Adults the blame for children growing up 'too fast'

Reality Check

By Anastasia A. Melton

A couple of weeks ago, I was very disturbed by an episode of the Tyra Banks show that I saw. There were little girls who behaved as if they were adults. Being in college and away from children, I had no idea how sexualized American youth had become. Seven-year-olds want to dress like their favorite celebrity and not just for Halloween. Nine-year-olds know things that nine-year-olds shouldn't know.

Many people are quick to point the finger at the media. Ten years ago when the industry started pushing boundaries, yes, we could have blamed them. Now, we can only blame ourselves. The industry has parental advisory warnings and G, PG, PG-13, R, and M ratings on movies and video games. It is not the media's job to turn off the television when a six-year-old is watching MTV Spring Break. We are responsible for what our children watch and listen to. It is our duty to be their censors.

Now I do agree that some children will not be affected and will grow up to be fine adults, but what about those who don't? The teen pregnancy rate and the number of people infected with STIs (sexually transmitted infections) already has increased over the past 10 years. It is not uncommon to see commercials for Garadasil, a vaccine for HPV and VALTREX, a medication that helps prevent herpes outbreaks.

Mattel even got the finger pointed at them for making Barbie and supposedly contributing to the increased sexual awareness among young girls. I think that is uncalled for. If Barbie makes girls want to be sexy then G.I. Joe makes boys want to fight. I always saw Barbie as the independent, career woman, who could do whatever she wanted, and didn't need Ken. To their credit, Mattel actually passed on creating a line of dolls that resembled a very sexualized all girl group. Once again, however, we buy what our children play with.

Today's youth are very different from when I was a child. What happened to idolizing the Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? What happened to wanting to be a Disney princess for Halloween? Why are the youth of American watching MTV instead of the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon? Where has the innocence of childhood gone?

Until next time, yours truly, Anastasia.

This is part of the May 9, 2007 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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