I'm all up for the return to innocence when it comes to children. For instance, my older brother has reported to my mother than my 14-year-old niece was up for modeling auditions and now is up for acting auditions. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind my niece pursuing her dreams, just as long as her dreams aren't going to overlap her moment to be a kid. She's hardly a child anymore, I know, but 14 is almost the peak - from then on, it's pretty much all downhill for her.
Now I've done essays on modeling sites - not suggesting that this is what my niece will be doing if/when she gets the gig - that focus on underage models. What they basically suggest is fodder for the perverted - the moral loophole! - as none of the children are nude or in the midst of coitus, but their faces and the poses are so provocative that it makes your stomach churn. I remember having nightmares of child erotica after researching for the essay - the topic of course was on the "moral" loophole.
Now I've done essays on modeling sites - not suggesting that this is what my niece will be doing if/when she gets the gig - that focus on underage models. What they basically suggest is fodder for the perverted - the moral loophole! - as none of the children are nude or in the midst of coitus, but their faces and the poses are so provocative that it makes your stomach churn. I remember having nightmares of child erotica after researching for the essay - the topic of course was on the "moral" loophole.
We see child sexualization in our daily life, even if we refuse to. This isn't sexual freedom - not the one I would like to promote - but the moral loophole of child prostitution. No longer are these people selling children for sex, they are turning them into tiny versions of sexualized adults that pout, act provocative, etc. in order to make a buck. With the so-called success of Toddlers and Tiaras, I'm sure we'll be seeing more of these sort of things popping up. What must we do to protect the children?
One person might say censorship, but by censoring the world around us, we are only creating more taboos that will in the future cause more problems. Also, we create a false sense of security that will only mean that sooner or later those walls we build around the youth will crumble and they're hormones will be raging. Rather than any of these things, talking to a child is the best way to get through to them. Most of us cringe at the thought of "the talk," but it must be done. Be in their business - not through a totalitarian way, but in a caring parent (the average teenager, however, will not know the difference).
We'll also have to accept one thing, though. Teens and kids will make mistakes and rather than mulling over them and getting upset - which will only cause a gap in the relationship - always allow them to know that you are always by their side.
And with that in mind, here are your links:
One person might say censorship, but by censoring the world around us, we are only creating more taboos that will in the future cause more problems. Also, we create a false sense of security that will only mean that sooner or later those walls we build around the youth will crumble and they're hormones will be raging. Rather than any of these things, talking to a child is the best way to get through to them. Most of us cringe at the thought of "the talk," but it must be done. Be in their business - not through a totalitarian way, but in a caring parent (the average teenager, however, will not know the difference).
We'll also have to accept one thing, though. Teens and kids will make mistakes and rather than mulling over them and getting upset - which will only cause a gap in the relationship - always allow them to know that you are always by their side.
And with that in mind, here are your links:
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