Are Young Girls Dressing Too Revealingly?

[onetspvanilla]

Are Young Girls Dressing Too Revealingly?
Some See Trend, and Take Steps to Stop It

Oct. 27, 2007 —

Among pint-sized cheerleaders, itty-bitty beauty queens, and in the malls of America, the sassy-sexy look isn't just for teens anymore.

Some say younger girls are going shorter and barer -- taking their cues from characters like the Cheetah Girls, the Pussycat Dolls and the Bratz dolls -- and some observers are saying they've had enough.

Celia Rivenbark, a mom who hit her breaking point with the shrinking fashions, wrote a book called, "Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank."

"The moms are buying it, the dads are buying and maybe on some level the parents think, 'Oh that's cute, that's harmless, that's innocent' -- but I don't think it is," Rivenbank said. "The children are wearing them down."

And psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere warns that how a child dresses as young as age three can have serious consequences.

"You can be doing real damage to your child," Gardere said. "They are forming their taste at a very young age. They can hurt their futures. They can hurt their reputations, their chances for success."

Ten-year-old Ashley Parks said she admires the Pussycat Doll look.

"I like how it's sexy," she said.

Six year-old Venus Melvin aims a bit older, looking to model and fashion mogul Kimora Lee Simmons.

"She is really creative," Melvin said, "and she knows how to handle fashion."

Three North Carolina moms and one dad who spoke to "Good Morning America Weekend Edition" said the pressure to please their little princesses -- but still have them look their age -- is no easy task.

"When I am talking to my daughter, she'll sit there and say, 'You don't know fashion' and how can I compete with that?" the dad asked.

One mom said, "I am just amazed at how much shorter the dresses are getting. They have stuff for the kids I wouldn't wear."

The parents said department stores need to tone it down in the children's section and lay off companies like "Pimpfants" that sell "baby beaters" and "junior pimp squad" t-shirts.

There even are choices -- plenty of them -- if your little one wants a thong or a padded bra.

Rivenbark said parents the power to say no, and avoiding the mommy drama is all about compromise. She stresses moderation, especially when it comes to "bling," and suggests bribing with bright colors. And layering can make almost anything more conservative.

She suggested asking kids, "Is this out of the question, or is there some way to split to difference with this? I know it seems this is a little challenging, but you could wear a little cover-up a little shawl?"

"There's no reason that your child should be deprived of the fashion," Rivenbark added.

ABC News'

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

ABC News: Are Young Girls Dressing Too Revealingly?

i'm so scared of one day sending my kids to school; this trend almost makes me wish i could keep them in a little homeschooled bubble. i remember picking up my brother from middle school one day and being shocked at the lengths of skirts and how much makeup was caked on these girls. gross.
as for the compromise advice bit at the end -- yeah right. it'll either be what i pick out or go home with nothing. parents need have more of a backbone.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Is the sky blue?

[shsh]

yes, they are.

i am starting to hate sarcastic people.

[RestlessSoul]

Originally Posted by onetspvanilla

i'm so scared of one day sending my kids to school; this trend almost makes me wish i could keep them in a little homeschooled bubble. i remember picking up my brother from middle school one day and being shocked at the lengths of skirts and how much makeup was caked on these girls. gross.
as for the compromise advice bit at the end -- yeah right. it'll either be what i pick out or go home with nothing. parents need have more of a backbone.

exactly my same worries. i'd like to have daughters, but I wouldn't want to deal with this. it's not just clothes though. I sometimes flip through the channels I used to watch as a kid (nickolodean, etc.) and am just amazed at what kind of garbage they have on there. even if the kids shows (doug or hey arnold for example) had themes of love, it was more the romantic type and not about lust. whatever happened to the innocence of our youth?

ultimately, it comes down to parents actually parenting and not trying so hard to be their children's friends. it would also help if the parents dress as they would like their kids to dress

[shadha]

It's mighty disturbing what parents allow and do to their children. No matter what era you live in, you're always going to have to fight against outside influence. If you're serious about becoming a parent, expand your reading material, read books from both sides of the argument, watch the relationship other parents have with their children and learn from it.


shadha-

[wheelworks]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Is the sky blue?

No it's grey with clouds nowadays. Winter donchaknow

[lol_lol]

sex sells and there images are going to be everywhere, its the parents responsibilty to talk to their daughters, especially when there young and impressionable.

[wheelworks]

On a more serious note, Young girls clothing are designed by pedophiles. Proof? Just go check out the Girls (kids) section of walmart.

[Revert]

It is sick but you don't have to dress your kid like that.

[ChotooMotoo]

Fashion is cyclic. Eventually clothes will become modest again. However, you shouldn't wait for fashion to dress modestly, or dress your children modestly.

Sadly I've seen many Muslim families dressing their children in these clothes. Even if you make your daughter wear tights underneath, it's still not modest.

[TariqBinSleepin]

Originally Posted by ChotooMotoo

Fashion is cyclic. Eventually clothes will become modest again. However, you shouldn't wait for fashion to dress modestly, or dress your children modestly.

Sadly I've seen many Muslim families dressing their children in these clothes. Even if you make your daughter wear tights underneath, it's still not modest.

Huh? Can you re-explain that? Not bashing on you just...curious as to what your thoughts are on it.

[Dubai3000]

i still dont know why catholic school girls dress so revealingly, their skirts are so short.

[Rain]

I will teach my kids that if you "lose your modesty you may do as you please."

[Anderson]

Underaged sex sells.

[iTz_NoT_Me_iTzZu]

its pretty shocking what people dress their kids in these days. my mom wouldn't even let me wear shorts when i was a kid