Did anyone see this piece in the Atlantic today?
http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/even-candy-land-isnt-safe-from-sexy/275283/
Sometimes the thought of raising a little girl today terrifies me. The article she links to about fat being a preschool issue is so sad too! "But now, it appears, by age three girls equate thinness with beauty, sweetness, niceness and popularity; they associate “fat” meanwhile with laziness, stupidity and friendlessness." By three!? Simply ridiculous.
pineapple / 12802 posts
Seriously, at three they should be worrying about which toy to play with, not about thinness... so sad. 
pineapple / 12526 posts
Well, yet another thing I will be trying to track down a vintage version of. We owned the 70s version when we were kids, although the 80s version was already out.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
Teaching them to love and respect themselves is so important for down the road, but it seems like even the things designed for their ages are sending a message counter to the one we'd like to be sending!
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
This makes me so sad that I will have to talk to my daughter about these things at such a young age. I wish they would switch back to the "average" looking Disney dolls, not these big bug eyed skinny things. Or make a plus sized princess and not address her weight, just that she is beautiful, give girls someone to actually relate too. In my dreams...
I do remember my niece who was 4 at the time announce to everyone "I'm so fat, I need to lose weight." My sister was mortified because she knew she was just mimicking her and didn't realize she was listening, but it was an eye opener on how a small age child views body image and really listens.
grapefruit / 4049 posts
This is why I always tell my daughters that they are beautiful on the outside, but more importantly, in the inside too.
grapefruit / 4903 posts
@LuLu Mom: so true! That's one thing we can control as mothers.
@SAHM0811: I do the same. I just need to figure out how to have that reinforced by the rest of society! And I hope LO chooses little friends from families like yours!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts
@zippylef: I have my 80s version still. I'm very glad I do now.
grapefruit / 4049 posts
@rattles: it's tough that these things are subliminal! But glad for parents who are aware and involved with such issues. and I'm with you... who their friends are - what their values are - are big influences too.
kiwi / 656 posts
This is a great, and very disturbing, article. I'm not a mom myself yet, but I still worry about these things, especially since you want to instill the right message without making kids overly sheltered from the real world- I imagine it's tough to find the right balance. It makes me think a lot of this article, which i think about when interacting with the two little girls of a good friend of mine: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html
grapefruit / 4903 posts
@MrsBucky: I remember that article! It was such a good one, and it struck me too at the time. I didn't have a little one then either, and it feels even more important now. Thanks for reminding me of it!
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
12 comments