I’ve been in a funk all week and now I’m even funkier after watching prostitots dance at Madeline’s dance competition this past Saturday. I’m realizing what a bubble I live in here in my conservative area of our city. I’ve heard about children dressing provocatively but I haven’t seen it where I live. I’ve read on other blogs that Target sells padded bras for six year old girls but I’ve never seen it at my Target store. I’m guessing they don’t offer it because they would not sell in the area I live in. My point is that I’ve been sheltered by how much our girls are being sexualized.
This past weekend I left my little bubble to attend my daughter’s dance competition in another state. To my horror and the horror of the other moms from our dancing school we had the unfortunate privilege to watch the little prostitots from the Stripper School Of Dance strut their stuff. These girls wore costumes that resembled lingerie from Frederick’s Of Hollywood. In many of their costumes their butt cheeks peeked out of the bottom and often the girls did not wear tights. I can only imagine what kind of view the judges were getting in the front row. Their song choices and dance moves were very seductive. Their props included a red door that they danced around and in and out of like it was a stripper pole. Another prop was plexiglass that resembled a shower door. Water ran down the glass as the girls danced behind it and pressed their body against it. It was sleazy with a capital S.
The moms from our school sat there in complete disbelief with our jaws on the floor. After the first couple of numbers it became clear that all their numbers would have some sleaze factor. They even took the beautiful art of lyrical dance and sexed it up. Instead of a long flowing costume they wore corsets and short skirts. Their hair was halfway pulled up so they could flip it around rather than pulled back in a classic ballet bun. Even their little five and six year old girls were pumping and grinding like hoochie mamas. The sad thing is these girls were great dancers. Their dance numbers did not need to be so erotic. In fact it was distracting.
Only one mom in our group disagreed with us. She viewed it as an art form and not at all inappropriate. Grown women dancing on a Broadway stage for musicals such as Chicago is an art form but young girls dancing like strippers is disgusting. And believe me I’m no prude. I have no problem with erotic dance or sexy clothing but it’s only for adults at an appropriate time and place. I even take a striptease fitness class but I’m a GROWN-UP. I just want to preserve my daughter’s innocence for as long as I can. So this mom can march herself and her daughter right down to the Stripper School Of Dance because the other moms at our school won’t stand for it.
I felt so sleazy and dirty watching these girls. It has left me with such an icky feeling. I’m so disappointed that there are parents that allow this sort of thing. My husband would never be okay with our daughter dancing or dressing like that but these girl’s fathers proudly walked around the convention center with their half dressed daughters. What bothers me the most is that dressing our daughters like prostitots is becoming acceptable. The Stripper School took the majority of the top awards. We beat them in only one category. My fear is that dance teachers will sex up their routines in order to win. My hope is that the judges judged these girls primarily on their skill because their skills were excellent. I also hope it was political because the stripper school had the most dance numbers in the competition which meant they were the top financial contributor to the production company hosting the competition. It’s a business and unfortunately that is how the world works.
How sad that we live in a country that gets their panties bunched up if a mother breastfeeds in public but condones dressing our children like prostitots. I just don’t get it.
Related posts:
I am a self professed slacker mom. I answer to Kristie or slackermommy.
My house is a mess, my kids are obnoxious, and my husband is sexually deprived.
I drive my kids to school in my pj's, I can make a couple of Happy Meals from the floor of my car, my kids eat in front of the television, and I believe a dirty house helps kids have a healthy immune system.
If you can relate then this blog is for you. No sugar coating on my blog. Let's get real about being a mommy, wife, sister, and friend.
You can also find me slacking at:
Jenn
May 21st, 2007 at 9:31 am
I agree with you, 100%. I am appalled by some of the clothes I see at the store designed for my six year old. I cringe when I think there are some parents who actually buy the leopard prints and latex skirts for their daughters and think it’s CUTE. It’s not cute. It’s disgusting. The same parents who dress their kids like prostitutes wonder why that weirdo down the street keeps staring at their partially-dressed daughter in a very disturbing way.
I really, really wonder what goes through parents minds when they think its okay to put their school-aged daughter into an outfit found more often in a strip club.
BarnGoddess
May 21st, 2007 at 10:53 am
Like you, I am no prude but I am offended and disturbed when young girls are exploited in a manner that some people find acceptable.
Kell Rees
May 21st, 2007 at 11:08 am
I went to my little cousin’s dance recital on sunday and I thought the same thing.
I would NEVER allow my daughter to dress that way whether she was 6 or 16. The way these little girls dance is unbelievable. They know dance moves that i’ve never seen or done.
I’m not against dressing my daughter cute and buying clothes that are in style but have some class. It’s no wonder why young 12 and 13 year olds are getting pregnant these days.
Lisa
May 21st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
I’m not prude but I just don’t get it either. And yes, it IS alarming that little girls would wear stuff that! Its alarming that people think its ok to put little girls in heavy make-up and hoochie outfits. It sends them a message early on that they are nothing but sexual objects and their value is soley in their appearance.
I’ve been thinking of you, your family, Jack, and his family all weekend. (And praying for him too.)
Elle
May 21st, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Oh tell it sister!! I’m sick of seeing little girls looking like hookers on the corner! I mean whatever happened to mickey mouse shirts and knee socks?
What I dont’ get is parents that think it’s cute to dress their 5 year olds like street walkers? Do they have no common sense?
Jenster
May 21st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I’m in total agreeance with you. It’s shameful and it’s so very sad. And honestly, I’m offended down to my toes for you.
Mikala
May 21st, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Oh man…sounds interesting…
I’m in as much disbelief as are you…
Annie
May 21st, 2007 at 2:42 pm
I’m with you, 100%
I guess it’s up to us moms of daughters to resist this type of thing, and actively protest it where appropriate.
It’s inertia that will allow it to become increasingly more acceptable.
sam
May 21st, 2007 at 4:36 pm
I agree too, and I am far from a prude. It’s disgusting some of the things kids are wearing today - and even more freaky is the parents accepting it!
(I hope you’re back to regular blogging again!)
creative-type dad
May 21st, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I don’t even know what to say. I’m in complete shock.
How can a parent let their kid do that? If my daughter did anything remotely like that I’d walk on the stage cover her up and walk her right out the door.
Trust me -I’m no prude, living in a box kind of guy. But parents who allow this are just plain stupid.
MamaLee
May 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Great post!
I agree with you 100% as well. And some people WONDER why things are screwed up in this world. Just take a look at what is now acceptable. It’s appalling, in my book.
Chris
May 21st, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Here’s another “yeah that” post. We recently were at a park that was hosting a cheerleading competition. The young girls in that competition had more makeup on than I’ve ever worn, the outfits showed so much and the moves? Like someone said, there were moves that I, as a 30-something adult who did her fair share of partying, have never seen.
Society makes me sadder and sadder these days.
carrie
May 21st, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Amen.
Unless I’m watching Little Miss Sunshine, I don’t want any part of it either. And certainly not for my 3 year-old daughter. We’ll stick to tutus and tights, thank you.
Carrie
AuburnGalAlways
May 21st, 2007 at 10:00 pm
The clothes on the racks for our young daughters are moving more and more to the Britney and Bratz look every day and it disgusts me.
I think all of the earlier commenters have said they’re not prudes. And I would probably fit right in with them in the way they dress themselves and their children. BUT… compared to these moms and kids, we ARE prudes.
And good for us! If Prudes know that it is NOT ok to pimp our daughters and can teach them modesty and good judgment, then more power to us!
Prudes Rock!
Burg
May 21st, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I don’t get it either.. I don’t see why it’s wrong for little girls to look and act like little girls.
My sis-in-law has a niece who is around 12.. She wears the most indecent clothes I’ve ever seen on a child. Her family acts like it’s cute. This little girl openly hit on my brother-in-law who was 21 at the time..
Janet a.k.a. "Wonder Mom"
May 22nd, 2007 at 6:00 am
Wow. Things sure have changed since my girls were in competitions…Now, my girls who I taught are probably married with kids of their own…I wonder what we’d be doing today???
Attila The Mom
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:04 am
Oh geez. That’s just appalling. What in the hell are those people thinking?
The "Mind"
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 am
Prostitots, what an excellent word. And I fully agree with you. I know I’m sheltered here from a lot of that (we don’t even have a Target to buy the padded bras for 6 yr olds in), but I know it is out there.
And it sickens me.
And makes me thankful to have boys sheerly because of the PITA it has become finding clothes for girls. Something which Pman’s sisters have complained about for several years now. They have such trouble finding clothes for their girls that are appropriate.
The Flip Flop Mamma!
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:18 am
Wow, that is sad. I can’t believe that those fathers were walking around fine with their little girls dressed like that. I bought SlowMo a tankini and swim bottoms covered with a swim skirt, and the FM had a fit because her back was open! He would never let her dance in front of people dressed like that!
Reba
May 22nd, 2007 at 8:58 am
I used to compete for years and never ran across anything like this. I wouldn’t have believed my eyes.
The worst thing I came across was a dance with 10 year olds where they had a noose around their necks. Then at the end they all pulled the noose up and hung their heads down as if they had just hung themselves. It was so scarey to think that someone would teach children this and that the parents would allow it.
Oh, The Joys
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
I’m not a prude either, but I do think there is such a thing as TASTE, right?!
looking for feedback
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:02 pm
To all interested moms:
I would like to invite you to participate in a research study of parenting views and practices. Dr. Kim White-Mills and Dr. Catherine Dobris of IUPUI (both are moms) are interested in understanding what sources parents find useful in their parenting practices, how parents use different parenting information, and what views parents across the country hold regarding parenting issues.
To access this survey, go to http://www.iupui.edu/~momviews/
Ms.L
May 22nd, 2007 at 2:42 pm
That’s disgusting.
I am pretty liberal. I don’t worry if my daughter wears a two piece bathing suit or short sleeves like some people in this town do but man there is a limit!
Peg
May 22nd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Egads…and I thought I was being a prude because I am anti-writing-across-the-butt-on-pants-and-shorts! This would have had me so flabbergasted, I don’t know how I’d have reacted.
I’m a pretty progressive gal, but I do want my daughter to enjoy the innocence of being a little girl before she gets thrust into the world of sexual objectification.
I, too, can’t help but giggle at the apt new word in my vocabulary… Prostitots!
Heather
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Umm that is like to first time I ever heard of a Dance School like this, and it is very upsetting to even know that they exist!!! I just can’t believe this, what are we teaching our little girls??
Sierra
May 22nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
I’m all for exploring sexuality when one has emotionally and physically reached the maturity to understand it. I just can’t grasp the mindframe of parents who push their kids into that realm at 6 years old.
I was blown away after hearing about a high school cheerleading squad doing a fundraising car wash in the Hooters parking lot… dressed like hooter waitresses, but
your prostitots just take the cake on outrageous.
It ought to be illegal. Isn’t there some child pornography statute that protects them from stuff like this?
Burg
May 22nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
That very same anonymous comment was the reason I quit accepting anonymous comments..
owlhouse
May 23rd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Hey there. I was searching out “slacker moms” and click, click, click- here I am. Let me be the first to not agree. Fully.
I’m with you all on the indefensible marketing trends of -children as sexy-. Still, “prostitots”- that’s your response? As if the girls aren’t being disrespected enough- by parents, retailers and dance competition promoters.
While I find the sale of “padded bras for six year olds” appalling, I’m even more disturbed by Target’s poor record of garment production labor standards. So, by all means, don’t dress your girls in provocative clothes. But really, give a little thought to the kids and adults indentured to make those and even even typical “little girl” clothes.
moosh in indy.
May 23rd, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Agree…there’s a grassroots movement towards modesty that I joined, momsformodesty.com (there’s a linky linky in my sidebar)
Having a daughter in this day and age is getting scarier and scarier
dodo
May 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
have you seen the film Little Miss Sunshine? it still makes me cringe to think of the scene with the little girl dancing. euch.
Bob
May 24th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
I also agree. I doesn’t have to be that way make a performance. It’s even digusting to know that their parents allowed their children to wear something like that. I believe that most parents didn’t like what they saw.
desperate housewife
May 26th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
And people wonder why little girls continue to be kidnapped and molested! Certainly it is not directly any parent’s fault when such a thing happens, but it just amazes me that otherwise normal parents somehow miss the glaringly obvious danger of allowing clothing manufacturers, dance instructors, etc., to sexualize their six-year-old daughters. There will always be sickos out there, but let’s not give them something to look at!
Danni
May 27th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
I agree with you. It’s very inappropriate for young girls to dress up and dance like that. They could have at least showed some decency by wearing something appropriate.
Carrie
May 28th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Not a decent show I must say. I am sure that most of the audience were not pleased with what they saw.
Their children are too young to have any idea about that kind of future.
Loraine (1 comments.)
July 11th, 2008 at 10:26 am
I just posted a similar blog (albeit shorter and more terse) about a news broadcast I saw yesterday morning, praising a dance school. Then they show the tree year olds dancing- and it makes me sick!
Loraines last blog post..Prosti- tots dance school