If someone told you 10 years ago that in 2008, there will be classes teaching 7 year olds how to pole-dance, would you believe them?
What if someone told you that an innocent child would be photographed nude all in the name of art?
Well, sadly this is the world we live in today, were young children are being targeted by people eager to make a quick buck or drum up some publicity for themselves all at the expense of their innocence.
Pole Fitness Classes in Sydney are teaching innocent 7 year old girls how to pole-dance- an act normally reserved for night-clubs, as most normal people would agree.
However, some parents would rather their little kids parade around poles- an undeniably sexual act- for their daily exercise than have them run around outside like most normal kids. The main problem with this is not the exercise they are getting but the sexual moves that these kids are unwittingly performing. While it is not too much of a problem in the confines of their own home, it is only a matter of time before they start dancing around street sign poles and anything else of the same shape… for all the world to see, including some unwanted predators- which I will not go into.
And if that wasn’t enough, then what about the increasing focus being placed on these kids’ bodies. The story which has been well documented in the news and argued over has been Bill Henson’s nude pictures of a naked 12 year old girl, all apparently for art… which it may well be, but haven’t we pushed it too far? A 12 year old girl, still legally a minor is being shoved into taking her clothes off- willingly or unwillingly- for again, all the world to see. Some people may say that the body is a natural thing.. which it is… and it is beautiful, etc. But a 12 year old kid should be doing “kid” things instead of being photographed nude, another act reserved for naughty men’s magazines.
But there’s more. Princess Pamper Parties allow kids as young as 4 to paint their nails and put on make up.
A female body builder was recently involved in a bit of controversy… maybe because she was a ten year old girl. Aside from the health concerns, there are also many problems with this too.
Both of these seem to be enjoyed by these girls, but anything which places so much emphasis on their bodies can only lead to problems in the future, or even near future. And that is the last thing we need as a society- there are enough body image issues with people in their teenage years and up, imagine having 8 years olds look in the mirror and worry that their thighs are too big, or their left bicep isn’t toned enough.
And all of these problems almost always begin with their parents, signing up for these classes or gym sessions. And it is not too late for them to end it too. Their parents can stop this gradual erosion of their innocence. Their parents can stop the sexualisation of their kids. Their parents can stop their kids, already in enough danger of pedophiles to become more attractive to them and to use a cliché, let kids be kids.
