The Sexualization of Early Childhood

I think sexualization is too advanced for children in early childhood. The focus should be on learning your coursework, not sex. I know younger children are more aware of sex than they should be, but for it to be a topic in the early childhood field is surprising.

Music videos play a big part in exposing children in a sexual environment. The videos tell them it is alright to dress sexy or participate in sex. “Children growing up today are bombarded from a very early age with graphic messages about sex and sexiness in the media and popular culture”, Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, pg. 2.

I have seen girls at the school where I work be sent home because their dress was too short or their shirt was too low cut. I have seen some of the girls where eye shadow, lipstick, and false fingernails to school.

One day I was walking through the lunchroom after lunch was over and I found a note one of the fifth grade boys wrote to one of the fifth grade girls. The note said he was breaking up with her because he wanted to talk to this other girl because she was prettier. This might make the other girl he broke up with feel as though she has to do something else to be prettier so she could keep a boyfriend. She may start dressing promiscuous or wanting to have sex.

When I worked at the middle school I remember some boys talking about a girl they “ran a train on”. They were in line talking about how they took turns having sex with her.

Children who are introduced to sex or sexual behavior too soon will not have a chance to be children or do children activities. They are doing adult things way too soon. If any of these encounters are observed I think as an early childhood professional, parent, and grandparent it is important to address these issues with the parents. Children need to know this is not acceptable behavior.

My awareness of sexualization has been modified because I never knew it was this serious until my studies this week. Children are exposed to many sexual environments, some are at home.

 

Reference

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized

childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine

Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf