect to deal with all the rapid changes.

It's a major puzzle. None of the suggested causes seems to pan out though the fact that everyone, including girls, seem to be getting heavier and less active over the last hundred years is suggestive. We do know that athletic girls enter puberty later than lay-arounds and the girls who seem to start the process in the third grade (!) are uniformly chubby.