Here is a link to the video mentioned in the article: (saving you a few clicks)

http://www.jessicagottlieb.com/2010/...rning-america/

As a father of two girls (19 & 12) I can fully relate to, and I fully agree with, the authors opinion in this article. I too have sat bewildered wondering WTF toy designers, clothes manufacturers, media producers, pageant officials, dance instructors and many others in our society are thinking when actively "producing" the sexualization of young girls.

And I too have followed the logic back to the parents and their allowing this to take place. This paragraph from the article sums it up nicely:

"Parents, you are the last line of defense here. The old saying that sex sells is a fact and we all know it. That is never going to change, but does sex have to sell in your house? No, it doesn’t. This is a problem that parents are allowing to happen. Complain all you want about what is happening in our world, but the more active you are as a parent and not allow things like this to happen the better we all will be."

The only part I would really vary were I to write this myself would be the first line... we parents are not the last line of defense, we are the only line of defense. The responsibility to ensure our children grow up with the self respect, dignity, self assuredness, education and open mindedness necessary to make healthy decisions in this life is ours alone. Sex does sell, that's a proven fact, can we blame companies for giving us what sells? Tempting to, but really we just need to stop buying.

Respectfully,
Tantric