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Main >> News Listing >> July 2003 >> Article ID 805
 Britney and Christina threatening childhood | Type: Other |
| | Britney and Christina threatening childhood | Jul 29, 2003 |
2003-07-29 21:33:40 BBC
The images of popstars like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears are threatening childhood according to experts. The chairman of the Professional Association of Teachers, Jim O'Neill says the image of these pop stars is keeping children from being children.
And he complained that the pressure to grow up too soon meant that primary school girls were going to school in "ridiculously short skirts" and "dressing like teenagers - it might be appropriate in a club but certainly not in a school".
He also said Britney Spears had adopted a more "raunchy" image, which children would follow.
I completely agree with him. While it's true that Christina, Kylie, and Britney can dress any way they like, they do have a certain responsibility to those young children who look up to them.
If you read the entire article, you'll see that Mr. O'Neill also was upset that 5 and 6 years olds are being taught drug and sex education. I think that it's a sad state of affairs that 5 and 6 year olds need to be taugh drug and sex education, but unfortunately they do. Kids as young as 8 years old are doing things they really shouldn't be doing until they're married.
Who is to blame? I think the media - television and music, is. Kids are learning this things from television, from MTV, from a society where parents have to leave their kids alone too early.
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Obsidious 2003-07-29 23:01:18
Jedi in Drag
"... they do have a certain responsibility to those young children who look up to them."
This is one common opinion about the entertainment industry that really irks me for some reason. It's almost as if people are trying to pass the buck onto entertainers because parents fail to raise their kids with a sense of self esteem or moral values. They feel they have to "dress like Brittney" or act like a raving loose woman(Christina) in order to be accepted.
Artists/Musicians/Entertainers do not have any responsibility to anyone. They do what they do for themselves. Art at its core is a very selfish thing. They love their fans for standing by them, sure. And they love sharing their art with others(perhaps the one unselfish thing about art) .But in no way should they be responsible for raising someone's kids.
For instance, If that O(or whatever theheckhis name is) guy from Jackass wants to set himself on fire, then he has the right to be an idiot. If little Johnny decides to set himself on fire because the guy from Jackass did, then the fault lies with the parents who obviously didn't teach their kid that SETTING YOURSELF ON FIRE IS A BAD THING! It is not Jackass guy's responsibility to raise or enlighten your children.
When I was a kid, I was into the WWF(back when Hulk still had hair, lol). And today I read about kids jumping off the roof to pin their friends, or breaking bottles over each others heads so they can be like [insert Wrestling gimmick hero of the week]. Maybe my mother paid attention to me and actually raised me, but never once do I remember thinking to myself, "Hey, I think I'm going to try jumping off the roof!" I had action figures instead, lol. And when I did screw up, I don't ever recall my mother blaming "those darn musicians" for my problems. My problems started at home.
musegurl ( Trial Editor ) 2003-07-30 01:04:03
The raving rants....
I agree with Obsidious. Though I think some of the best celebrities out there are the ones that know the power they have, and try to use it to encourage towards the better, that isn't their job.
When Spears signed a contract with her label, there was not clause to say "...and you must provide a good role model for all the little girls of the world...."
She was hired to sing (if you can call it that), and sell records. She does that well.
It's the parents job to know what their children are listening to, and watching. It's their job to debrief them, so to speak. Mothers need to spend time with their little girls, explaining a woman can be even more beautiful by not showing everything she has.
The parents who help mold their children, and help them find good role models (if they aren't the role models themselves).
And if mom sees little Jane can't distinguish good taste, from Spears', mom should stop little Jane from watching Spears, and all her counterparts.
Protecting a young child's fragile mind. That's the responsibility of parents.
curlio ( Website Owner ) 2003-07-30 05:41:46
Ricky's Bitch
I don't think they should raise people's children, but the music industry overall aims Britney and Christina at kids. You can't honestly tell me that you believe Britney and Christina dress like that because it's who they are and it's a part of their art. I don't believe that.
Even the best parent in the world can't compete with the "role model" set up by Christina and Britney. They're in every magazine, on MTV every day, and everyone is saying it's so cool and it's everything you want to be. Pretty powerful propaganda for a 13 year old to resist.
If someone was deliberately aiming pornography at children, everyone would be completely pissed off. But because Britney and Christina's pornography is set to music, it's perfectly fine to air? That's just bullmanure. Never thought I'd quote Hillary Clinton, but... it takes a village to raise a child. And the village is failing miserably.
Should parents be at home more able to keep an eye on what their kids are doing and watching? Yes. But the reality is that in order to earn enough money to live, most people have to have 2 incomes. And that keeps both parents out of the house much longer than the kids are in school. For single parents, it means 2 jobs. The reality is that parents aren't home enough to watch their kids. And if everyone keeps saying "oh that's their problem, it's not my problem" or "why should someone else be responsible for raising their kid because that parent is too irresponsible", then eventually it WILL become the problem of the world. We're not talking about a few misfit kids growing up this way. A majority of kids are growing up this way, and unless someone does something about it, our future and the future of all of our children (even the 'good" ones) will be about as bright as the future of African children.
Jeremy ( Graphics Artist ) 2003-07-30 06:52:30
//New Arrival
I have to totally agree. I look around my school... and all the girls are wearing things you would see on Britney and Christina. Our school has some rules... such as bottom of shorts/skirt must be able reach fingertips. Can not show stomach, no tank tops, etc. Even guys have rules. They can't have their boxers showing, pants can't be extremely baggy (some have them to the point where they walk with their legs spread way apart to hold them up) etc.
I even see girls/boys in Middle school (here that is grades 5 - 7) wearing clothing like that on MTV.
Also about sex and drugs. Even when I was in 5th grade... there was minor talk about drugs and sex. It wasn't as bad as it is now. It wasn't until I would say 7th grade when I would hear about sexually active students, and drugs. I was taught Sex Education in 4th grade. However, it wasn't about sex. It was about puberty... to help prepare us for the changes we would experience. The following year, in 5th grade... it was about the same (mind you both years... they boys were in one room... girls in another... and it was just about your gender) all we really learned was that our voice would change, and stuff about hair (not gonna get into that).
6th grade... 1/2 of the year was PE class... other 1/2 was Health. Aside from disecting hearts and other... interesting things... we did have a sex education unit. Now... it was boys and girls in the same room, same video. And it was the entire sex process... with a woman giving birth at the end. That is when I was taught sex.
7th Grade we had a quarter of Life Skills. There again was a unit of sex education. However, instead of more detail... it was more about risk. STD's etc.
Since then, I haven't had any sex education classes. However, I will this year have a unit of it. But it is not just about sex... it is about the body... things like depression, mental disorders, diet, etc. The unit about sex I believe is mostly STDs... and that is a major part of the unit. You get into extreme detail about all the risk. You also learn about safe sex. You also get to do the classic take care of a mechanical baby unit. lol.
Anyway, I have noticed that they are teaching sex education way way way early on.
We have a program called D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) that I had during 5th grade. We learned about substance abuse etc. However, I found out they are now doing this program way way way early to 2nd graders. Now, when I was in 1st grade... I remember having somebody come in, and tell us about alcohol and how to be healthy. But again... we made "paper people" out of brown lunch bags and sang a very... stupid song. Lol
I now hear from kids in Elementary and Middle School talking about drugs, sex, everything. Things from talking about the diff. kinds of drugs... alcohol... etc. You also hear about sex. I don't mean things like "sex! *snicker snicker snicker*" I mean things as extreme as guys "bragging" to other guys, and girls "bragging" to other girls. Which are only 10 - 12 years in age! Also, in the news paper... they've been catching kids in Elementary/Middle School "doing" things in the bathroom (AKA girl visits boy in boy's bathroom... vice versa) as well as students being caught smoking/doing drugs.
I'm in High School right now. The drug problem is amazingly high. I believe all schools (at least here) are required to have one officer inside the school at all times during school hours. There are random searches every 3 weeks, where they bring in drug sniffing dogs. There are random bag checks, where you come in school during the morning, and you must have your backpack searched, and they search lockers too. When they do these searches... they announce over the PA system that all teachers can not allow any student to leave the classroom until a certain time. They have gates on the bathroom doors... locked. This is to prevent students getting out of class.. and disposing the drugs (AKA sneaking to your locker and flushing them down the toilet, before they get to your locker)
I see many people in my school smoke (in the parking lot after school). Many of them talking about sex. And even more talking about drugs. I bet you that 1 in every 6 people I encounter are drug free. (BTW, i've never tried smoking, drinking, or done drugs. Also a virgin. However, there are reasons behind those... that I'll get to) This one girl that I grew up with... and knew since I was very young... had a baby her Freshman Year. She knew she made a mistake... and is being responsibly by taking care of the child. However, I know for a fact she smokes, and I know for a fact she still has sex.
I was able to control myself, from experiences in the past. For smoking... when I was younger, I remember my brother started smoking. I saw how my parents reacted, and what they did. He hasn't smoked in many many years. Also, when I was in 3rd grade, my Mom's lung collapsed... which made her be in the Hospital for 2 weeks. I was very very scared. She of course made it out safely... and hasn't smoked since. That is now 8 years! For drinking... I remember my Dad use to have a drinking problem. And my entire family would get scared when he was drunk, b/c he couldn't control himself. There was one major incident... that really impacted him, and he hasn't drank for... gosh many years now. For drugs... my parents told me all about them, ever since I was very young. Told me that if I was ever offered any... what I should do/say. Told me the way it effects you, etc. For sex... my Mom made a mistake when she was younger... which made her have to drop out of school and get a job. However... everything worked out for the best and she went to Night School and recieved her diploma. (The baby is my brother... who got married last year and is doing awesome!)
So I am covered with all that. I feel my sister knows better too.
Parents should and can influence their child's life. Yes they may not be home all the time, but that is still their responsability. They do need to know where they are at all times, who they're with, and what they're doing. If I go somewhere after school... or whatever... I always call one of my parents, let them know where Im going, who Im with, what we're going to do. You child is not an adult... and doesn't have the brain of an adult. The child needs you to help guide him/her until the point they can guide themselves. There are many many many options out there to help. If your child has a drug problem, there are clinics. Etc.
I agree that Britney and Christina need to clean up their act. First thing I heard in school after the Dirrty video was released was:
From the guys: "Dude did you see Christina's video? HOT! [sex talk, blah blah blah]"
From the girls: "OMG Tonya, did you totally see what [name] was wearing in the Dirrty video? I'm so hitting the mall!"
Look at it this way...
Christina/Britney = Role Models to people 18 and under
People like to look up to their role models which = people want to be like their role models
The way Christina/Britney dress = people who look up to them, to dress the same. Same goes with how they act, etc.
If they cleaned their act up, did some "anti drug" & "sex can wait" commercials... they can *possibly* help save today's youth.
pruepie ( News Editor ) 2003-07-30 07:25:05
Can't Hold Me Down
I never had proper sex education. I never really needed it though.I understood; though it could be fun (mind you, i'm a virgin) it still has consequences, some not to fair as others. I come from a family of teen pregnancies, or people who have lost the ability to have children because they had unsafe sex and got a horrible STD that nearly took their life, but instead took all the equipment to make children.
Though I had a crash course in sex ed, I know of many children who don't know a thing. I feel sorry for them. Pop stars like Britney and Christina only show the pleasure of sex, they don't show the consquences. Children, emotions, giving yourself to someone, or even sickness, and death.
We don't need more people telling us how fun sex is, we need more, sex is a choice, one that can change your life.
drgnfly71k 2003-07-30 10:46:37
my parents both worked.... but there was always someone there when i got home from school and when i got up in the morning. they were both very involved in my school and personal life (more than i liked at the time). this included buying my clothes and music and every other necessity from birth untill 12 when i started getting a $10 a week allowance.
now how or why a grade school child has the freedom or finances to go out and buy loose womanty clothes is beyond me, even after i did start getting my somewhat meager allowance, i still wasn't able to sneak out and buy these types of things due to the cost.
not only that, if i had and my parents had seen them, they would have taken the offending apparel and thrown it out, burned it, or destroyed it in some other manner. if i had worn it to school (we weren'r even allowed to wear tank tops or bike shorts) my principal had a box of donated clothes which he would have given me something more appropriate out of and then called my parents to set up an appointment to discuss the matter.
parents who claim they are helpless against the evils of pop music are pathetic.
-don't like the music's message?
take away your kid's stereos/cds/tapes.
-don't like their videos?
take away their tv or cancel cable
-don't want your kid dressing like them?
don't give them the responsibility or cash to buy their own clothes at 8 years old, if they do burn it while they're at school.
-don't want brittany or christina raising your kid?
RAISE YOUR KIDS YOURSELF, AND DON'T LET THE TV DO IT FOR YOU!!!!!!!
bty- why and where can you even find loose womanty clothes small enough for a 6 or 8 year old? why not * to the clothing manufacturers and stores that sell them to children?
Obsidious 2003-07-30 10:50:58
Jedi in Drag
"why and where can you even find loose womanty clothes small enough for a 6 or 8 year old? why not * to the clothing manufacturers and stores that sell them to children? "
They sell these clothes because there is obviously a market for them somewhere. The bigger question should be, why theheckare parents buying these clothes for their kids?!
drgnfly71k 2003-07-30 10:51:06
i did not say " loose womanty"
if i had wanted to say " loose womanly" i would have spelled "womanly" correctly
nice job censoring
dusty ( Website Owner ) 2003-07-30 11:31:19
Working Hard.
drgnfly71k said:
i did not say " loose womanty"
if i had wanted to say " loose womanly" i would have spelled "womanly" correctly
nice job censoring
That's an option in your profile settings, means you have the language filter enabled (standard).
Has nothing to do with censorship but everything to do with avoiding the general public to be offended. If you look closely you will also understand that only those 4 letters were replaced, and that the "-ty" addition was added by yourself. Disable the language filter and you'll see your post as you posted it.
PickleCookie 2003-07-30 14:33:41
It's funny watching all the fat and nasty girls on Jenny Jones and those stupid-ass shows saying "Yeah, I have sex, I do drugs. Whateva! I do whateva theheckI want!" lol, good times. "Whateva! You're just jealous cos I'm sexy."
They make me want to barf.
What ever happened to morales? I want to go slap Britney Spears for being such a stupid loose woman.
Jeremy ( Graphics Artist ) 2003-07-30 14:53:35
//New Arrival
I agree with PickleCookies. They now have episodes where they have 12 year old kids... some even younger on stage who say things like "I do drugs, have sex, and drink" and "I want to be a stripper when I grow up". Then they usually bring out this scary military guy who screams at them, and tries to puts them into place.
There are also episodes where there are 14 year old girls who say "I have sex because I want a baby. I'm ready!" however, they are anything but ready. When asked how they would raise the child, etc... they instantly say "My Mom will help me". The Mom just looks over and is like "Excuse me? That is not MY job to take care of YOUR baby that YOU want". Which is correct. If you have a child you have to be ready to deal with all the task it throws at you. Mom is not going to be there forever, for your every need.
Obsidious 2003-07-30 15:21:29
Jedi in Drag
Heh, I was just flipping through the channels, and that exact episode was on. I don't know if you were recalling from memory or were watching too. But it's funny watching those littke kids act like punks, only to be smacked down by the drill sergeant.
Jeremy ( Graphics Artist ) 2003-07-30 15:26:51
//New Arrival
Lol now I wasn't watching it now! But that is funny it is on now! However, they always have those on. They're my favorite to watch, b/c I just sit there and think "Why do these kids want to be this way? And why the Hell are they so stupid?" and then its funny watching the drill sergeant scream RIGHT in their faces, knock some sense into them. They then end up "not being so tough" and cry for their Mom.
ateensclub7 ( News Editor ) 2003-07-30 19:41:05
Cactus
I saw that one! Plus the other ones like that. It's really sad that there are these 10-year-old girls dresses like loose women and having sex and smoking and stuff. I know I'm only 14 (I'll be 15 in, like 3 months), but I already know that I won't drink (my family has a history w/alcoholism) I won't smoke (My uncle died last week from lung cancer that spread to the brain which was caused by smoking for 20+years) and sex is a no brainer. Why would I wanna take that risk of pregnancy and illness?!? I agree that Brittnay and Christina need to be better role models, but I also think that it's not their responsability to make sure that little girls aren't copying them, thats the parents. I wasn't allowed to watch MTV till I was 12 or 13. Another thing is- What about guys? On jenny Jones (Or Ricki Lake or Jerry Springer or...) they have these 9 and 10 year old boys acting 'grown-up'. They smoke, drink, do drugs, and have sex too! And their role model's are all those 'big pimpin' rappers w/the 'bling-bling' and make music videos that have the guys w/4 or more girls and stuff. Ok, I think I'm done for now.
musegurl ( Trial Editor ) 2003-07-30 20:36:02
The raving rants....
Wow! I leave for like a minute and there is the whole long discussion- lol!
You know, thinking of Jenny Jones, I wasn't even allowed to watch that growing up-
I know it's not possible for parents to spend every waking moment with their children. But my mom and dad worked full time and still took the time to find out "where my mind was at."
In the same manner, parents can't be there to say "put that cigarette down" or "Don't smoke that!" -- that kind of stuff is aimed at youths also. However it's a normal, and fully healthy expectation that parents teach their children the harms of such things.
Music can be as harmful as drugs. It affects the mind and mood. If parents can't take enough time to know what their kids are thinking about and watching, then they don't have enough time to really be a parent. They'll never "have" the time. They have "make" the time!
Jeremy ( Graphics Artist ) 2003-07-30 21:23:09
//New Arrival
Same with me... what I watched/saw on TV was limited. Same with movies. If there was a nude scene, or scene Im not suppose to seen... my eyes were covered, or I was sent out of the room.
Obsidious 2003-07-30 22:59:32
Jedi in Drag
My mother regulated what I watched. Even when I was old enough to watch anything I wanted, she knew she could trust me because she raised me with a sense of self. It paid off in the end.
Besides, if I had talked back to my mom like that I would have got my clock cleaned. ;p~
I have too much respect for my mom to even curse in front of her. It just isn't right.
musegurl ( Trial Editor ) 2003-07-31 14:55:59
The raving rants....
I know. I'm starting to feel old, thinking "Kids today ain't got no respect. When I was young...."
I'm too young to be collecting Social Security. I still watch MTV! ~lol
It's messed up partents leave the media to raise their kids and get their panties in a bunch when it does a bad job.
Also, I'm sorry, but Obsidious' tagline "Jedi in Drag" is just down right funny!
PickleCookie 2003-07-31 19:03:58
Rap, loose women, and Mary-Sue should all be burned to a horrible death. |
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