I was out of town – As the mother of two I’m sorry I missed this reading… ~ Connie
University of Iowa News Release
April 25, 2008
Professor: profit motives behind sexualization of ‘tween girls
At Abercrombie & Fitch, little girls were sold thong underwear tagged with the phrases "eye candy" and "wink wink." In Britain, preschoolers could learn to strip with their very own Peekaboo Pole-Dancing Kits — complete with kiddie garter belts and play money. And ‘tween readers of the magazine Seventeen discovered "405 ways to look hot" like Paris Hilton.
This kind of sexualization of ‘tween girls – those between the ages of 8 and 12 — in pop culture and advertising is a growing problem fueled by marketers’ efforts to create cradle-to-grave consumers, a University of Iowa journalism professor argues in her new book.
Gigi Durham will read from "The Lolita Effect" at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.
"A lot of very sexual products are being marketed to very young kids," Durham said. "I’m criticizing the unhealthy and damaging representations of girls’ sexuality, and how the media present girls’ sexuality in a way that’s tied to their profit motives. The body ideals presented in the media are virtually impossible to attain, but girls don’t always realize that, and they’ll buy an awful lot of products to try to achieve those bodies. There’s endless consumerism built around that."
Planet of the Blind 