The Sexualization of Early Childhood

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