On Saturday I appeared on Weekend Sunrise with Danielle Egan, US author of a new book which argues concerns about the sexualisation of girls are exaggerated.
The time-wasting, body-hating self-objectification proved to go hand-in-hand with such “bold, sexy, powerful” ideals – though ideal for an industry raking in $5 billion a year and expanding across the globe – is not a great pathway to real progress as females or as a culture
You’ve probably heard VS rolled out a line of lingerie for teens called “Bright Young Things.”As part of the PINK brand for all the teenaged “things” across the world, these undies feature polka-dot hipsters with “Feeling Lucky?” printed on them, a lacey thong with the words, “I dare you” on the front, and so much more. This isn’t some conservative “too sexy, too soon!” cry. This is doctoral research into Victoria’s Secret — a company that profits by selling sexually objectifying and limiting messages to all ages and claiming it is “empowering.” This may give words to the feelings you’ve been having about how harmful this brand is, so read on.
9 Responses
When will the infants collection be released? May as well start if from the cradle. This is sick and perverted to dress up sexy underage girls. Wrong in many ways.
Dear Melinda,
If your comments are leading to opposition it might just mean that people are trying to quiet you because they don’t want to admit that you are correct in what you say.
So keep up the great work!
Kind regards,
Hugo Walker
What Hugo said!
Well said Melinda! I liked the comments afterwards about the short shorts being too much and how even though girls might not think too much of what they wear, the boys and men around them certainly have sexual thoughts when they see girls wearing this. And who controls the media and dictates the culture? Men who want girls sexualised at younger and younger ages.
I think it is important to reiterate what Melinda said on the show, that we do not shame individual girls for their actions, the way they dress, or their natural sexuality- but we are critical of a culture that tells them ‘that’s all you are’.
Men and boys must take responsibility for their own actions- regardless of the clothing women wear.
I am escort and in my early twenties. It disgusts me how men treat women/girls and the disgusting things they request. I get hundreds of booking requests a day, every day. 99% of the clients are in “happy” families and their wives would be non the wiser (read: would never suspect).
The most frequent request from these clients are rape and dressing up as a very young preteen girl. Whether these men admit it or not this is probably what they are most attracted to. I don’t know what the reasons are.
That type of underwear plays right into a perverts hands.
@Emma Lu – That’s totally sick. Just shows how dysfunctional human sexuality is because female sexuality is suppresses and male sexuality is promoted. There’s no equilibrium, no balance.
Thank you Melinda for speaking out against the sexualization of younger and younger girls. “Mummy, leggings!” is what I heard from a worried-looking child in a chain store. Who says it is cool to have your bottom cheeks shimmering with every step as you walk the suburban streets, and “not cool” to cover yourself appropriately. Parents you can use your buying power to teach your child to dress as a child and not as a prostitute!! Let’s be proactive in preventing exploitation of our lovely children.