Thursday 14 November 2002

Pic of the day: Not exactly Brittle Spears or Broken Shields. (Screenshot from The Sims.)

Pedophilia and advertising

As I was grabbing my bag to leave work for the day, a voice in my head said "sexualgirls and moneystress". I chided it: "Sexualgirls, is that even a word?" But it just repeated its message once and then disappeared. (I have kindly translated it into today's topic.)

Now mind you, I don't consider these stray thoughts to be divinely inspired, by and large. I believe they are what C.G. Jung called "complexes", kind of like small personalities but more limited in scope. There is a reason, after all, why I am in control and they are not. They don't have the wide overview that I have, the experience with handling life, the training in logic. They just drift around in my brain, minding their own business. But they do drift into places where I don't have access, and sometimes they bring back interesting bits and pieces.

The flavor of "girls" here was one of underage. I know from my own childhood as well as textbooks that children do have a kind of sexuality, even though it is very limited compared to what they are going to experience once the hormones start flowing. But, whether by nature or nurture, there is some level of interest. I am quite accepting of this, but I think grown-ups should stay miles out of it. And business definitely should stay out.

***

It may seem a horrible irony that in a time where pedophilia is the target of so much witch hunt, we are getting wave upon wave of Lolita fashion. Pre-teen girls are being bombarded with advertisement and peer pressure to dress like their stars and role models, the sexy teen pop girls. (I am so not going to mention names, as those of you with TV probably know more of them than I do.)

Long before this, there has been gender differences in children's clothes. Boys did not wear dresses, girls could. (And were even required to, when I was really small.) But gender identity is one thing. Clothes that draw attention to and expose body parts in a way that would be erotic in adults, that's another matter entirely.

Youth culture today teaches that sexiness is power. And I guess it is, when wielded as such. It is a way to be independent too ... but are you really? You may show your independence from your parents, but not from the cynical fashion industry that targets younger and younger girls (not sure about boys) with intensive and emotional advertising.

***

It's all about the money, you know. Keep pushing the boundaries, to get new customers and new revenue. Must squeeze out more and more money, even at the cost of their soul.

I am nearly as far as you can come from a rabid anti-capitalist. I believe in freedom. But then all parts involved must have freedom. And the kids need to understand how they are being used. I'm not worried for my own part, since I don't actually have any kids. But perhaps you should have a talk with yours, one day, and explain that they don't need to follow the kings of advertisement. Or even better, you could show it in your own life. Make a habit out of debunking ads when you see them. On TV, for those who have that; in papers, even billboards. Deconstruct the ads verbally. Not just those that are about kid stuff – actually these should be the last in the queue. First those that appeal to you. "Oh yes, I will be soo happy with a faster car, especially since I can't even run the one I have to its limit without being arrested. Oooh, the chicks just dig it when you are chewing gum like a tired cow."

Try it. The world is full of ads, and due to the silence of the lambs, the implements of shearing have grown so elaborate that they are ripe for ridicule. Have a fun time – for the sake of the children.