Why are Girls Dressing Like This?
Girls wanting to dress like older teens is nothing new, but as the styles have gotten progressively more suggestive, the practice has taken on more significance. Girls often emulate models and teen pop stars who incorporate sexual imagery into their act. Teen fashions have followed this trend too, and clothing designed and marketed for teen girls has become more provocative. In addition, the term "girl power" has been used as a marketing tool to encourage girls to define their power through their appearance. Then there’s something called age compression, where younger kids are intentionally exposed to and encouraged to purchase products more appropriate for older kids. This explains why it’s not uncommon to find suggestive styles even in the smallest of sizes. However, these items wouldn’t be on the market if they didn’t sell: many parents are finding it difficult to draw the line with their girls. Some may even find the styles cute, or at the very least, harmless.
Are Sexy Fashions Harmless?
Hardly. Sexual attire in an educational setting is distracting. It may provoke unwanted attention that young girls aren’t emotionally or socially mature enough to handle or respond to. Plus, a heightened focus on appearance, fashion, and sexiness can contribute to unhealthy competition among girls. Girls who intentionally project a “sexy” image at a young age and receive a lot of attention for it may start to view this as the most worthy part of themselves, and may drop other, healthier activities that, in their mind, conflict with this identity. This image may also make them appear older and encourage connections with older peer groups that may put them at risk for early experimentation with drugs, alcohol, and sexual behavior.