As
I started to read the introduction from the book So Sexy So Soon my jaw began to drop. Even though I have noticed how girls are
dressing more provocative at a much younger age and I have heard young children
say things that I thought should never have come out of the mouth of a child
that young, some of the stories told at the beginning of this introduction were
very disturbing. “Sexualization has to
do with treating other people (and sometimes oneself) as objects of sexual
desire . . . as things rather than as people with legitimate sexual feelings of
their own” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). I do take notice of some of the clothing
teenage girls wear as well as young preschool girls. It is disturbing to me when I see teenage
girls wear shorts that pretty much show their bottoms. It is even more irritating to me when they
wear these types of clothing to school and the school does nothing about
it. Our school district actually made a
stronger dress code for students and teachers that go into affect this school
year. I am interested to see if the
school really makes students or teachers change their clothes when they are
dressed inappropriately. I see
preschoolers wear clothing that I feel is just too grown up for them. If it is something a teenager would wear if
it were in their size then I am not sure a preschooler needs to wear it. I feel like we push young children to dress
way above their age because parents think they look stylish and cute.
“When people are sexualized, their
value comes primarily from their sex appeal, which is equated with physical
attractiveness. This is especially damaging and problematic to children and
adolescents who are developing their sense of themselves as sexual beings” (Levin
& Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). If you
listen to children play in a preschool classroom you will hear them make
remarks to what someone looks like and how these looks affect that person’s
ability to do different things. For
example a girl might say she wants to be the cheerleader but another student
will tell her you have to be pretty to be a cheerleader. It is sad to see how much importance is
placed on what people look like. Young
children watch the older children and adults in their lives place too much
value on what they look like. This can
also be true when it come to dieting. It
is amazing to listen to young girls talk about going on a diet or things they
will not eat because they need go on a diet.
Our society places too much value on what people look like on the
outside and not enough value on what people are like on the inside.
“The sexualization of childhood is
having a profoundly disturbing impact
on children’s understanding of
gender, sexuality, and relationships” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 3). As an early childhood educator it is
extremely important to be a good model for your students. Make sure you are dressing appropriately and professionally. Make sure you are not only commenting on
certain children’s outfits but also making sure everyone in your classroom
feels special. Make sure you model
healthy eating habits and be aware that children are constantly watching what
you do and say. Also make sure you are
available for your students and willing to answer their difficult questions.
The
readings this week have opened my eyes to sexualization and made me want to be
more aware of its implications on my young preschoolers and my own
children. I realized I had a little bit
of knowledge regarding this subject but not nearly enough. I also realized I had no idea how big of a
problem this is can be and how young it can start. This is an issue that is not going away but one
that definitely needs to be addressed at an early age.
Reference
Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J.
(2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and
what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine
Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf
