As a pediatrician, Dr. Meg Meeker thought she had seen it all: eating disorders, sexual abuse, self-mutilation. Then, a 5-year-old walked into her office in a push-up bra. It was incredibly disturbing, to say the least. Starr said she became interested in studying the sexualization of young girls after seeing so many dolls done up in fishnets and heavy makeup in stores.
Jackie Fisher was beginning high school two years ago when she figured out that her developing figure was going to be her best asset. So when the Bethesda teen dresses to go out with friends these days, she slips on a pair of jeans, flip-flops and a low-cut top. But some parents, educators and parenting experts say the undertones of the disagreement are different now, sharpened by the explosion of sexual imagery on television and the Internet, in movies and advertising, and in the marketing of sexy and provocative clothing to an ever-younger audience. Saturated by these images, some teens have adopted styles that seem more suited for the red-light district than the school district. Sex is used to sell all manner of products, from clothing to cars. Web site. That translates into television ads starring young actors with their jeans unbuttoned suggestively and movie commercials depicting a couple flirting as they unbutton their jeans, undress and fall to the floor in a sexual embrace.
Our kids are definitely too young to date , but I know that kids dating and the girlfriend and boyfriend talk are hot topics to talk about in the parenting world. They are into sports, building in the garage, reading new books and hanging out with our family and their friends. They love spending time playing games with us and they look forward to their one-on-one nights every month. Our boys are almost teenagers. Years ago, we started having these conversations with our kids.
This week on the Consults blog, the psychiatrist Dr. Several readers had questions about young people who were questioning their sexual orientation. My question is about the Q Questioning subgroup of L. I am unsure how best to help my younger teens a son 13 and daughter 15 steer a course through a very complex terrain.