Typo that sounds fantastic! Many thanks.

Oh left out - tablespoon of olive oil.

thanks again, Typo!

I just found John Shore's blog (followed from SLOG) and I'm really enjoying reading an alternative Christian point of view. He's commented on a survey that found atheists and agnostics know more about religion than people who say they are religious. For instance, a majority of Protestants couldn't identify Martin Luther as the driving force behind the Protestant reformation. Fascinating.

Also, 4% of Americans believe Stephen King wrote Moby Dick.

Heh. I went to go read the discussion on Jilli's FB and then realized we hadn't friended each other. Always confusing. I never know who I've friended where and whatnot.

Ah well, probably better for my work ethic today if I don't get into THAT conversation.

I'm not their mom. I don't like it, but I don't think it's up to me.

Well, I didn't say enough in my previous post to be clear on this matter, but I certainly don't think that it *should* be up to you or any other non-parent to actually make the decision as to what someone's child should wear. That would be taking an action that is clearly not yours (or any other person who isn't the actual parent of a given child) to take.

But not liking it -- well, that's where I come in.

My opinion (which, duh, since I'm posting it's obviously my opinion and not that of my dog [who has no opinion]) is that there is a certain level of responsibility of all members of a society to create and maintain as great a level of safety and health as possible for all members of that society, including (perhaps especially) the children.

I'm not talking a utopia, nor am I talking totalitarianism. I'm talking, basically, along the lines of "it takes a village." I believe that the sexualization of children is absolutely destructive, damaging, and unhealthy, both for the children and the society that allows it to take place unquestioned. Despite the argument of "It's only Halloween!", I believe that skimpy, revealing costumes on young girls are only adding to the unhealthy sexualization of children.

I don't have a daughter, so I can't take action by approving what she wears, even for Halloween. But I can express my opinion and explain why I believe what I believe, whenever the opportunity arises. It's the only way I have of trying to help make the world we live in a safe and healthy one.

When I see a kid in a whorish outfit, I don't see them as a sex object, I either think it's funny or sad. I'm much more worried about things like dance recitals and youtube videos. I believe we should be more concerned about how the kids are acting than about what they're wearing.

When I see a kid in a whorish outfit, I don't see them as a sex object, I either think it's funny or sad.

I'm not really speaking of your specific reaction. Maybe I'm not being clear.

Sexy costumes for little girls reinforces the message that the "acceptable" way to look -- and be -- is "sexy," is as a sex object. Grown women already get bombarded with that message countless times a day, and that's bad enough. Women, however, have at least reached sexual and emotional maturity and can presumably process and/or refute that message. Little girls, on the other hand, have not reached sexual and emotional maturity. Because they're KIDS. Dressing them up in revealing, "sexy" outfits sends them a message that they're not even equipped to really process and/or try to refute.

And, frankly, I have a very big problem with little girls in costumes that are meant to make them look -- there's no other word for it -- fuckable.

Steph, thank you for posting your thoughts so articulately. Because you outlined ALL of my objections to the sexy costumes.

I think I don't know enough about childhood development to hold up my end of the conversation. I believe people should be able to dress however they want, but I don't know in what way how a child is perceived effects how they mature. I do recall that when a t-shirt I had as a tween that said, "saucy" elicited a couple of weird reactions from strange men, I stopped wearing it.

Much as I hate to go back into the oven, I have to go home. sigh.