Image from Submarine Kids (R)
Dear Deborah Soriano,
Yesterday I received a message from a reader of mine who had gotten an eblast from a company marketing your line of swimwear, with the tag line as being “kid-appropriate”. She was a little shocked, as was I, when we went to your website and found very young female models vamped up and posed provocatively in your Submarine swimwear line. Little girls do not wear wigs and make-up to the beach, nor does the way you have them posed come naturally to them. You have directly and willingly sexualized these young girls for your commercial purposes.
As a mother of a young girl and a children’s apparel manufacturer myself, the photos on your website make me extremely uneasy. I personally find them to have crossed the line of appropriateness. While not illegal or pornographic, you certainly are playing up the pending sexuality of these little girls to sell your garments. Deborah, I find that repulsive.
Image from Submarine Kids (R)
As a woman and as a fellow business owner, I ask that you take some time to examine your marketing practices, and consider a more appropriate and non-sexualizing approach when you shoot your next season’s release. Certainly you have creative staff on hand to allow your brand to continue to be trendy and hip without having to exploit children to make sales. Your company’s practices directly contribute to the culture of sexualization our children are forced to grow up in. There is no reason or excuse for it.
I frequent children’s boutiques regularly both for business and for my family’s personal shopping. When I see your brand in their retail spaces, I will be sure to mention to each and every shop owner my issues with the level of sexualization portrayed on your website, thus leaving me never wanting to purchase your clothing or swimwear for my own daughter.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss with you the issues around sexualization and perhaps help you craft some better business practices.
Best-
Melissa Wardy
Owner/Family Advocate Pigtail Pals, LLC
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PUSH BACK: If you find Submarine Kids (R) marketing practices to cross the line and directly contradict the company’s release (click to enlarge), I encourage you to email or call owner Deborah Soriano at deborah@submarineswim.com or 305-931-4196 and in a kind and graceful way explain why these images upset you.
Text and image from Submarine Kids (R)
227 Responses to “Sexualization Shouldn’t Sell Swimsuits”
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I am bothered by some of the arguments FOR this line of clothing. The fact that it is “UPSCALE” does not make it any less sexual in nature. The fact that Old Navy and Submarine are different markets does not excuse the sexualization of these girls. You are implying that due to socioeconomic ( and hence the implication of the parents worth/intelligence?)status that some children get to be sexualized while other are not. Just as another example, please look at how the girl is posed for submarine suits for this boutique http://www.littlefashionsboutique.com/submarine.html
Hip, trendy, upscale, and runway does NOT EQUAL a little girl acting like she has something to offer, seriously. Children are not supposed to be mini-adults, there is a reason for the distinction and differences.
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 7:31 am
*applause*
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Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:25 pm
Wild applause on call to action; not sure I can muster ‘kind and graceful’ as much as ‘cease and desist’ from parental outcry universally.
Again, this is a PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM when corporations continue to ‘sell off’ childhood sans CSR/accountability missing the damage/harm in favor of profits/trendy glamorama…See UK precedent for what will happen if the USA reaches regulatory Howard Beale mode.
Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth´s last blog ..Man Down Girl Up- Rihanna Own Your Influence
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Sheree Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:15 am
Well stated!!!!!!
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Gabrielle Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:12 am
bet the child molesters are LOVING these.
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Kelsie Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:42 am
Standing Ovation! Right on!!!
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Charlene Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 8:39 am
Wow, really? I see everything BUT sex. Maybe you people should get treated. Sex is not on my mind when I look at these pictures. How ridiculous can you women be???
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John Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 pm
It isn’t about what you see – it’s about what girls younger and younger are exposed to as being cool and attractive. If girls this young are already looking ahead by pursing their lips or standing with one hip forward, with makeup and wigs and so on, then girls even younger will see the pictures and form their growing opinion from it. Teens don’t just appear anorexic, or desperate, or anything else, overnight. It starts subtly, and builds over a child’s formative years.
Bryan Hopkins Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 3:27 am
OK, so NO sex – what DO you see ? Good for your children ?
I think that when the dissenting comments are simply, “Get a life,” then that is a pretty weak argument. People caring about the over-sexualization of little girls don’t have a life and should spend their time on something else? And just what are you dissenting commenters doing here – somehow your arguments show that you *do* “have a life” moreso than those who are disturbed by this growing trend of making little girls look sexy? You think that “trendy” and “upscale” are important to the image of girls? I totally agree with what Kevin said: trendy=sexy. Also, his comments regarding birth control and how this is a much larger cultural issue were spot-on. Everything in our society encourages youth toward sex, with the emphasis on “safe sex.” The only safe sex is to teach your children all the consequences of early sex with multiple people and how they don’t need to use sex as a way to feel validated about themselves.
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I think this is crazy!
Submarine is an awesome line for girls, great quality and amazing design.
I have two daughters that wear nothing but submarine swim suits and trust me they don’t
look sexy at all! They look super cute and trendy.
All this sexuality thing is in your heads! Girls have mothers as role models so don’t blame it to submarine, please….
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Wow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:50 am
Well, I think you are crazy. Your perception of cute and trendy may be considered sexy to another individual, specifically to I don’t know say pedophiles. There is a plethora of professional research that backs the notion that little girls are being sexualized in our society. People like you are encouraging this disgusting idea, and further supporting it through profitable means. Yes little girls are mothers as role models, but their mothers aren’t the only influences in their lives, duh. Media, peers, among other factors greatly influence and impact young girls thoughts, actions, feelings, etc.
Please go read a book and learn more about child development. Thanks.
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Wow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:01 am
Correction: “Yes little girls HAVE mothers as role models, but their mothers aren’t the only influences in their lives, duh.”
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martina Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 4:43 am
Psychological studies have found peer pressure is the greatest form of influence. So it is better to have bad parents in a great neighbourhood/school than vice versa. And if your children see others their age they identify with wear stuff like that, to them that will mean they have to do so to belong. As a parent one can say no but is unable to explain to a 10 year old who is not a formed personality as yet why saying no is the right thing. You cat try all you want but the need to identify with your friends is all that matters at that age. I remember what used to be important to me when I was looking for boyfriends at 14,15,16…
1. he listens to the same music as me
2. he dresses the way I like
In my late thirties those things don’t matter but one needs to get to thirty to know that and if you start wearing and presenting yourself like this at 10…what hope is there?
Anna-Catherine Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 10:14 am
As someone who has a grandniece who is a gorgeous little girl in her own right, she doesn’t need to see this kind of fake advertising. I’m sure if her father saw this ad he would freak out and never buy anything from this line either. For that matter her mother would never ever offer her this line of clothing. Her mom is just as beautiful as she is. Sexuality does not have a place until a person is old enough to know what they themselves are about. What does this tell the child?
If I were a casting director, I would never hire a child who had these photos in her portfolio, it would tell me what kind of parent I was dealing with.
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Penny Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 10:35 am
Susy,
Respectfully, I find your response very disheartening. First off, the issue isn’t whether Submarine offers high quality garments or great design. The issue is that their marketing campaign makes children out to look like pin-up girls. When a designer opts to present a 5 year-old child as a 20 year-old woman, that is a problem. You’re really short selling your own girls by celebrating how ‘cute’ and ‘trendy’ they look in their suits. Yes, my vanity is such that I like my own 3 year-old to wear cute clothes. But when she’s on the beach, I don’t prioritize a ‘trendy look.’ Instead I prioritize her ability to play, swim, run, jump, raise hell, and be comfortable. ‘Trendy’ shouldn’t be in the same sentence with my child. There’s time enough for that when she’s 16.
It’s attitudes like yours that lead our girls down a slippery slope of sexualization, discrimination, pigeon-holing, limitation, and worse. If it’s not sexual, then what message IS an advertisement featuring a child in a wig, hip askance, earrings dangling, lollipop in hand, pouty mouth engaged supposed to be sending?
Penny´s last blog ..Cover Girl Culture- Who Wants to Be a Supermodel
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Fran Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 5:12 am
“I don’t prioritize a ‘trendy look.’ Instead I prioritize her ability to play, swim, run, jump, raise hell, and be comfortable. ‘Trendy’ shouldn’t be in the same sentence with my child.”
Hear hear, well said!
Let’s not teach our children to prioritise their appearance over their happiness, or price tag over play time. If parents choose this path as an example, it is inevitably the kind of lie the child will grow up to believe.
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Michelle Reply:
July 5th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I so agree, when I was a child in the 70′s clothes were designed for comfort, warmth/coolness and practicality so that we COULD be children and play. Now it’s almost impossible to clothe your children in this way, I have 4 children and apart from plain fleecy clothing it’s very difficult to find affordable clothing for children that is comfortable and practical. I dont want them wearing $50 jeans, $20 tshirt and $50 shoes when they are outside climbing trees, making mudpies, building cubbies, etc, etc. WHAT HAPPENED TO CHILDHOOD?????
Jenn Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 12:05 pm
What is most at issue here is the way the girls are portrayed in the ad campaign for the suits, not the suits themselves. I’m also a fan of many products in the Submarine line. I’m a mother of two girls, one 3 1/2 and one 7 months old, and I would put either of them in some of Submarine’s suits. However, I would not choose one of the teeny bikinis as I, personally, prefer more modesty and coverage. But the suits themselves don’t offend me. The way-too-grown up, sexualized staging of the little girls in the photos does. While some taking up the cause here are also offended by the small bikinis, all are troubled by the style of the pictures. Ad rightly so.
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Wake up Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:12 pm
I’m afraid you’re naive beyond belief. If you can’t see the sexualization in these photographs I can only assume that you’re so used to sexualized images that you’ve accepted them as normal.
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Christa Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Susy,
However “cute” and “trendy” they may look, Bikinis were originally designed to be a SEXY swimsuit. Period. Show as much skin as possible, accentuate the bust and hips. Why should a pre-pubescent girl need to accentuate these things? I’m not a prude, but it bothers me that the vast percentage of swimwear available to my five-year-old are bikinis. WHY should a FIVE-year-old be made to look like a smaller version of a sexy woman????!!!
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Bryan Hopkins Reply:
July 3rd, 2011 at 3:30 am
OK, so NO sex – what DO you see ? Good for your children ?
Do they wear wigs to the beach like the submarine kids ?
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I’m not sorry for saying this but the people who came up with these ads must be closet pedophiles. The ONLY people who like these ads in my opinion are pedophiles. The makers of these ads need professional help.
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Sheree Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:36 am
Totally agree with you Michael!!
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Wm Duke Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 8:51 am
This is just like a Playboy mag to the perves …WHY WHY WHY …And when some one grabes them up will ya wonder why ????
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Sheree Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 am
Exactly! We see it ALL the time on the news…little girl went missing here, or there. Pitiful.
Rob Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 pm
I know this seems really bad to you guys but this isn’t why little kids go missing. And tell the swimsuit companies boys get raped and molested and ignored by you people so much theyre forced.to wear nothing but a pair of shorts. No wonder your priests have been molesting your sons and you all looked the other way. How about you put the guilty evil priests in jail finally instead of just making the catholic church pay money cause thats all you care about.
oh and toddlers and tiaras are more of a sex scandel than anything.
AMEN! These little girl looks 30! ..It’s a shame how advertisements, and society in general, personify girls to look a certain way..”sexy”..instead of just being natural and true to themselves. And people wonder why young girls and teens have so many self-esteem, self-concept, and self-image issues!! Many parents don’t help the situation..”its a new day in age” or “times have changed”..yea well, that doesn’t mean you have to conform and treat your child like they’re adults…treat them like the LITTLE KIDS they are!
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To all the women who think that we mothers who disagree with this form of marketing and think it is disgusting have our minds on sex…. of course we do. I know I do… and not in a perverted way either, but in the way that says how can I keep my little girl little?! How can I keep my daughter from becoming a sex object for others or to think of herself that way? How can I raise my daughter to respect herself? I was raised in a conservative Christian family and I will raise my children the same way. When I was 13 and was allowed to get my very first bikini (which I was only allowed to wear in our own pool and not at the beach) it covered more of me than these bikini’s that these little girls are wearing. I’m not saying that the fit or durability is not great. But what is this teaching our little girls and like others have said, our boys. Even now I dress more modestly than thse girls. I RESPECT MYSELF!!!!!! Society is making it normal to sexualize and objectify young women… and it has become the norm. Little girls have breasts or know more about sex than I (a married woman) do, and are having sex! Who’s fault is that? I blame the media, but I also blame the parents who allow their children to “jump off the bridge” if you will… “Well those children wear it, I’ll let mine too”, because standing up for something is just not done anymore. Morals have gone out the window and so have parents judgement on what is appropriate for little children. How can you teach your child to respect themselves for who they are and what they believe in if you are allowing them to show what they’ve got and if they don’t got it, wear heavy make-up and rediculous wigs and to pose like they do got it. “Don’t respect yourself for who you are and what you can do, but instead get your respect from how others look at you and if it’s sexy then you’ve done well?!?!” Is this really what we want to teach our daughters?
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PEDOBEAR APPROVES OF THIS CLOTHING LINE!
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Willow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 10:46 am
the clothing line is not in question it is the way in which it is marketed. Get a clue
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Ree Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Don’t feed the trolls Willow. “PEDO”bear. Perhaps you should get a clue as well.
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Willow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:57 pm
sorry i didnt read that that way. clue*4 recieved
[...] fabulous Pigtail Pals. Melissa succinctly summed up the issues I had with the swimwear site in a wonderfully worded letter she wrote to the president of the [...]
I just sent off the following email to Deborah at the email address you provided, Melissa:
Dear Ms. Soriano:
I am writing to you today as both a woman and concerned mother.
As a woman I feel that it is high time that we stand up and put a stop to companies and the media using women as nothing more than sexual beings/playthings. It is time that women stand up and demand that companies and the media show some respect for all the amazing qualities that women have completely apart from our sexuality! To use sexuality to sell items is a complete copout.
However, with that said, one step worse than selling based simply on sexuality is using children in sexually provocative poses, dress, etc. to sell one’s goods!
As a mother I am absolutely sickened by how quickly companies, like your own, jump to posing children in sexually provocative poses and sending the message that it is okay to view children as sex items–which IS what sexually provocative poses are for!
Selling swimwear for children should include images showing children participating in childish activities that they’d use your product for–splashing in the water, swimming, playing in the sand, running, skipping, jumping, etc.–not as overly sexualized mini adults (which they are not!) This approach would not detract, in any way, from the quality of your product but instead would send a message that your suits are for children and for their childish activities and that while the girls are in them they are able to look great and participate in their summer-fun activities!
I am asking that you remove the photos of the young children in sexual poses and instead turn to using pictures of children being–playful–children!
It’s time we let our kids be kids!
Sincerely,
Stephanie
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Willow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 10:40 am
here here!!!
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…. with pictures like these, no wonder children are being abducted and sexually abused.
I think the parents should go to jail, they are suppose to PROTECT children, not set them up for sexual predators.
These children look like grown woman who are dressing up as children… they are being posed as sexual objects.
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I not only think that the swimwear is not approtate in the way it is advertized, but also the way that they are making young girls grow up so fast with the push up bras being sold for the young girls. my they are just getting to know there bodies with out putting them in such exploited clothing. I am a grandmother and my granddaughter wears things like this cause it makes her look grown up. children dont know how to grow up anymore with the clothing they are offered lets let the children go from 5-18 slowly. but not now days it is let the children go from developing to grown up to look sexual. no wonder there are so many girls being molested and kidnapped. you as the maker and advertizers dont alow them to grow up and act their ages. i agree with stephanie and have the pictures with the girls hair wet and playing in the sand on the beach. let the kids be kids. sincelerly, sue
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To people who don’t think young girls are being sexualized I have one thing to say watch toddlers and tiaras. When your 5 year old is made up to look 30 I think there is a problem. Last year when I tried to find my son’s sister a bathing suit it took me a week and 5 different stores to find a one piece suit. She was 6!! and all I could find for her size were bikinis and not only that but in my opinion they were very skimpy bikinis. I think this is a growing trend and if people don’t start speaking up it is only going to get worse.
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I think you guys have nothing to do. This mentality is what is bringing this country down. I dont see anything that suggests me sexualization. – bikini for kids means a kid in a bikini. What do you want to see there? You guys have a very perverted mind to see the world like this.
Shame on you!
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Mamasaurus Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 1:42 pm
What do we want to see? Little girls who are SMILING & happily playing like *children* in clothing that is practical for summer activities … not little girls making sultry Porn-esque expressions, fakely make up in skimpy lil things that will fall when they run into the ocean or dive off the low board!!!!! We want to see little girls allowed to simply be young happy playful children without trying to make boys/men intersted in being sexually attracted to their skin. Hello?!
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Willow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:15 pm
How can you sit here and say “shame on you” when it is picture like this that got a 5 year old little girl molested. How can you say “shame on you” when a 14 year old girl has to drop out of school to take care of a baby she had because she was raped and does not believe in abortion. You are the one that should be ashamed of being blind to the truth. Because of the twisted greedy minds of others like you, our children continue to suffer everyday at the hands of sexual predators. You are no better than one of them.
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Willow Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Are you a Parent?
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As a mother of a young girl I find this not only offensive but scary. Our children should NEVER be exploited in this manner EVER! People sit here and forget to think about the fact that sick people in this world take pictures like these and pervert them into some sick twisted thought and our daughters pay the price for other peoples stupidity. Children should be sheltered from that, NOT used to make the problem worse. I would ask the the maker of these adds stops to think for a minute about there own children and what they would do if some sexual predator took advantage of their child. Please for the sake of our children stop this MADDNESS!
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That’s disgusting!! Let a child be a child and take that disgusting makeup and wig and wipe that face of them little kids! What kind of life do you think these exploited children are going to have!! Quit trying to make money off of the children, ya sick ba**tards!
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How many subscriptions of this go straight to the pedophile population?
Disturbing, really disturbing.
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[...] I came across a post by Melissa on how “Sexualization Shouldn’t Sell Swimsuits” – the post was about a Brazilian Swimwear company for girls creating a questionably [...]
While I, as a parent have chosen to not let my daughter wear a bikini until she is at least 15 (she is currently 3) I feel like people are over reacting. These children were hired as models, the photos are tasteful and could be worse, and that if anyone sees anything dirty in it then that’s in their own heads and may want to seek help.
These photos are artistically depicting her clothing line. I think people are over looking that she is from Brazil, where skimpy bikinis such as the Brazilian bikini (not wax) were derived from and that the fashion in Brazil is a bit freer. If you don’t like her designs, or how she has chosen to portray her models then the solution is simple: do not buy her clothing.
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Amy M Reply:
June 28th, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Jessica…
You are not really thinking that 15 is a good age to let your child wear a bikini with 15 yr old boys hanging around?? Were you ever 15? Do you remember the hormonal flood happening then in you and the boys? A confusing enough time as it is let alone putting sexy bathing suits on our teens (or prepubescent girls) and parading them around the eyes of over sexed boys (or pedophiles)… THINK OF YOUR GIRL, MOM !!
Plus… being in Brazil where the social standards are “freer” doesn’t make the photos or skimpy styles any better for little girls … JUST SAYING…
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Wow, this is the most ridiculous thing ever. And Americans really wonder why they have the most teen/child pregnancies in the universe. While all the other developed/developing countries are focused on the success of their future generation and country…America is busy advertising sex left and right whether in the media or advertising for children and then blaming the parents for having a problem with it and defending themselves by saying it’s our responsibility. And actually it’s not all their fault because they’re actually in it for the money and sometimes money can diminish all morals obviously…….the problem is the parents who are buying these clothes for their children. I don’t understand any parent, grandparent, or any family members that have any legit amount of IQ could take a look at a poster of this company’s ad..and then turn around get in line at the register. What are these people thinking? I feel sorry for the little girl models because it just truly shows how much their parents care about money and other things over the health and well being of their little daughters…enough to exploit them in this manner. My heart goes out to these girls and hope they are lucky enough in their lives to meet some truly inspiring role models…since their parents obviously failed.
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Jina Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:11 pm
and P.S. if the parents are responsible for what our children wear or do or think….how do we fight up against companies like this one…when they’re using all the power they have to make sex…the norm? like it’s okay….it’s supposed to be that way….regardless of how old you are…if you’re a girl you should look sexy, act sexy, pose sexy, because that’s how girls are supposed to be like. WTF? We are not objects walking around the earth for the pleasure of men …we are our own people and women are just as powerful as men these days. UGHHHH. I hope this company gets sued, someway..somehow.
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Also, as a proactive parent that is concerned, why not sit down with your children and show them these photos? Ask them what they think about it and have a freaking discussion with them about why you feel it is inappropriate and also bring up stranger danger and how to be safe.
Problem solved, and you actually get to *gasp* interact with your child.
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Robyn Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
I guarantee you that many of us have or will do exactly that. But that’s not enough. We have to fight the sexualization of our children. We have to open other parents’ eyes so that they can fight it in their own homes as well. Thank goodness that Melissa takes the time to help us do that! Not only has she extrapolated on issues in a way that makes it easier for me to talk about them with other parents, she has provided invaluable “talking points” for me to open up these topics with my children. How many of her blog posts have you read?
It’s interesting how you assume that people who don’t want to see children viewed as sex objects must not interact with their children.
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This is very, very repulsive and disturbing. I don’t mind a smiling girl, hair a mess, ice cream stains on her face, wearing some swim suit or towel. But this is going a little too far. Unnatural.
Tenebris In Lux´s last blog ..Llamas are contagious
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An irresponsible sort of soft paedo porn exploitation of a child model. It is loathesome. I dread to think what sort of market you are ‘catering ‘ to.
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I sincerely hope that whoever approved this ad for this company is not a parent…& if they are that they begin parenting classes immediately. This sort of exploitation of young children should be illegal…I concider it child pornography. I am a health care professional in womens health and see the after math of this sort of behavior all to often; and its appauling. I sincerely hope this company pulls these ads and gets some appropriate ads.
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Reprehensible. Playing dress up is one thing for little girls, but to be mocked up as overly-sexualized adults caters to pedophiles. Even the wig and maekup styles resonate with a more trashy/slutty quality than a tasteful adult quality, not to mention the poses.
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Ok, for starters, you MUST get a life. I have shopped at Submarine from when I was little, until today for gifts for people. I happen to LOVE the way Deborah advertises her merchandise, but that’s me. You may not like the way she advertises, but in reality, it is none of your business. She does not affect your life in any way, shape, or form. There are so much more important things in life… so if you are looking to help out in the world, check the NY times and donate some money. Many people need it.
Sincerely,
Shelly
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:17 pm
Shelly -
Confused. Should I donate money to the NY Times, or check the Times to see who needs money? Do you need a subscription to the Times?
Deborah’s business and her smutty marketing DO affect me, as the sexualization of children is an issue of social justice, and I work every day to educate parents and ignorants as to how severe and pervasive the problem is in our culture. People like Deborah contribute directly to it.
Wait, do you want to come over on Sunday and read the Times with me? Do you want cinnamon rolls?
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Shelly Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 7:50 am
Yes, the reason I posted the idea of the NYT was so we can bake together
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Robyn Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
I’m running out right now to find out where I can get this “life” you speak of so that I can stop focusing on such mundane issues as protecting my children from being turned into sex objects! I can’t imagine how I could have been so misguided!
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First off, thank you to Melissa and the Pigtail Pals who started this extremely important discussion. What stands out to me after reading all the comments is that many people are focusing on the idea that these photos and marketing campaigns are drawing out the pedophiles. Another group of readers are furiously demanding we ‘get a life’ and worry about important issues.
Let’s not forget that there is a middle ground between inciting pedophiles and supporting trendy toddlers. I worry less about the pedophiles and more about my daughter’s self esteem. I worry that she will see so much of this crap that she will weigh her worth in sexual conquests, boyfriends, dress size, and cup size. I worry that she will think women like Katy Perry and Rihanna are career and lifestyle role models. I worry that she will think Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton are worth emulating. I worry that her spirit will be broken, her value will be overlooked, and her body disrespected. I worry that I am fighting a battle that so many other parents seem to be completely unaware of. Parents – really LOOK at this stuff! Think about it. Pick at the thread, unravel it, follow it, and really open your eyes to what is going on with our girls. There are a lot of damaging images out there for our girls to absorb – it’s NOT harmless. Check some out here: http://notaboutbaby.blogspot.com/2011/04/not-so-funny-old-mama-sexy-babies.html
Penny´s last blog ..Cover Girl Culture- Who Wants to Be a Supermodel
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:12 pm
This. THIS. Brilliant. Thank you.
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Jennifer E. Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Penny, I see your point. I must say however, Submarine is not to blame for this. If you have a problem with Katy Perry, Lindsay Lohan, etc. that is something completely different and you have to take that up with Hollywood and America itself, because that is American culture. Submarine is simply using clever advertising techniques that are known to work in the US. I am sure that if these images were shown in Iraq, these images would definitely be considered pornography, so the real question is if these images bother you (and by you, I mean anyone on this site) so much, then maybe you should consider an alternative lifestyle, OUTSIDE of the US because this is American culture and nothing anyone on this blog can say will change that.
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Katy Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
As an American, I think we CAN and SHOULD strive to be better for our youth than pimping them out for the bottom dollar. I, for one, am willing to put up a fight against the ‘culture’ of sexualization so present to try to turn the tide. My girls are worth that. Do you not think yours are also worthy?
Katy´s last blog ..Fun Tuesday Hop!
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I sent a message to them via their online contact form:
I wanted to express my concerns with the way your company has young girls posing for your advertisement of swimwear. These are children, yet they have been made to look sultry, with pouty faces and vapid eyes, wearing wigs and makeup, and frankly, they look as if they are extremely sexualized. As a mother to three girls, this is exactly what I want to combat: the idea that girls must be “sexy” from a very young age. It harms their self esteem and especially their bodies as they grow up thinking they must meet some kind of sexual standard. I will be doing my best to avoid exposing my three girls to your website as well as any other clothing lines which treat children in this way. I ask that you please consider children and do what is right (and not what is “trendy” or what makes you the most money) and change the way you advertise. I would much rather see girls in modest swimsuits with their real hair, playing on a real beach, rather than these girls whose facial expressions resemble porn models and who are posing provocatively with hands on their hips and such rather than doing what the products are inteded to do: swimming! If I was going to spend this much on a girls’ swimsuit, I would much rather support a company such as this one: http://www.chichanellabella.com/main.php** since they are able to portray their models as being true little kids while still creating a fashionable product.
Please view our girls as deserving of respect and deserving of a childhood!
**Do check this website out… adorable, modest, vintage swimsuits for girls. Still way out of my price range, ha ha! But certainly a better place to support than Submarine.
Erin´s last blog ..Happy Pentecost!
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:11 pm
Great letter!
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I’M SORRY BUT WHERE IS MY COMMENT AND FEELINGS REGARDING ALL THIS. ARE ONLY THE COMMENTS AGREEING WITH PIGTAILS POSTED?
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:10 pm
HELLO BECKY –
I’M SORRY BUT I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM YOU TO PUBLISH. EVERY COMMENT THAT HAS COME IN FOR THIS POST HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, WHETHER OR NOT THEY AGREE WITH ME. IN FACT, I THINK THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS TELLING ME TO GET A LIFE OR THAT I AM THE PERV IS UP TO 9.
IF YOU’D LIKE TO RE-SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT, AND IT IS NOT VULGAR OR OFFENSIVE, IT WILL BE PUBLISHED.
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Erin Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:34 pm
Hahaha… love the sense of humor involved in writing this response!
Are all these people who are responding with “Get a life!” the same person? A person who has some interest in the swimsuit company in question, perhaps, like maybe an employee? If not, there are sure a lot of people who come up with “Get a life” as their only response rather than using reasoned facts and rational discussion to debate their opposing viewpoint.
Erin´s last blog ..Happy Pentecost!
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melissa Reply:
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Erin -
We’ve checked the IP addresses of some of these very similar comments coming in. They are not coming from the same computer, but they sure do sound alike!
As for the “Get a life” stuff, the most common comebacks/slams in this line of work are as follows (all of which I find amusing and only encourages me to work harder): 1a) You must be the perverted one, is in a tie with 1b) You need something better to do with your time 2) You are a pearl-clutching prude 3) You are a pearl-clutching prude that needs to get laid 4) This is in your head and you are the one with the problem, little girls just like to dress up
GET A LIFE PEOPLE, FIND A HOBBY….YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE UNTRUE COMMENTS, LOVE THIS LINE !!!
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I took a look at some additional pictures for this swimwear line. And I side fully with those calling for a stop to these images. For those of you claiming these are just “trendy” images let me provide you with a brief historical lesson of image of sexuality:
Lets go WAAAY back in time, lets say oh 500 and some years ago. In the Renaissance the “Venus” pose of the seductress with her armpit exposed with her hand behind her head was established. Venus=the goddess of sexual seduction. Her classic pose is repeated in many famous paintings over the centuries, including Olympia by Manet. Olympia is in the painting is a prostitute, and in that classic arm up, hand behind the head arm pit exposed pose.
So historically and artistically this is an established pose of sexuality.
This is not “cute” or “trendy” and I don’t see why they need to put a 7 year old model in a swimsuit in this pose. Or how they can call it child appropriate, or say its not overly sexualized.
And yes there is currently a pose like this for this swim wear line
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Doesn’t appear to be any dads leaving thoughts, I’ll give you mine
It’s sad that no matter how sick is the garbage some people sell, there will always be fools that will buy it. Unfortunately as long as there is demand, this stuff will sell and will be marketed.
My little girl wears the swimming trunks her older brother’s grown out of, end of story. Anything else would just be ridiculous.
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melissa Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
We absolutely need more dads and men in this conversation. Thanks for lending your voice!
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I would just like to add a comment here. WHO IS REALLY THE ONE SEXUALIZING THE KIDS HERE? Adding images of Playboy and Maxim and placing it next to an innocent child shows something on your part. Quite perverted of you to go so far as to look on those sites.. But it seems your into that
Hugh Heffner is looking for a new bride, keep hitting up the site, you might get lucky 
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Goodness gracious!! These girls don’t even have little buds of breasts, and they’re wearing such gendered and sexualized clothing?? It makes me sick to my stomach… As someone who was sexually abused as a little girl, I find these images severely disturbing and even encouraging to pedophiles.
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Jennifer E. Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Although it is really sad that you were abused as a child and I am very sorry, I think the REAL problem is the pedophiles themselves, not girls having fun with blue wigs and makeup. The company is not to blame in any way for any sexual attacks or be responsible for your generalization that this clothing is too risque for children.
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Are you guys simply perverted? These girls are not victims of any type of child abuse. They are simply having fun and selling bathing suits to the public (which clearly is not you). They are marketing large, suburban areas like Miami, New York, and LA. If you asked anyone in these areas, I’m sure they would not have a problem with this. The real problem is that you people are so sheltered that you will turn a blue wig and some fake eyelashes into child pornography. Instead of bashing such a great bathing suit line, I propose you ladies go and deal with real problems. Men who are really raping young girls or the KKK. Spend your time where it is needed, not bashing young girls who simply are having fun and not trying to provoke any sense of sexual images or pornography. As a mother whose children wear and LOVE these suits, I am completely behind this marketing. When my kids saw these ads they loved it and agreed that it reminded them of the Bratz dolls and Katy Perry. These girls are not in any way representing anything close to Maxim or Playboy. Please put your efforts somewhere where they are needed, NOT bashing such a great and innocent line.
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melissa Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 2:23 pm
Hey Jen -
If the girls are having so much fun, why is not a single one of them smiling? My kids smile when they “play dress up”. As soon as I finish up with Submarine, I turn my focus on the KKK. Clearly, you’ve got this problem solved.
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Olivia Reply:
June 24th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Why do girls “not trying to provoke any sense of sexual images or pornography” need pouty lips, make up, and wigs? Last time I checked, little girls wear none of the above to the beach/lake/pool!
Olivia´s last blog ..Breast Milk: Free For Those Who Need It!
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Sasha B. Reply:
June 25th, 2011 at 7:29 am
Jen, I couldnt agree more. PS. Models arent usually smiling, their natural looks without smiling is what sets them apart from the ordinary child and makes them a model.
I guess these people are from the Midwest or somewhere not like Miami or NY. It may help to understand that this is a Brazilian children’s line- the cut and style is different, thats what sets it apart from your ordinary fully-covered speedo one piece. If you do not allow your children to wear bikinis, that is totally your choice and no one will criticize you for it. Yet, scrutinizing others for allowing their children to do so=close-minded. I can’t really waste my time commenting on this blog because some of us have real jobs and children to attend to, so sitting around and posting 30 comments is not necessarily part of my habituated routine. All the best.
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Charlene Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 8:44 am
AGREED!!! MID WEST PEOPLE!!!! THEY JUST DON’T GET IT! VERY CLOSE MINDED. THEY SHOULDNT WEAR SUBMARINE. THEY SHOULD GO TO K- MART!!! THEY’RE TASTELESS ANYWAY!!
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[...] Melissa Wardy (and others who take the time to call out childhood sexualization and sexual objectification): Here’s a fun game to play while reading your many comments and [...]
REPULSIVE. Yes, exactly, Melissa. They say it is “suitable” for young girls?! Makes me wonder what young girls are doing in Brazil!
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Charlene Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 8:52 am
Nothing as bad as what happens in Las Vegas, so take it easy with the Brazil thing!!!
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Robyn Reply:
June 29th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I totally agree. Turning little girls into sex objects is wrong no matter where it happens. Actually, turning ANYONE into a sex object is wrong. Period. Must have struck a nerve here. I guess I’m wrong that the nationality of the owner means anything. It sure is no excuse for her reprehensible ad campaign!
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You have to love the repeat comments…..it is funny that those who like the brand are full of nothing but crappy, desperate insults. In a way it seems like they see it to but can wrap their brains around the fact that some companies exploit children…..or they are feeling to guilty to try and use actual debate.
There is something wrong here.
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“urging you people to put some pressure on the cavalier attitude displayed by the people behind “Child Model Magazine”. Their Facebook page here ‘https://www.facebook.com/pages/Child-Model-Magazine/105415206158558‘ has endless pics of little girls vamped up in makeup etc. Their attitude is uneducated and argumentative for their “contest” based page.
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[...] Because in less than three years, she is apparently supposed to show up at the beach looking like this. She has, it’s safe to say, some way to go. She doesn’t even own a wig and her [...]
Hahahah!!! This makes me laugh!!! You people are so ridiculous!!!! Get a life!!!!
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Charlene -
I’ve had to delete one of your comments because of the profanity you used. You are welcome to, as you clearly do, disagree with us. But you also need to keep it classy. If you submit another comment of that nature your IP address will be blocked from this blog.
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Charlene Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 10:03 am
Gosh, my apologies. I’ll keep it as classy as your blog (putting Playboy/ Maxim pictures near children.) Perhaps you want to give people the idea of PLAYKIDS? With naked children?? VERY CLASSY. Congratulations.
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I’m not a prude, I’m not sheltered, and I’m not a mom. However, Submarine’s marketing pictures still gross me out. Anyone who doesn’t see the sexualization in the company’s ad photos needs to have their head examined. Yeah, the suits are way cute. So what? The little girls are still posing provocatively. They look like pedophile candy. EW!!!
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Hey Melissa,
It is time for you to seek counseling in the medical form for your sick thoughts of such an adorable and loved collection.
Freedom of speech is one thing but you should always get the real facts first. You have opened up your own can of worms and you deserve them to be bloodsuckers on your behalf for causing lies and troubles that in this world of today, are not needed. You are an insult to humanity.
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 10:27 am
Charlene, you continue to amaze me.
But before I get eaten alive by all the bloodsucking worms, in the event I am not lying and did get the real facts first, I strongly encourage you to read this 2007 report from the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls: http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx.
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Charlene Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 10:37 am
I have read your link, still doesn’t make sense. Does not fall under these pictures. Honestly, people have different taste. We cannot deny that, but to slam these pictures along with the line is what makes me angry. If you’re saying that the line and pictures are “edgy” that’s one thing. This line is not like the other swimwear lines where they go for the “cute”. Submarine is more on the “fun/ funky” side and obviously you people don’t get it. There are many things out there that I personally dislike but I just don’t create a blog to try to destroy their image which is what this whole thing feels like. I truly believe that this whole matter is very much outta hand and I believe that YOU Melissa is desperately looking for media attention.
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Charlene -
To be clear, I never once ‘slammed’ the line or its apparel. My entire commentary has been and remains to be focused on the marketing and the photos on the website. It is not a matter of taste. It is a matter of imposing age-inappropriate sexaulized ideals onto a child who would not naturally come by those actions or thoughts. I have been running my company and blog for over two years without media attention, that is not what I am seeking. I reached out to Deborah Soriano, CEO of your beloved Submarine Swimwear. She rudely replied to me and blew me off. As a family advocate on matters of children, marketing, and sexualization, I have a large community of parents and other concerned adults who look to me to fight this kind of marketing.
I do ‘get’ that Submarine Kids wants to be “fun/funky”. I believe they can do that without the sexploitation of child models. If the company and their suits really are that great, they wouldn’t need these kind of images to help them sell their garments.
Melissa, you are just pathetic!!! Your close minded point of view is understood. No worries. BUT other people don’t see what you and your Midwest followers see. If the girl had ice cream all over her face and/or chest I would MORE than agree with you! But she’s holding a FAKE ice cream. The other picture is 60′s inspired and she’s doing a “peace” sign. Another picture she’s holding a star fish. What’s wrong with that????
Maybe, she’s not smiling because that was the look? Not because she’s unhappy like your “fans” said. She’s a professional model, so I’m pretty sure she did not do anything that she wasn’t OK with.
Did you get a chance to see other Submarine pictures? Where girls are NOT wearing make up and they’re smiling??? Are they unhappy too??? Being forced to do sexual poses??? Please!!! Why don’t you worry about real things in life?? So many things happening in this world and you are using up people’s time for “sexual looking” (in your heads only) pictures? Give Submarine the benefit of the doubt. I’m pretty sure the company was NOT going for SEXUAL POSES. If they really wanted to get “sexual” they would have used a very different scenario, don’t you think???
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Bil Simser Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Charlene,
I’m the father of a cute 4 year old who I know is going to be breaking hearts when she’s older as I fend off the boys (blonde hair, blue eyes, and cute as a button but then maybe Daddy is biased).
The photos on the Submarine Kids site are bad taste and inappropriate for the target age. It’s amazing to see your opinion that these are perfectly fine pictures for kids. “60′s inspired” might be the theme here, but the message is clear. Body language, especially as it’s used to sell products, is very expressive, suggestive, and powerful. And with great power comes great responsibility. Sultry eyes through the (heavy) use of eye shadow, forward thrusting hips, twisted torsos, pursed lips. These are techniques used by photographers to say absolutely the wrong thing for little girls.
How about a reality check? Here’s SwimOutlet.com and their girls swimline: http://www.swimoutlet.com/Girls_Swimwear_s/947.htm. The format is a pleasant picture in the header and the swimsuits, the product, that they’re selling. Not a picture of a 10 year old Lady Gaga making me uncomfortable. Maybe SwimOutlet is too small for you? Okay, how about The Gap. Here’s their swimwear for girls: http://www.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=14127&kwid=1&sem=false. No lipstick, no pouty lips, no fake silver wigs, no suggestive posing. Just pictures of, wait for it, the product I want to buy. Even doing a simple Google search for “kids swimwear” yields pages and pages of pictures of little boys and girls standing or playing and having fun in the sun with their outfits. Nothing immoral about these pictures and nothing I would be ashamed of viewing in public.
I’m sure your reaction might be “oh but they’re boring and Submarine just wants to have fun with their product to make it stand out”. Fine, then let the product stand on its own. Trendy? Sure, but not at the expense of exploitation of small girls. Exploitation, the act of using something in an unjust manner. There is no justification here to exploit these girls for products. There are morality lines you simply do not cross. Someone earlier said that the pictures reminded her of the Bratz dolls and Katy Perry. Yes, yes they do and again, there’s something wrong with us if we have to resort to drawing parallels with someone who in 2011 won FHM Magazines “Sexiest Woman in the World” award. Yeah, that’s great to associate that with pre-teen swimwear.
I’m reminded of the innapropriate video going around last year of a bunch of young (teen and pre-teen) girls on stage dressed up and dancing Moulin Rouge style. Do you think that’s innocent and appropriate like this ad campaign is?
Apparently 3 million YouTube viewers didn’t and the video was removed.
Apparently the marketers at Submarine think sex sells but has no issue associating that strategy with children.
Apparently most of the comments left here also think it’s done in bad taste along with (currently) 3,109 people that liked this blog post via Facebook.
Apparently you’re the only one who stands with the Submarine organization in thinking it’s okay to exploit our children like this.
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Susie D. Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Bill…. don’t you think you’re exagerating???? Seriously?
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Bil Simser Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Susie D.
Like Melissa said, this isn’t about childrens sexuality, it’s a about sexualization in marketing, a choice that Submarine made and a poor one in most peoples opinions.
This is not about the quality of their product but the message they’re sending by choosing their advertising campaign approach.
As a father and someone with the right to free speech, I’m just voicing my opinion about how I feel about it. You can choose to agree or disagree with my points as you see fit.
Bil Simser´s last blog ..MediaWiki, WP7 and JSON Together Again For The First Time
I think you people are a little mistaken. I KNOW this line!!! I have spoken to the owner several times and I happen to LOVE Submarine. Great quality, great looks, nothing like you people are saying!!! I am a mother and I would NEVER in my life put my daughter thru something that would support children’s sexuality. That is a little far, don’t you think? It makes me very sad to see what your website is doing.
TRUST ME PEOPLE – SUBMARINE IS NOT ABOUT THAT. THEY’RE ABOUT KIDS HAVING FUN, BEING KIDS AND AWESOME QUALITY!!!!
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 7:38 pm
Loryn -
We not talking about the suits or children’s sexuality. We’re talking about sexualization in marketing. Not the same thing. If Submarine Kids is about “kids having fun, being kids” their marketing certainly does not reflect that. I have tried to speak to the owner, but both Deborah and Charlene’s emails to me have been rude, dismissing, profane, and harassing. Makes for difficult conversation.
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This is 100% not true. I have known Submarine since my 19 year old daughter was 3!! She has been wearing their swimwear for a long time and I wish I could still buy it for her! You people are crazy!!!! There’s NOTHING sexual about Submarine swimsuits!!! Go find out more info… this is NUTS!!!
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
Susie -
My issue isn’t with the swimsuit, but rather the way they are marketed. I have all the info on need on the issue of sexualization. I can’t gather more info from Submarine Kids because both Deborah and Charlene’s emails to me have been rude, dismissing, profane, and harassing.
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Susie D. Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
Sorry to hear that Melissa. I’m sure there was no need for rudeness. But, I’m sure they’re a little “consumed” by this whole thing. I know Deborah and I know she only means well. She’s gone above and beyond for my kid. My daughter has rocked her swimwear for years. So… let’s try to take it easy on it. I KNOW she does NOT mean any harm to kids. Deborah is a wonderful mother. I happen to have met her two kids. One serves the army and the other one is in college. Great kids. I just don’t think is fair. The stuff that’s being said about her and her line. She’s an extremely hard worker and has helped so many people. She’s done so many children’s charity works – and not just to “promote” her line, but truly outof her heart. So it makes me sad to see all these bad comments on her. She’s truly an amazing woman.
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melissa Reply:
June 27th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Susie -
I have not said anything bad about Deborah. I called her to task on her marketing. That’s business, not personal. Unlike the personal attacks I myself have had to publically endure from her employee and vendors, I have not said anything personal about her, her mothering skills, or what kind of person she may be. I professionally and directly called her on her marketing that depicts young girls in sexually suggestive poses and heavy make up — the images are sexualized images of children. That was the extent of my commentary, both in my public blog and in my emails to her. And in both my public blog and in my private emails to her, I offer to her to explain the issue to her and help her to better craft marketing that doesn’t come across to thousands and thousands and thousands of people as inappropriate. My invitation to her stands that if she would like to communicate, I am happy to do so. But I will not stand for exploited and sexualized girls.
Hey guys…
I’m just amazed by the way this is going. I have never heard of this website pig tail thing… but, truly…. what’s up with you????? Seriously!!! “GET A LIFE” doesn’t even start with it…. come on… I’ve seen some ridiculous comments, but this??? Go take a look at how children REALLY live and are exploited in other countries and then go back to Submarine’s website. You’ll see a huge difference!!!! So many horrible things happening in the world lately and you all are soooooooo worried about Subamrine’s pictures???? Come on… get a grip!!! Let the kids rock their swimwear!!! Stop being so square and old fashioned!!! Good God!!!!
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aec Reply:
July 1st, 2011 at 7:41 am
I’m about as un-square as it gets and I can respect your opinion here. Normally, I’d be on your side, but this looks like child pornography. I mean, it’s uncanny. By that I mean you could shuffle this in with a stack of the stuff and never know it was for a swimsuit advert. This is how children are exploited in OUR country. In the shadow of our sexually repressed, fear and dogma based American culture, the plight of this exploit is often glossed over when you consider the sweeping, frightening majority of it’s members attend church more times per week than they have orgasms. But the fact remains that sexual exploitation and abuses through religious indoctrination are the american equivalent to child slave labor in east asia or the armies of children strapped with assault weapons fighting men’s wars in Africa. It is not as noticeably horrific to us because we see it every day and we choose to ignore it because it is common.
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Hey guys…
with all due respect, please stop insulting this wonderful line. I belive this is an older floks website, am I right? I don’t think this is sexual at all.
Maybe just another generation. That’s OK, you all can have your opinion. My grandparents think like that too. I respect it. But truly, nowadays, thinks have changed.
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melissa Reply:
June 28th, 2011 at 7:17 am
Dannyter -
I think it is comical that you assume we are senior citizens. This website is primarily used by parents who are in their 20′s, 30′s, and 40′s. I am 33 years old.
I don’t find the images sexual at all. I find them sexualized. Not the same thing, my friend.
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Huh. Yeah, a little creepy. Not as creepy as those toddler beauty pageants, but yeah, I can see where it’s a little too…
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I’m looking at this from several points. First as a mother of 4. My daughters are 15 and 7. My 15 year old does some part time modeling and it is nothing like what is shown here. I sign a model release and I approve of all hair, make-up and wardrobe that she wears for pictures. She is 15 and she looks 15.
[IMG]http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b355/aloegirl/IMG_0087.jpg[/IMG]
My 7 year old does not model at all, and if she did, she certainly would not be made to look like the girls in the Submarine photos.
Instead of giving my opinion on the matter, I’m going to give you facts.
I live in suburbs just north of Atlanta. Fact #1 – What most people don’t know is that this area is #1 in the nation for child sex trafficking. Men are buying and selling little girls with images like this on Craigs list around here everyday. The epidemic has gotten so bad that the local churches and community refer to it as “the Candy Shop” and have even made a movie about it.
Fact #2 – If found in an adult man’s private home, some of the images portrayed by Submarine swimwear would be considered child exploitation and he would be arrested. Label them “trendy, or upscale” all you want. They should be illegal, and NO model release should make it otherwise.
** It should be noted that John’s Creek Ga, has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. It is very “Trend & Upscale” to live here with all the pedos and sex traffickers.
The Candy Shop Trailer from Whitestone Motion Pictures on Vimeo.
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melissa Reply:
June 28th, 2011 at 11:05 am
Thank you so much for your comment. Truly.
I just Googled ‘The Candy Shop’ and watched the trailer. It looks like an amazing, and chilling, film. I am going to learn more about it and get my hands on the whole film. http://www.whitestonemotionpictures.com/films/the-candy-shop/
Your 15yo is stunning. I respect how you value her girlhood and right to healthy development.
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Some of these photos bare a striking resemblance to child pornography. Show these to any law enforcement officer you know and ask their opinion. If you found this in a pedophile’s home, would you consider it child pornography? You need only to watch Todlers In Tiarras to know that children are being forced-sexualized, not just in media and advertisements, but even by their own parents. Certainly all children develop into adults and possess some degree of burgeoning sexuality in their adolescence, and I’ll even go so far as to say some develop sooner than others. I should know, I developed at nine years old when my neighbor took me in his basement, tied me up and f*cked me. I’ve been a sexual being ever since. That doesn’t make it acceptable for companies to exploit and sexualize children for monetary gain.
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