KGOY | How Advertisers Are Sexing Up Our Daughters Younger Than Ever
Last year, I posted a photo on my personal blog of a shirt that blew my mind. It was the size for a kindergarten girl and it said “Kiss the Rim.” The shirt was supposed to be about basketball (I guess), but I couldn’t shake off the sexual undertone of that shirt.
Raising three daughters, we are well aware of how girls are sexualized in the media and even with toys. It’s a hard battle to fight when your little girls see dolls dressed seductively
Some may say that I’m being too sensitive. That girls are just being girls and that these dolls and clothing mean nothing. Maybe I’m just imagining that advertisers are targeting my daughters and trying to make them into sex kittens.
Maybe.
But then again, maybe not.
Actually, I know that I’m not just being paranoid. Why? Because advertisers and marketers have a special phrase to describe how they market these items to young girls these days–they call it “Kids Growing Older Younger” (or KGOY), and apparently use it as a reason to market push-up bras to our seven year olds.
(Now do you think I’m paranoid?)
Why Understanding KGOY Is Important
What I find ironic about the whole KGOY thing is that one of the reasons our kids are growing up at earlier ages is because of media and advertising. Check out videos, toys and even Halloween costumes
Check this out…
Isn’t it time to take a stand? If you don’t think that they’re targeting our daughters, then ask yourself, “Why do they have a special phrase for it in the industry?”
We, as parents, need to stop taking the path of least resistance and start standing up to our kids. The fight is worth it. There are no “Hottie” or “Foxy” shirts, or suggestive phrases like “Sexy” across the ass of sweatpants, in this house.
ALSO ON PRIME PARENTS CLUB : Raising Daughters | Everything is Beautiful (Or, Is it?)
It’s time to stop supporting the networks, magazines, toy, clothing and media companies sexualizing our daughters. If not now, when?
Thanks to PigTail Pals for making me aware of this video.
Image: Monster High Frankie Stein Costume
Category: Daughters, Parenting/Family
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jacqueline Wilson is a prime parent, wife, published author and freelance writer. She writes here, on Prime Parents’ Club, and on her observational parenting humor blog, WritRams.com: Writer Ramblings on Parenting Imperfectly. Follow her on Twitter as @WritRams and on her Facebook page. She recently wrote an e-Book on the REAL truth about how blogs make money. She recently started Project Purse Club, a support and networking group dedicated to changing the way women treat each other in business and blogging.Subscribe
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“We, as parents, need to stop taking the path of least resistance and start standing up to our kids. The fight is worth it. There are no “Hottie” or “Foxy” shirts, or suggestive phrases like “Sexy” across the ass of sweatpants, in this house.”
Ditto!
I was just shopping in Kohl’s yesterday and the dress form hanging in the little girls dept. (4-6 and 7-14) had breasts! Really? Is that necessary?
Couldn’t agree more. After a while you get used to hearing “But, Dad, the other girls ___________ (fill in the blank with a litany of things that aren’t fair.)” Bottom line: “Old dads have thick skin and my daughter isn’t going to dress like a skeeze.”