I was in Target this weekend and was browsing the shoe section when I saw a mother with two girls doing some [presumable] school shopping. The older of the two girls (who couldn't have been more than 12) was trying on black patent leather pumps with cut-out toes and 3" heels. The younger (who was maybe 8 or 9) was trying on white platform sandals. They were wanted those shoes not to emulate mom, they were trying them on because
that's what they thought looked cool. I was shocked. This girl who was 13 years younger than me wanted her mother to buy her shoes for school that were shoes I would have worn for work or a night out to the bars! That was a bit much for me. I don't know if the mother got them or not, but I know I wouldn't have.
I agree that it's more a product of the media than feminism. You have a 13-year-old singer [JoJo] who is wearing high heels and belly tops in her video because that's what some 30-year-old stylist put her in. The media is taking fashion that is geared towards adults and putting them on teenagers and that sends a dangerous message. At a time when kids are very impressionable and trying to discover themselves, they are very open to suggestive advertising. They don't want to be seen as little kids anymore, they want to look like their idols but they don't understand that's not how JoJo or Britney would normally dress for school or just hanging out with friends (well, maybe Britney would). It makes me nervous when I hear high school girls say they love Sex and the City because I don't think the majority of them are emotionally or mentally mature enough to understand it. It is okay for children to act, talk, think and look their age, I just wish the media would understand that.
That being said, I will allow my children to make their own decisions, but if I don't feel something is age-appropriate, I will let them know. Daughters can start wearing minimal make-up in middle school, with me teaching them proper application. If they want to spend their own money on trendy clothes, they can, but if I'm buying them, I will stick to versitile, classic pieces. I very rarely ever buy into fashion trends, so if my daughters were to look to me for fashion advice, they would see [hopefully] a classic, well-put-together woman. Then again, they might just see a big nerd who dresses 30 years behind the times!
My children are not having sex. Ever! (Unless I want grandbabies)
