Why Turn Children Into Mini Adults?!
Today’s Writing Prompt for the National Health Blogger’s Challenge is “Call BS on something. What’s something that is just ridiculous?“ A few things came to mind, what with it being election month and everything. However, there is something that I hate with such a cruel and unusual hatred that I pretty much knew what I’d write about instantly.
exploit [ik-sploit] – to use selfishly for one’s own ends
I hate, loathe, despise, and am sickened by the trend of turning little girls into tiny versions of women. I am, by nature, a very peace-loving, you-live-your-life-and-I’ll-live-mine, laid back person. Maybe it’s a Kentucky thing, I don’t know. However, little girl’s pageant shows make me want to kick every parent involved right in the shins.
What’s more, it makes me want to throw something (just about any projectile will do) at the people that pay for advertising on these shows and anyone and anything associated with their promotion in any way.
How’s that for a vent?
The costumes, makeup, and hair they put on these babies makes my insides turn. It’s just wrong. The fact that millions of people tune in doesn’t make it right – it only makes me sicker.
In an age where people abuse children in deplorable ways and in an age where they are photographed in deplorable ways makes me ask, “Who in the hell thinks it’s a good idea?!” This entire process defines “something that is just ridiculous.”
I read an article a few weeks ago about the disturbing trend in children’s Halloween clothing. It had pictures of the popular costumes a few years ago, along with popular (“sexier”) clothing today. I couldn’t decide which I wanted to do more – cry or throw up.
I honestly believe it can be attributed to one particular program that’s been allowed to continue and flourish.
Let’s watch an episode of little children being made to look like tiny little women with lipstick, fake tanning, and big hair. Let’s watch them cry when they aren’t “pretty enough” or “good enough.” Wow! What fun!
Total BS.
If you’re a fan of this type of show, I apologize for stepping on your toes. Hopefully we can just disagree and respect one another.
exploit [ik-sploit] – to use selfishly for one’s own ends
Having said that, nothing would make me happier than to see a huge, grass roots type movement swell up and boycott any show, any network, and any advertisers involved in using children to get rich.
- I’d LOVE to see America make a statement to the moms: “Get a life of your own – quit living through your little girl! This is a child. Not a meal ticket.”
- I’d LOVE to see America make a statement to the advertisers: “I don’t respect any product or service that supports this. This are children. Not meal tickets.”
- I’d LOVE to see America force networks to make quality programs – programs that actually educate, inspire, motivate, and/or do something beneficial for society. Without exploiting children.
Self image is one of the most important things in the world. How we feel about ourselves determines, to a very large extent, how far we’ll go in life. Young girls already have a nightmarish time with the media. Experts tell us that potentially fatal eating disorders and teenage pregnancies are both attributed to self image.
Then again,there’s a show for teenage pregnancies too… but I’m getting off track.
This one may shock you, but networks, producers, and parents who make put these shows within reach of the viewing public aren’t the people I’m most disappointed in. Times are tough – and tough times make people desperate. There’s a lot of competition with networks and programs – again, people get a little desperate. I’m the most disappointed in the people who tune in again and again and again. I’m a little alarmed by people who think of this as entertainment.
What’s the best part, the expression on the little girls’ faces who don’t win…. when they aren’t “pretty enough” or the part where 95 percent of their day is dedicated to superficiality?
I’m in the middle of a big old vent – and it’s uncommonly hard to “back off” when the vent gets rolling! However, in all fairness, I will stop and say that I IN NO WAY feel that anyone involved in this sort of thing sees it the way I (or a lot of people) do. If they did, they’d avoid it like the plague. If parents or people behind these shows realized how the children were being expoited, they’d courageously pull out and allow the chips to fall where they may.
I also don’t think that parents who buy their children “sexy” Halloween costumes totally realize what they’re doing either. They may concede that, yes… they’re forcing their children to grow up too quickly.. but they may not fully realize the wrongness of it all.
People become kind of desensitized to things, don’t they? You see shows like the ones I’ve talked about, you see sitcoms, movies, and even some commercials and you start thinking that abnormal is normal. Problem is, this sort of thinking is the very place where everything wrong, perverse, and destructive is born.
Ever write (or said) something, while the whole time thinking, “I’m going to hear about this!!!”? I know for a fact I’ll get negative feedback for this rant – in e-mail for sure. For someone who hates controversy or adversity at all, it’ll be hell for me. However, it’s no where near the hell of watching tv shows, magazines, etc exploit children. Small children – arguably anyone under the age of 18 – simply aren’t capable of determining what’s best for them.
They aren’t even deemed worthy of knowing who to vote for until they’re 18!
I just want to see the tide turn and children resume their rightful place in this world – not as entertainment, not as meal tickets, not as mini-adults - but as adorable, fun-loving, innocent children.
Okay. Rant over. We’re good.
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