Underwire bras for tweens!!!

Louanne on Aug 10th 2008

Okay, you all know that I have a toddler, so I have no reason to be in the girls clothing section. That is why I had no clue about this. When Kim was here we did some clothes shopping for her girls and while she was looking at pajamas I noticed that they have PADDED, UNDERWIRE bras for girls. These are not the training bras of my time (which wasn’t so long ago). These look EXACTLY like women’s bras – just in tiny sizes.

 Is this really the message we want to send to our girls? I have already been ticked off enough with the super-short shorts for infants. America has gone off the deep end here with the sexualization of little girls. All this focus on their bodies and being sexy as children is just not right! Another example is the Bratz dolls. Mike and I saw a Bratz Party Bus at ToysRUs. A PARTY BUS!! Once again, is this the message we want to send to our girls? We should be teaching our girls to value themselves, their strengths, and their bodies, not to get their dolls together and pretend they are getting plastered on the party bus!!!! I am getting off my soapbox here, but this stuff really bothers me.

Filed in Home Life | 6 responses so far

  • http://www.ourjoureytoalice.blogspot.com Cristina

    Keep up high on that soapbox Louanne – I agree with you 100%!!! I have an 11 year old daughter, and trying to buy clothes for her which are not completely over-sexualised is a major headache. I must admit I have never seen padded bras for tweens – that is just SO VERY WRONG!!!!!! And please don’t get me started on Bratz (or mini-prostitute dolls, as I like to call them …) Our society really has gone mad when it comes to kids. Whatever happened to a childhood??? Seems as if kids are meant to slip from cute little person to sexy tween in the blink of an eye. So very sad… OK, now it’s MY turn to get off my soapbox!!!
    Hugs, Cristina xxx

  • catherinethegreat

    I totally agree with you and Tassie. When I went looking for a bathing suit for my five year old a month ago, we also saw the same thing. Its awful. My 14 year old daughter is also appalled too. You can find lots of great clothes that are great, but its mixed with what we call the ‘trashy look’. We avoid these at all costs. Fortunately, my eldest wants to avoid this look at all costs and I am hoping my two youngest will follow her example.
    CTG

  • http://www.mgdtochina.blogspot.com Gina Caleeo

    Oh Louanne, CTG and Tassie, I am also right there with you on this one. Including everything mentioned, my BIG pet peeve is the children who are enrolled in dance and cheer classes and are doing routines that include very sexualized moves, hip rolls and shakes and the like. The first time I saw this was at a church picnic no less, just before we went to China. I was absolutely appalled and frankly simply could not watch these LITTLE (no more than 10 year old) girls dancing like that. My word, not used lightly is prostitots.

    My sister had a rule with her girls regarding their tops that the straps could not be thinner than the width of two fingers – which they followed. When Bethany was 14 I took her on vacation to the Virgin Islands and I was going to buy her a tank top but she would not let me because the straps were too thin. Of course, I am looking at a picture of her now in a spaghetti strap tank top…. guess at a certain age those rules just don’t work anymore. She is in college now. I digress.

    I do think we have huge challenges ahead of us as we will continue to be bombarded by sexualized toys, clothing and images. I think that vigilance, communication with each other (sharing ideas like above), our spouses (if applicable) and our girls is immeasurably important.

  • KathyP

    I’m just wondering, maybe these bras exist because so many girls are starting puberty earlier, thus the tinier sizes. (Or, for those petite girls adopted from China who are just “forced” to shop in the younger girls section but might actually be of an age where padded/underwires are more acceptable.)

    Padded might be OK, if it’s just a lightly paddec lining and not an actual PADDING. The lining could be nice for a young girl as it would offer them some “protection” if it were a little chilly out. You know how kids will tease about anything…..

    Just thinking. Obviously, I haven’t had cause to wander through the girls clothing department since I was a girl myself….

  • http://rockingchairsandatricycle.blogspot.com/ kiy

    I am with you on this one, completely. It’s so hard to shop for a toddler. A toddler! Some of those outfits are just screaming ‘take me now’. The kid is only 18 months old. Heck, *I* wouldn’t wear much of what they are currently marketing to toddlers, little girls and teens. It’s a scary world out there. (Oh, and the Bratz thing … don’t even get me started.) :)

    P.S. I stopped by to tell you I gave you an award. Just a fun one that you don’t have to do anything for/with! /hugs

  • Sara

    KUDOS!!! We have to make a stand somewhere! Thank you! I do agree with lightly lined bras for little ones but full on add a cup size is unnecessary. Growing up comes soon enough ~ tear~ Infant shorts don’t bug as much as the belly shorts and halters that I’ve seen little ones wear to our school in Kindergarten. Luckily the Principal put a stop to that and asked the parents to dress according to school dress code at least while on campus to set a better example. Go Principal!