A friend of mine sent me an article called Parents, Don't Dress Your Girls Up Like Tramps by CNN contributor LZ Ganderson.
Ganderson speaks about how so many little girls now are dressing older than they should. He mentioned how Abercrombie & Fitch were selling push-up bras for 8 year olds and they once sold thongs for 10 year olds.
First of all I think it's terrible that this guy is referring to girls who dress skimpy as tramps. Yes, they may be dressing inappropriately for their age but that does not mean that they deserve to be treated so disrespectfully.
Ganderson speaks about how so many little girls now are dressing older than they should. He mentioned how Abercrombie & Fitch were selling push-up bras for 8 year olds and they once sold thongs for 10 year olds.
First of all I think it's terrible that this guy is referring to girls who dress skimpy as tramps. Yes, they may be dressing inappropriately for their age but that does not mean that they deserve to be treated so disrespectfully.
I do think that it is unfortunate that there is a market for push-up bras for 8 year olds, thongs for 10 year olds and low ride jeans for tweens. I agree with the author of the article that there wouldn't be a market for it if young girls didn't want it and if parents weren't willing to buy it. So, this says something about our community at large.
Girls are receiving pressure from the media (MTV, Cosmo Girl, reality shows, etc) and the pressure is reaching girls at a younger age.
I'm quite aware that sexism is alive and well but the knife goes in a little deeper for me when I see it hit our little girls.
I will say however that when I see women who wear skimpy clothes I think that it is possible that they have been influenced by society and they have received the message that there is a certain way women are to express sexuality. I think the way that the media (porn videos, pin -up magazines, beauty product ads, sex tip magazines etc) presents sexuality is actually quite narrow. As if overt expression is the only way to go and anything else is considered "vanilla".
Some women may want to garner attention from revealing their bodies by what they wear and it saddens me that they need the validation in that form. And some women may just like the way a certain outfit feels.
I think so many assume that if a woman wears a tight dress it is to impress others. I think a woman should never have to think to themselves, "should I wear this?" in fear that they may receive some sort of street harassment or physical violation.
Some women may want to garner attention from revealing their bodies by what they wear and it saddens me that they need the validation in that form. And some women may just like the way a certain outfit feels.
I think so many assume that if a woman wears a tight dress it is to impress others. I think a woman should never have to think to themselves, "should I wear this?" in fear that they may receive some sort of street harassment or physical violation.
Even when I see grown women wear clothing that I think is too risque I do not label them as "tramps" or "hos" or "sluts" etc. I find it unfortunate that the author of this article felt comfortable enough to do so. Because these girls are dressing in a way he does not approve of he somehow feels justified to use the word "tramp" to express his frustration.
About the author:
LZ Granderson writes a weekly column for CNN.com. A senior writer and columnist for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, he has contributed to ESPN's "Sports Center," "Outside the Lines" and "First Take." He is a 2011 and 2010 nominee and the 2009 winner of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation award for online journalism and a 2010 and 2008 honoree of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association for column writing.
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