*coughs* At least it's not as bad as seeing 400-pound females with fat rolls everywhere and wearing these short short skirts and tops, revealing all their saggyness, vericose veins and nasty flab >_>

Modesty..? What the fuck is that?

...

Black_Kitty

Tantz Aerine
Children are called children because they are not adolescents and certainly not adults. It's traumatic for a child to be introduced to adult patterns of behavior, even if the child behaviorally shows he/she likes it (they like it only because it's a form to please the caretaker). Children should never be pushed to wear clothing that is not of their (cultural) age range.

I'm not sure if you're using my post as some jump off point but I'm not suggesting that children should be introduced to adult patterns of behaviour or that they should be treated as anything but children.

In terms of clothing (and not sexual abuse, child labour, or anything like that), it's only traumatic if a child recognizes that it is not only harmful/negative behaviour but it is something they really do not want to wear.

A child and an adult may be staring at the same piece of clothing but thinking different things. A child may find it pretty and desirable but an adult may view the clothing as sexual and inappropriate for children. Think about Bratz dolls. The majority of the people who complains about them are how old? Does it change the fact that Bratz dolls are sexualized however?

I think however, that what you said, Black Kitty, happens because there is no real room for childhood in modern society- just as there is no room for the so-called 'third age'. You are simply not allowed to be elderly or show the mark of time. Modern society only reinforces 20-30 year old outlook, behavior pattern and goals. Unfortunately, it tends to enforce them, too- not reinforce them only.

I do agree although I'm kind of thinking of different reasons. I've taught younger kids for my job and they tend to have a busier schedule then I do. A lot of parents push kids too much and there's often pressure on the them to achieve early and "beat the crowd." Free play seems to be undervalued these days.

I definitely did not think you suggested anything of the sort regarding children and their sexuality. I don't think anyone would be able to surmise something of the sort from anything you said. These are my own personal thoughts, which in turn have stemmed from my experience with parents and children of all ages.

I did stress that the children should wear their own cultural age range clothes for this particular reason. It's not the style of clothing or fabric that has any meaning whatsoever. It's the connotations that the society in general ascribes to it. If, for a example, a bright red thong was what society had as the staple article of clothing for three-year-olds, then that would pose no problem for the child (except perhaps, feeling uncomfortable ;) ). The problem is that the clothes people have their children wear denote very specific things to adults. Therefore the adult behavior shifts towards the child (and I don't mean necessarily deviant behavior- just a joke of 'you are dressed to flare boys up' to a little girl is inappropriate, because she shouldn't have this behavior pattern when she is a child.)

And yes, I agree with you that children are forced to really work long hours to do many things. This is also part of the problem. Plus, when they do play, the toys (at least for girls between 6-12 years of age) are all about dating and attracting boys. I somehow think they are forced in all ways (from work, like you said, to relating to others) to act like adults. Which is devastatingly wrong, in my opinion.