Did you guys read about Elizabeth Hurley’s line of sexy kiddie bikinis?
Mini ChaCha Bikini, pic from elizabethhurley.com
Much like the author of the article, for me, the problem is a combination of two things – the bikini itself and the child model’s pose (or, I should say, the pose she was instructed to do by someone). If she had floaties on her arms and was building a sandcastle, I might not have focused as much on the pint-sized string bikini. What really bothered me, however, was the wording that apparently went along with the pictures on Hurley’s site, such as a caption next to a bikini for the 8-13 age range, which said “great for girls who want to look grown up”. I checked out her site, elizabethhurley.com, to see for myself, and received an error message. I can only assume her reps are doing some damage control with regards to either the pictures or the descriptions.
I read two separate articles about Hurley’s children’s line, and while both featured quotes of caution from experts, neither addressed the fact that little girls don’t have funds to purchase their own swimsuits. For several years now, it seems clothing for young girls has become more ‘grownup’ and revealing. In my old blog I posted about the topic a number of times, and I’ve read countless blogs, articles, papers, and books from people warning against the oversexualization of young girls. I haven’t written about the topic in a long time, because quite frankly, one trip to the children’s department of a clothing store tells me this line of thinking is the minority – the clothing wouldn’t be made if it wasn’t being purchased.
What do you guys think? Is it a problem or no big deal?
I continue to be grateful I have a boy child.
I don’t find bathing suits to be comfortable clothing. Never have. And I spent a lot of time in one this summer since my kid discovered he LOVES SWIMMING. I do too. I just hate swimwear. I think it should be way more practical and functional, way less worrisome. Bikinis worry me, no matter who is wearing them. They ride up here, fall off there.
My ideal bathing suit is one that like my kid wears. Swim shorts and a swim shirt. Because he is the whitest person on the earth, and I am not exaggerating, he usually wears a shirt too. There is not enough sun block to keep him from burning to a crisp after 10 minutes. I have found swim shorts for me. I have not found the perfect top. I feel like I am arguing with my swimsuits all the time. Too much lycra.
But back to your point, I think the suits are ridiculous.
“They ride up here, fall off there”
About a month ago we were in Palm Springs, and took a dip in the pool. I was chatting with my husband, when I noticed movement from the corner of my eye. It was my bikini top, which had become untied in the back, slowly moving away from where it was supposed to be. Thankfully no one else was there, but even so I was mortified. Yeah, bikinis are not very functional.
It is a problem, but people don’t seem to recognize the issues it presents for some reason. We tell our young men not to objectify women and young girls demand respect for themselves, but when I go to the local junior high, girls have JUICY printed across their butts.
Oh that one annoys me endlessly. And you’re right, it does send mixed messages.
I tried to go to her site too and it isn’t loading.
I think one of the reasons she’s not wearing swimmies and building a sand castle is because this bikini is in no way practical for the actual fun you’re supposed to have on the beach.
Yep, not very practical at all.
It’s a problem.
Full disclosure: I wore bikinis when I was a little kid. Probably mostly bikinis. But I think it was a different time then. There was nothing sexualized about them. I didn’t want to look grown up. The people who picked them out for me didn’t choose them so I would look sexy. They needed a kid’s bathing suit, saw a cute one and bought it.
It seems now that things are really marketed that way. I’m only now starting to pay attention to clothing for little girls, but even in toddler sizes, you have to be selective to avoid anything with words across the butt, or PRINCESS or DIVA or whatever written on it. Things that don’t necessarily scream “inappropriate!” but allude to it in a very thoughtful, “this is practice for later” kind of way.
That’s just small children. My neighborhood is packed with “young adult” aged girls and all summer I am in disbelief at what they are wearing. That makes me sound so stodgy and old, but I can appreciate that the pressure must be there to dress that way, and it’s a shame.
Right, young girls dress that way because it’s the norm in their circle. And I’m sure there are many parents who don’t want their daughters to dress that way and go through a constant battle because, “all the other girls wear (fill in the blank).” Most girls probably don’t think anything of it, other than it’s the way their friends dress, and when you’re young, you tend to roll with the pack.
As for the diva stuff, I find that a bit disturbing too. Personally, it isn’t a word I’d want to plaster across my child, but I see it all the time.
I think it’s a problem if we make it a problem. I was a kid of the 70′s and 80′s and my god in heaven the shit we wore was skimpy and could have been ‘sexualized’, had someone mentioned it. I, myself, was a big fan of the ‘tube top’ with midriff bare and short shorts.
I don’t really think it was a different ‘time’ or ‘era’ then- I think pervs are pervs no matter what day and age we are in.
This particular outrage sort of makes me laugh. That little girl didn’t pick out or design the clothing. The best way to make shit like this go away? Don’t give it so much attention, and don’t buy the clothing. Period.
I sort of feel like everything doesn’t have to be a ‘crisis’ or some huge societal problem.
Meh.
I can agree with that. And like I said to the Rev, girls just want to wear what their friends are wearing, and if that means a string bikini, then hey, that’s what’s cool.
Thanks for the blog fodder, Vesta. I wrote a blog post in response to this at PJ Lifestyle from the perspective of future feminist father wanting to raise a strong daughter some day: http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2012/09/19/what-father-would-permit-his-young-daughter-to-wear-a-bikini/
Checking it out now!
So glad I have boys.
There are many things wrong with that picture. From the hair styling, to the suggestive pose, to the animal print which is connotative of sexiness in fashion at present. It is just all wrong wrong wrong.
Yeah, boys are good with superhero underoos, girls are much more difficult.
There are many things wrong with that picture, including the bad photoshopping. When I was a little girl I always wanted to have black dresses, lacy black dresses. Why? Because I wanted to be a grownup. Rightly, I was told no, black dresses are not for little girls. Perhaps the same should be said for “sexy” animal prints?
If there is one thing future generations do not need, it’s the further oversexualization of young girls.
I wanted high heels so I could be grown up. I think most little girls go through that, whether it’s heels or black lace dresses or string bikinis.
Then one day you realize you are grown up, and suddenly want to turn back the clock:)
Impractical, inappropriate and looks awkward to wear.
Can we just let them have fun?
The whole thing with kids being made into toy adults, sexualized or not, reeks of parents who might put theirs in a pageant at that age. Also a really BAD idea.
They’re kids, not show-dogs, and not dwarves, and it’s not cute or funny to sexualize them. Except in “Little Miss Sunshine”.
Hey! Why did my blog eat my response?
This is infuriating
Let kids be kids. They will be people before you know it. If you wanted something to dress up and make pretty, you should have got a doll
True. Barbie already comes with an outfit and accessories.
I’ve been pondering this loaded topic for some time now.
Prior to choosing my career over my artistic passion, I was a regular performer and still remain a minor celebrity in the neo-burlesque & pinup model scene in Vancouver. I’ve spent the last 7 years blathering about feminine empowerment through performance. I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging my female audience’s curiosities – my greatest fan-followers are women that are looking for that one little boost of ‘Hey, if she can do that on a stage, then I want to try!”.
Ironically, we’re due to have our first baby, a girl, in January. And, ironically, I’m already taken aback with what could be seen as ‘acceptable’ in terms of fashion for our daughter. In spite of my penchant for rhinestones and lipstick, I’m not interested in the ‘Princess’ or ‘Diva’ movement for children – and I certainly won’t be allowing itsy bitsy toddler bikinis. I’m pretty sure I’ll be encouraging ‘Audrey Hepburn’ over ‘Pop Tart of the Week’ in our house.
Admittedly, I do feel like a hypocrite – some day she will grow up and know that her mom flounced around on a stage in her skivvies, and taunted an audience with Lucille Ball-inspired strip-teases.
I just hope that she will be able to correlate my 20-something sexuality exploration with a sense of class and comedy, and that someday she can choose an outlet of her own that will provide her with as much joy.
You know, I don’t think you’re being a hypocrite at all. Your decision to be a burlesque performer was made as an adult, and for an adult audience.
Side note – I am a big fan of burlesque, and I don’t think you’re blathering about feminine empowerment. It IS empowering!
I’m fairly certain I’ll end up with a little girl someday and be forced to learn to sew or something because there will be nothing in the stores that I’ll allow her to wear. And then she’ll hate me even before the teen years when it’s normal. Can’t wait!
Until you are old enough to have boobs to put into the bikini cups, you should not be wearing bikinis.
Good rule of thumb!
Oh jesus. Yes this is a problem. We are constantly sending out messages that little girls are sexual tartlets. We definitely are – I’ve seen little girls in little girls clothes – with plunging necklines, daisy dukes, pumps, earrings, makeup. And now bikinis?
Very bad.
I’m on the side of problem too. First, because obviously there is no reason for a small child to look even VAGUELY sexy. Second because more and more culture seems to be urging children to grow up in all the WRONG ways (teen moms on TV, sexy clothes on toddlers in tiaras) and stay children in all the WRONG ways again (no accountability for anything, no responsibility).
In short, don’t even DREAM of scolding your child for doing something horrendous but by all means dress your four year old like a hooker. WTF?
I am ambivalent about the whole thing. I am honestly not bothered by the picture of the little girl in the “mini cha cha” because if any man sees a sexual being there he’s a perv in the first place. I worry more about the pre-teen and teenager crowd. My five year old IS a diva and a princess, but in an innocent pre-pubescent way. It gets a whole different connotation once puberty hits. Just like if my three year old streaks through the house when we have company I roll my eyes but if she’s 11 we’re having a different kind of talk.
I choose not to dress my little ones in low cut clothes because I don’t want to explain why it’s okay at 10 but not at 11, but not because I find it dangerous in and of itself. Heck half of those five and under girls could run around without a shirt at all and plenty of people would be fine with it. What worries me are the 13-17 year olds I see in the mall practicing their sexuality by showing off their brand new cleavage and rounded hips. At 5 it’s playing dress up and I could see it being cute to see that little girl in the bikini next to mommy in an identical one. Beyond 8 that line starts to blur as girls become sexual beings of their own and it’s not cute anymore and crosses the line into disturbing.
8 and under don’t have sexuality, 18 and older can own their sexuality, but the in between should have their budding sexuality protected, not flaunted.