Blog Assignment: The Sexualization of Early Childhood

I never thought about the sexualization in early childhood until we studied about this topic. I thought I am just getting older and the conservative views I have was influenced by the culture I came from. I am really concerned about the influences of  media and other types of communication including social networking because I do not have a control anymore on what my children can and cannot view or listen.

In the book excerpt, So sexy, so soon, made me confirm - it is not only me who has a problem with the messages that our children receive but the focus on commercialization rather than education of media has taught our children to focus more on the superficial side of their identities rather than the deeper understanding of who they really are. It is really saddening to see that the values and morals of our children were no longer the most important thing in raising our children but rather how their looks or what they have can make them survive life in the future.

Television, computer and technology and print media greatly influence the lives of our children. I was surprise to see it on children’s shows and cartoon movie. I was so naïve and thought that everything that is in a form of cartoon or anime is considered appropriate for children. This also includes the television station such as Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network- all stations attract young viewers. I was watching the other day with my children and I cannot help but wonder what the story is about and I wonder how it going to end. As I was watching, I cannot help but make a comment about the show. I was thinking to myself, is it me who has a problem in understanding the words or the story or it there is really no story at all? When the show was done, I told me children, it seemed like there it does not make any sense. I did not know what happened. My daughter said, “it is how it is mom…that is why it is funny and more kids are watching it because it does not make any sense”. I cannot help myself but say: “What?” Another example is the social networking which nobody has control off. Whatever people post or whatever the other person related to, whether it concerns you or not can reach to our children. It is really difficult to scan and filter every messages or pictures that come out of that site. Some may be informative, some are very helpful in expressing what we feel inside and to some simply destructive. The third example is the music that were being played on the radio, you tube and other computer site. Some artist make music whose beats are really good and catchy to the ear and attracts more people to listen to it and even dance to the beat of it. I even catch myself dancing to the beat and when I ask my daughter to teach me the lyrics of the song, I cannot helped but be amazed how the messages of sex, violence and inappropriate words are being taught and delivered to our children. 

If everyone in these businesses thinks about how they can benefit from these markets-our children, I would say that our children’s future will be dark and scary. Our children will lose their sense of connection to their families and to the people who cares about them. They will merely rely on the material things that connect to them every day and lose their relationship to real people who care for them. Their foundation will be weak because the roots where no longer there.

I believe we can no longer stop the development or the progress of every country in the world but these changes should work for the benefit of our children and families rather than against it. Parents and  educators should work together to improve and strengthen our relationship with our children within our home so that when they go out, no matter what change they face, they know they have a family who cares about them and who will always be there to strengthen and support them. I consider the family and the school greatly influenced our child that is why it is very important to build a positive, strong and trusting relationship with our children.

My awareness of the topic of sexualization during this week’s lesson has made me realized I am doing the right thing of supervising my children when they watch television or videos and guiding them in choosing a show or movie that will send positive messages and be appropriate for their age – shows which are educational and which promotes good moral values and character to my children.