Sahail AshrafKylie Minogue Lingerie Range For Kids
June 25th 2007 04:18
There’s been heavy coverage in the media recently about the launch of a children’s underwear range that is, quite frankly, disturbing.
Kylie Minogue has put her name to a provocative line of children’s underwear, that is so adult in its design that it could more aptly be called lingerie. Hickory will sell the range through department stores such as Target.
It’s not the first time Target has introduced such inappropriate lines as these. Only last year there was community outrage over the sale of padded bras and the like in its stores. On the Sunday Sunrise program last week footage of the Kylie Minogue lingerie was displayed. In fabrics ranging from electric blue satin to delicate lace and see through bras and underwear, you would expect such items to be designed for adults with only one thing in mind. But shockingly, these items are for children as young as eight years of age.
There’s already been much debate about the early sexualisation of children in the media and among groups that focus on children’s interests. What message does it send to children, and adults, when kids are the target of such sexually provocative underwear?
What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you think it’s okay for children to wear such garments? Would you buy them for a child? Supporters of the range argue it’s just like wearing dress ups, and that children want to be ‘just like Mum.’ Well, to me that’s not even dress ups. Dressing up is when my daughter wears an old scarf or slides her feet into a pair of too big shoes. What’s more, dress ups are all a part of role playing. Is it appropriate to role play wearing clothing of a sexual nature? I don’t think so. If my daughter role plays, and acts like me, it shouldn’t be in a sexual way because besides it not being at all appropriate for her age, she shouldn’t know anything about sex or flirtation.
The second thing that concerns me about this particular range is that Kylie Minogue has put her name to it. With Minogue having such a massive following from girls, is it going to be easy for parents to say ‘no’ to their eight year old daughters who want Kylie Minogue underwear? It may have been easy to explain that padded bras aren’t for six year olds but convincing children of the inappropriateness of an item with the name of their favourite singer may not be so simple. Do you think celebrities have a moral obligation when considering placing their name on a product? What would you do in this position?
Kylie Minogue has put her name to a provocative line of children’s underwear, that is so adult in its design that it could more aptly be called lingerie. Hickory will sell the range through department stores such as Target.
It’s not the first time Target has introduced such inappropriate lines as these. Only last year there was community outrage over the sale of padded bras and the like in its stores. On the Sunday Sunrise program last week footage of the Kylie Minogue lingerie was displayed. In fabrics ranging from electric blue satin to delicate lace and see through bras and underwear, you would expect such items to be designed for adults with only one thing in mind. But shockingly, these items are for children as young as eight years of age.
There’s already been much debate about the early sexualisation of children in the media and among groups that focus on children’s interests. What message does it send to children, and adults, when kids are the target of such sexually provocative underwear?
What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you think it’s okay for children to wear such garments? Would you buy them for a child? Supporters of the range argue it’s just like wearing dress ups, and that children want to be ‘just like Mum.’ Well, to me that’s not even dress ups. Dressing up is when my daughter wears an old scarf or slides her feet into a pair of too big shoes. What’s more, dress ups are all a part of role playing. Is it appropriate to role play wearing clothing of a sexual nature? I don’t think so. If my daughter role plays, and acts like me, it shouldn’t be in a sexual way because besides it not being at all appropriate for her age, she shouldn’t know anything about sex or flirtation.
The second thing that concerns me about this particular range is that Kylie Minogue has put her name to it. With Minogue having such a massive following from girls, is it going to be easy for parents to say ‘no’ to their eight year old daughters who want Kylie Minogue underwear? It may have been easy to explain that padded bras aren’t for six year olds but convincing children of the inappropriateness of an item with the name of their favourite singer may not be so simple. Do you think celebrities have a moral obligation when considering placing their name on a product? What would you do in this position?
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Comment by David
I could even envisage her doing a free concert for paedophiles in prison. The Kylie Rock Spider Tour? With a backing vocals by kiddies wearing her lingerie? To raise awareness about child porn and child abuse? (At least some of the kiddies might be able to sing?).
There just doesn't seem to be any immediate answers to problems of this nature (outside of Divine Intervention). Poor parents is about all I can write, and thank God I'm not one.
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
Thank god Im not a parent right now!
No, its not bloody alright, and stars DO have an obligation here! This is not dress ups, its not OK, What the hell was marketing thinking?
And they say smoking and junk food is bad....
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
This is just wrong.
...I'm seeing knee length high heeled black boots on 8yo and I have a real problem with that.
I have a real problem with Saturday morning music shows that are targeted towards 'tweens' but feature semi clad, gyrating, suggestive behaviour.
And that's just the hosts of the show.
The reason they are celebrities is because the public made thm so...therefore they have a moral obligation.
They're not role models but they are pop culture influential.
Sad thing is...despite how sad and pathetic Paris Hilton and ilk are....so many girls want to be just like her/them.
I really thought that Kylie Minogue would know better than to do something as stupid as this.
Yes her fan base is mostly comprised of gay males and little girls (major generalisation) but whereas the males have their own money to burn...who'll be buying the little girls their things?
That's right. mummy and daddy.
And Mummy and Daddy will be pissed at this.
What the hell has mum been doing in front of the children?
Just say NO.
Since when do children tell the parents what to do?
Girls will be girls and they all want to emulate a woman's manner...I'm not a prude but as I tell and have told my children... enjoy your childhood, don't try to grow up too fast...you'll be an adult for the rest of your life.
You can't stop the external influences and it is foolish to do so because that just incites pointless rebellion.
Everything in moderation.
One tomato at a time.
One year at a time.
Comment by Candice
And the dance moves would be Rob Palmer style.
All jokes aside, you’re not so very far from the truth unfortunately.
Yes, I’m dreading when my daughter is old enough to be subjected to this type of insidious marketing.
Thanks for your comments.
Comment by Candice
This is taking it to a whole new level, isn’t it? And yet there is nothing being done to take these products from the shelves. Where are the health warnings on this one?
Thanks for dropping by.
Comment by Candice
The fact that there’s even the new term ‘tween’ worries me no end. It’s really a definition of that early sexualisation of kids.
It makes me sick to see some of these video clips, and even more so to see little girls acting mirroring them – which I have done. The lingerie seems to me to be an extension of this, especially when Kylie Minogue's name is attached to it.
I’m glad to hear there are other parents out there who object to this and who are educating their kids about it, and not giving in to the marketing pressures.
But there must be parents out there who are buying them or they wouldn’t sell. That’s what worries me the most.
I was surprised too, to hear that Minogue has put her name to it. I wonder if she’s really thought about the implications of it.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I'm not too happy about all this either.
My daughter is six whenever we go out to buy undies or singlets she kind of looks over the bralettes and recognises that I wear bras. She hasn't come right out and asked for one but she has asked what I think of her having one and because I've said that you wear bras to give breasts support she didn't need one just yet..but when she grows up she'll have plenty.
Great post Candice.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Candice
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the issue, especially having a daughter of that age.
Parents shouldn't even have to be answering these questions.
It must be hard with primary aged daughters, especially when kids want to fit in with what's popular etc. When I was a kid I didn't even think about wearing a bra until my mum suggested we go bra shopping when I hit puberty. Even then it was just plain, practical training bras. I never had thoughts of anything else.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I agree with everyone else ... yes yes yes.
Celebs do have a moral obligation to consider the youngest of their fans and underwear of such a provocative nature is just plain wrong.
No, I would not buy items like this for my eight year old daughter and I would have no problems telling her that too. I make a point of telling her, every-so-often, that she needs to enjoy her childhood and not grow up too fast.
Thankfully she's not a Kylie fan.
And thankfully she's years away from needing a bra.
While I was pregnant she decided that she wanted to get pregnant too, sooner rather than later, and I had a hard time convincing her to appreciate being young and not to rush into things. Her opinion changed, however, when she witnessed the birth of her little sister ... she's now decided to wait until she's at least 27 before having children of her own.
YAY!!!!
Have a lovely weekend.
A.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Sorry Candice...Hi Candice, don't mean to change the topic of your post.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
She was amazed, awed and totally enthralled by the whole thing. So was my son (he's 4) and was there at the birth too.
My daughter had been through it all before, though. She was at her brother's birth as well. She cut his cord and he cut Mac's cord.
All in the family, as they say. I believe it really helped them bond as siblings as they are great friends now as well.
Oh, thanks Candice and sorry to take over your post!!!
A. xx
Comment by Candice
Feel free! I would have been asking the same thing! It's great that you could involve your children in it all Andrea! I'm glad seeing the birth process put your daughter off for a bit too. Hee, hee! When I was at school I saw a birth video in health and human development when I was about 16. After that I vowed I was never ever having kids.
Back to the Kylie underwear ... I'm glad to hear there are parents out there opposed to this, and it's good to your view on it. My 9 year old niece on the other hand is a huge Kylie fan and even has a pair of 'Kylie' sparkly silver shoes. I hope she doesn't spot the line of underwear.