Sexy pop stars "threaten childhood"

[DinoBora]

LONDON, UK (Reality TV news)
- Children are being put under pressure to grow up too soon by pop stars who use a sexy image to promote their songs, a teachers' leader says.
Jim O'Neill, chairman of the Professional Association of Teachers, has warned that the innocence of childhood is being eroded by the sexual imagery of stars such as Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.
"Kylie Minogue might be a great singer but in many of these things you can see more of her bottom than you hear of her voice," said Mr O'Neill. And he complained that the pressure to grow up too soon meant that primary school girls were going to school in "ridiculously short skirts" and "dressing like teenagers - it might be appropriate in a club but certainly not in a school".
He also said Britney Spears had adopted a more "raunchy" image, which children would follow. "Britney Spears was promoted as being ideal for girls - the virgin thing and everything else.
"Now that seems to have gone - she's quite raunchy now, when I think back to the fact she was projected as this country girl with flowing skirts and petticoats.

'Outrageous'

"That's the problem, if pop stars are going to make a success, they have to promote themselves and the way to do it is to make more and more outrageous videos and statements."

Addressing the association's annual conference in Harrogate, Mr O'Neill said that children's right to be themselves was being threatened by an aggressive consumer and media culture. "Childhood itself is under so much pressure today. Our youngsters are almost coerced into growing up far too fast and far too soon by some of the pressures and policies around them.
"There are pressures to succeed, to conform, to be in fashion, to be 'cool' and to have anything and everything immediately - especially if it's the designer label of the day."

Mr O'Neill also said that he was unhappy at how childhood was being "eroded" by lessons being given to infants about drugs and sex. "I despair of further erosion of childhood and childhood innocence when you hear that six year olds in Nottingham schools are being taught about the perils of drugs, smoking and alcohol - at six mind you, and when there are plans to introduce sex education for five year olds."

The quality of childhood was also being damaged by the number of tests and exams facing young people, he said.

'Dumbing down'

"It is important to remember that children are little beings not inanimate objects; not little vessels to be filled to the brim with academic knowledge."

Mr O'Neill also warned against the way that television was setting a bad example for children, exposing them to too much bad language and violence - and he said that there had to be a stand against the "dumbing down of standards".

And he called on the Children's Minister, Margaret Hodge, to ensure "a much more rigid enforcement of the nine o'clock watershed and the standards that watershed is supposed to protect".

But he also suggested that teachers had contributed to a lack of "social order", saying that in the 1970s and 1980s, the prevailing liberal ethos had led to "excesses" which needed "curbing".
"The other thing lost is a sense of shared responsibility and of community, with the consequent breakdown in social order, but the whole blame for that cannot be laid at the door of education."



ps:/ I wonder what could be their comment on Yulia's and Lena's impact on youngsters minds (and not only theirs )around the globe

[ypsidan04]

It's the parents responsibilty to watch what their kids wear. These people can't blame people like tATu, Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, etc. It's not their fault this is happening. But I do have to admit that I'm seeing more and more girls dressing in what would be more suited to s/o about 5 or 10 years older.

[PowerPuff Grrl]

Please!
I can say the same thing to other cartoons/songs/movies/etc in the past as well.
This is just the classic case of one generation proclaiming to be better than another generation.

[Charles]

And 12 year old girles weren't dressing like Madona twenty years ago? Excesses of the 70's, and 80's? Good thing the 60's was a chast and conservative time. Oh, and don't forget the 50s, and introduction of that devil music, Rock'n'Roll.