“How young is too young?” is a question that many parents seem to be asking themselves in regard to their children.  Women in our society have mounds of pressure on them to be “perfect” and “beautiful” but we rarely stop and wonder who else this pressure effects.  Many young girls are influenced by the media and the people in their lives– but what if all they see are sexy clothes?  You can’t go outside without seeing billboards with provocative things on them or turn the TV on without seeing something sexual.  Due to the media focusing on looks and turning women into sex objects, it has become normal for young girls to think that it is okay to act and dress in a way that a young girl should not being doing.

These young girls grow up thinking that the way those women are dressed is okay and that every female should be dressed like that–and this puts the pressure on the girls to look a certain way.  Shows like “Toddlers & Tiaras” show very young girls acting and dressing like much older, sexy women.  Not only are we seeing the sexualization (makes people in to objects and teaches women that their only value comes from their sexual appeal)  of young girls on reality shows, but recently Abercrombie & Fitch began selling padded bikini tops for seven year olds.  Stores that use to sell classic clothes to children are now beginning to be shorter, and much more revealing.  Celebrities children like Suri Cruise are infamous for wearing high heels and it is now becoming the norm amongst young children.

The effects of the sexualization of young girls is very dangerous and can weaken their confidence, make them unsatisfied with their body image, making them feel shameful of their bodies, leading to eating disorders, and depression.  Who is to blame in this situation?  The advertising companies are to blame because they push their products to the children who know that they can manipulate their parents in to buying them these sexy products to make themselves feel good.  These companies don’t care about the impact that their products have on the society as a whole.  It also affects the boys because they are being taught that women are sex objects and it is causing boys to not think of women as equal human beings.  We, as a society, should stop and realize the huge impact the sexualization has on our next generation and put a stop to it.