Racy Outfits Have No Place in a Child’s Wardrobe

Recently on a television show called “Toddlers and Tiaras,” a 3-year-old girl participating in a children’s “beauty contest” appeared on stage dressed as the sexy prostitute character from the movie, “Pretty Woman.”

What????!!!

The sexualization of children has been a disturbing issue for a long time.  But having a 3-year-old strut around in leather boots, a mini-skirt and a blonde wig is so far beyond wrong that, in the pursuit of advertisers, television networks have essentially erased any remaining line of decency. To add to the wrongness of this situation, the girl’s mother appeared on national television to defend how she dressed her daughter for the competition. 

This is an extreme example of a bad parenting decision. Unfortunately, it’s not an isolated incident. More and more, young girls – from preschoolers to teens – are being dressed in or are being allowed to dress in tight, sometimes revealing clothing. As all sorts of media continue to push the envelope of bad taste, they’ve convinced too many parents that it’s hip to throw modesty and common sense out the window when it comes to what their daughters should wear. 

Without exception, the sexualization of children is a type of victimization that hurts kids and robs them of their childhood innocence. 

Parents, you are in control. Powerful, negative messages are all around you every day. But it is your responsibility to protect and nurture your children by setting boundaries, modeling appropriate behavior for them and teaching skills that will allow them to grow up as healthy, happy kids. 

At Boys Town, our experts can offer some great advice to help parents deal with the challenges they face every day. Please visit our website, parenting.org, for articles and other information.