The Sexualization Of Female Youth - 1776 Words

Parents can contribute to the sexualization of their daughters as well. For instance, there are parents that purchase or allow their daughters to wear sexually provocative clothing. In addition, to allowing their daughters to wear sexually provocative clothing, some parents will pay for their daughter to get plastic surgery, some of which include breast augmentation and nose jobs. The APA states that in 2006 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that they performed close to 80,000 surgeries on teenagers younger than 19 years of age, the previous year (15). One can only assume that the teenagers that get plastic surgery have their parents’ approval because insurance does not cover the costs of cosmetic surgery. However, the†¦show more content†¦Additionally, there are parents that enroll their toddler daughters in beauty pageants that encourage the young girls to act flirty to win votes. Breslin continues her article by referencing TLC network reality ser ies Toddlers and Tiaras. The reality series records young girls in beauty pageants wearing makeup, false eyelashes, and high heels while dressed to look like adult women. One episode features a young girl wearing fake breasts and padded rear-end to resemble like Dolly Parton. Meanwhile, her competitor is dressed to resemble the prostitute character from the movie Pretty Woman (Breslin 14). In her article, Christine Tamer discusses â€Å"glitz† beauty pageants from the US (87). According to Tamer, the popularity of the U.S. glitz beauty pageants and their potential to expand worldwide raises concerns among foreign countries because it could lead to pedophilia (87). Additionally, Tamer argues that there is evidence to suggest that parents are doing their children a disservice by putting them in beauty pageants (101). Lastly, Tamer claims that parents are risking the chance of causing both psychological and physical harm to their daughter(s) by allowing them to participate in beauty pageants (101). In conclusion, if parents continue to contribute to the sexualization of girls by purchasing provocative items for their daughters, paying for their daughters to get plastic surgery, and/or enrolling their daughters in beauty pageants parents are endangering