To the editor:
The Cape Ann Community Forum last month featured Diane
Levin, Ph.D., presenting "So Sexy So Soon - the Sexualization
of Childhood and What We Can Do." Dr. Levin explained
that since 1984, the Federal Communications Commission
deregulated children's television programming.
Today $15 billion per year is spent marketing to children
as a strategic effort with minimal limits on the impact
of sexualized dolls, violent toys and gender stereotypes
on children. It is a parent's responsibility to decide
which toys are appropriate, but pressure to buy these
toys through television, advertisements and clothing lines
is unavoidable for families.
What is a parent to do? Become aware of marketing ploys,
read the fine print in the ads, talk with other parents.
Internet ads or daily news reports are examples of how
children are faced with information loaded with violent
and/or sexualized content that it is beyond their developmental
age to understand. Dr. Levin would argue that parents
and teachers can use these opportunities to talk with
children and help them identify alternative solutions
agreeable to both. Check out www.commercialfreechildhood.org
for further information.
Locally, the Gloucester Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Partnership (GCSAPP) is available to offer trainings to
adults on the topics such as understanding and responding
to sexual behaviors in children and keeping children safe
from sexual abuse. For further information, please contact
GCSAPP at 978-281-2477 or check out the Enough Abuse Campaign
Web site at www.enoughabuse.com.
On behalf of GCSAPP, many thanks to the Cape Ann School
Safety Committee, the Coalition for the Prevention of
Domestic Abuse, and the North Shore/Cape Ann Community
Health Network for co-sponsoring this community forum.
Many caring adults, parents, educators, social workers
and others participated in this event proving once again
Cape Ann takes a stand by supporting the concept that
it is the responsibility of adults to ensure our children's
safety.
Barbara St. Pierre, LICSW
Pathways for Children
Chairperson, Gloucester Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Partnership
