Sexualisation of children

[OnMyWay]

I agree with those who said the swimming / beach fashion scene is very conservative here.  It is very rare to see a bikini on any age woman here in Subic.  T-shirt and jeans are usually the chosen attire.  There are some reasons for that other than modesty too.  T-shirts protect from the sun.

Where I see the sexualisation of young girls here is in the malls.  I think it is more a case of the parents not saying no to what they want to buy and wear.  I see so many young girls wearing high heels and/or platform shoes, often with a short short skirt.  Those shoes are made to emphasize  a girl's assets and on young girls they also make them as tall as an adult.   From a distance and especially from the rear, they might look 20 years old.  You won't every find my 3 girls wearing those.  Maybe when they are 30 and I am dead.

Case in point.  We were at church several months ago and we were sitting in the large outdoor area for the service.  From a distance, I noticed some very long legs in platform shoes and a short skirt.  I said to my wife, "I can't believe what some women wear to church!" and she agreed.  We often see women dressed a bit sexy for church.

A bit later, after the service, someone tapped on my wife's shoulder and it was some friends from my daughter's school, and guess who the long legs belonged to?  My daughter's former classmate!  My daughter went to her 12th birthday party about a month later!  She had moved to another school the year before and is now very tall.  Couple that with 6 inch, yes, 6 inch, platform shoes, she definitely was looking like an adult from a distance.

The dad is an OFW and they have money.  I think it is a combination of not saying no and the cultural phenomenon here where everyone wants their kids to grow up to be be beauty queens and movie stars, so they let them dress like that early.

Added by edit:   The "issue" I describe with the dressing and shoes is not unique to the Philippines.  Parents every where have to deal with this and depending on their views, battle the bombardment of that mass media throws at the kids.  Movies, TV, music videos, etc.

Edited June 11, 2016 by OnMyWay
Clarification

[mogo51]

Yes I agree with these comments.  Whilst the Filipino parent may not see the problems, but they are real and they are there.

Edited June 11, 2016 by mogo51

[Nephi]

41 minutes ago, OnMyWay said:

I agree with those who said the swimming / beach fashion scene is very conservative here.  It is very rare to see a bikini on any age woman here in Subic.  T-shirt and jeans are usually the chosen attire.  There are some reasons for that other than modesty too.  T-shirts protect from the sun.

Where I see the sexualisation of young girls here is in the malls.  I think it is more a case of the parents not saying no to what they want to buy and wear.  I see so many young girls wearing high heels and/or platform shoes, often with a short short skirt.  Those shoes are made to emphasize  a girl's assets and on young girls they also make them as tall as an adult.   From a distance and especially from the rear, they might look 20 years old.  You won't every find my 3 girls wearing those.  Maybe when they are 30 and I am dead.

Case in point.  We were at church several months ago and we were sitting in the large outdoor area for the service.  From a distance, I noticed some very long legs in platform shoes and a short skirt.  I said to my wife, "I can't believe what some women wear to church!" and she agreed.  We often see women dressed a bit sexy for church.

A bit later, after the service, someone tapped on my wife's shoulder and it was some friends from my daughter's school, and guess who the long legs belonged to?  My daughter's former classmate!  My daughter went to her 12th birthday party about a month later!  She had moved to another school the year before and is now very tall.  Couple that with 6 inch, yes, 6 inch, platform shoes, she definitely was looking like an adult from a distance.

The dad is an OFW and they have money.  I think it is a combination of not saying no and the cultural phenomenon here where everyone wants their kids to grow up to be be beauty queens and movie stars, so they let them dress like that early.

Exactly, Clothing that draws attention to the body itself can be dangerous for youngsters that are trying to look grown up. Where we go to church there are standards for dress of both male and female; young and not so young alike. Nothing enforced but Sunday best for sure. Men and boys, shirt and tie and girls and women in a dress that is not revealing by being short or low neckline. Our girls wear dresses that are modest in nature and long enough that when sitting their knee caps do not show. They have seen what other types of dress and lifestyle has cost some of their friends and are happy with more conservative clothing and lifestyle.

 

Nephi

Edited June 11, 2016 by Nephi

[Jollygoodfellow]

I was reluctant to say this but what the heck, some of you guys are sounding really old fashion. 

The girl in the bikini that this topic was about, was she naked, no, was she posing seductively, I dont know but it wasn't mentioned. When most of us were growing up nothing was said if the kids swam naked in the creek but now days you might be breaking a law or if you were there with the kids you would be branded a pervert or pedofile or what ever name people can make up for simply watching the kids so they dont drown.

The girl, 14 is a teenager who probably is starting to grow into a woman and soon will be, she probably become proud of her body and is comfortable being herself so unless someone is forcing her to wear a bikini and pose for pictures then I dont see a problem.

[MacBubba]

10 hours ago, Old55 said:

No Filipino families would we know of would be OK with their child wearing a tiny swimwear.

Likewise.

[Nephi]

2 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

I was reluctant to say this but what the heck, some of you guys are sounding really old fashion. 

The girl in the bikini that this topic was about, was she naked, no, was she posing seductively, I dont know but it wasn't mentioned. When most of us were growing up nothing was said if the kids swam naked in the creek but now days you might be breaking a law or if you were there with the kids you would be branded a pervert or pedofile or what ever name people can make up for simply watching the kids so they dont drown.

The girl, 14 is a teenager who probably is starting to grow into a woman and soon will be, she probably become proud of her body and is comfortable being herself so unless someone is forcing her to wear a bikini and pose for pictures then I dont see a problem.

Me old fashioned? Yep, I'm about a old fashioned and conservative as they come. Thank you--I'll take that as a compliment without a doubt ..

Nephi 

[OnMyWay]

2 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

I was reluctant to say this but what the heck, some of you guys are sounding really old fashion. 

The girl in the bikini that this topic was about, was she naked, no, was she posing seductively, I dont know but it wasn't mentioned. When most of us were growing up nothing was said if the kids swam naked in the creek but now days you might be breaking a law or if you were there with the kids you would be branded a pervert or pedofile or what ever name people can make up for simply watching the kids so they dont drown.

The girl, 14 is a teenager who probably is starting to grow into a woman and soon will be, she probably become proud of her body and is comfortable being herself so unless someone is forcing her to wear a bikini and pose for pictures then I dont see a problem.

I agree that the 14 year old wearing a bikini should not be a big deal and certainly is not child porn.  I grew up on the beach in S. Cal and girls of every age wore bikinis, so nobody gives them a second glance.  Now they casually wear thongs and in many countries go topless.  Not a problem if that is the norm.  

However, when almost nobody is wearing bikinis in the Philippines, wearing one will get many second glances.  And, just speculation on my part, unwanted attention from men who don't care about the age and might be aggressive towards them.

Bottom line is that the parents have to teach their kids what is acceptable for the particular circumstances.

[stevewool]

Times are a changing, its what we see in the picture that matters , a kid having a great time with friends,

I have pictures of my kids and nieces and all the sorts, maybe you are looking at it through dirty mans eyes rather then a uncle

[Methersgate]

7 hours ago, OnMyWay said:

I agree with those who said the swimming / beach fashion scene is very conservative here.  It is very rare to see a bikini on any age woman here in Subic.  T-shirt and jeans are usually the chosen attire.  There are some reasons for that other than modesty too.  T-shirts protect from the sun.

Where I see the sexualisation of young girls here is in the malls.  I think it is more a case of the parents not saying no to what they want to buy and wear.  I see so many young girls wearing high heels and/or platform shoes, often with a short short skirt.  Those shoes are made to emphasize  a girl's assets and on young girls they also make them as tall as an adult.   From a distance and especially from the rear, they might look 20 years old.  You won't every find my 3 girls wearing those.  Maybe when they are 30 and I am dead.

Case in point.  We were at church several months ago and we were sitting in the large outdoor area for the service.  From a distance, I noticed some very long legs in platform shoes and a short skirt.  I said to my wife, "I can't believe what some women wear to church!" and she agreed.  We often see women dressed a bit sexy for church.

A bit later, after the service, someone tapped on my wife's shoulder and it was some friends from my daughter's school, and guess who the long legs belonged to?  My daughter's former classmate!  My daughter went to her 12th birthday party about a month later!  She had moved to another school the year before and is now very tall.  Couple that with 6 inch, yes, 6 inch, platform shoes, she definitely was looking like an adult from a distance.

The dad is an OFW and they have money.  I think it is a combination of not saying no and the cultural phenomenon here where everyone wants their kids to grow up to be be beauty queens and movie stars, so they let them dress like that early.

Added by edit:   The "issue" I describe with the dressing and shoes is not unique to the Philippines.  Parents every where have to deal with this and depending on their views, battle the bombardment of that mass media throws at the kids.  Movies, TV, music videos, etc.

That's exactly the point that I was making. 

When Corina and I were last in the Ayala mall at Subic there were two girls ahead of us on the escalator wearing platform shoes and shorts that did not entirely cover their buttocks - they were teenagers...

My sister in law is a "Mrs Worthington" - she does indeed want her daughter to grow up to be a model or actress. My niece is a good deal more practical, and is studying languages, as she wants to be an air hostess - a realistic and feasible ambition. In answer to JGF, no it isn't particularly sexy pose; she is just sitting on top of a waterfall in a string bikini top and a miniskirt. Her caption to her picture actually said, in the barely decipherable Tagish shorthand that teens use for texting, "Classes next week - looking forward!"

I am not being a dirty old man, I was just drawing the distinction between the British way of looking at things - a senior civil servant was arrested last week for having photos of teenage girls in bikinis on his computer - and the Filipino way of looking at the same thing. There ought to be a happy mean.

 

[Methersgate]

Here's the young lady in question, being led astray by my wife, two years ago...

I belong to that section of the British middle classes who think that children should be encouraged to take a sip of wine with a meal, because they are less likely to go off the rails when they encounter alcohol later, but this is itself controversial...

Edited June 11, 2016 by Methersgate