I dressed as Catwoman for Halloween when I was 11. I can't remember why I chose that costume -- "Batman Returns" had come out that year, so I'd seen the ads for that, but I don't think I'd seen the actual movie. We wore our costumes to school for the afternoon, and I remember spending much of that afternoon veering between, "Eeek! I'm wearing something tight, and everyone can see that I have breasts! Must hide!" and "Hey, I look kind of like the woman in the movie. I look good."

The year before, I'd been Robin Hood. I think my mother asked me if I wouldn't rather be Maid Marian, and I said no, and she left it at that. I think my reasoning was that Robin Hood got to carry a bow and arrow, and Maid Marian didn't really do anything interesting. Plus, Marian wore a dress, and I hated dresses. My mom probably figured she'd rather sew a Robin Hood costume -- which was basically a brown tunic worn over green tights -- than a Marian dress, and she could work on getting me to like wearing dresses some other time.

Now that I think about it, very few of my Halloween costumes were specifically girl costumes. I can remember two costumes that were specifically male characters, three that were specifically female, and most of the rest were non-gendered things like pumpkin or cat.

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.

Well, not only is my problem with the effects on children's maturity, but also on the overall effect on society. I think that sexy costumes for little girls creates a world in which sexualized children become more and more "normal." Not quickly, but over time. And that, too, is dangerous. And unsafe.

Very much what Steph is saying. Premature sexualisation of girls especially is bad for everyone, not just the girls.

Yup, not to pile on, but I agree here.

Also, it's difficult for kids to make decisions about stuff that's sexualized for themselves, because they don't always have a clear understanding of what that means.

Like me grinding on the dance floor. Because I had no clue how that motion translated to sexuality, I didn't really realize that I was projecting a sexual image, only that it was a dance move I'd seen done by older dancers I admired.

People who sexualize children will do it regardless though. I wish I had a link to the article but I read once, several years ago, about pedophiles frequently being busted and detectives finding videotapes of old Flipper episodes. They had complete sets, were selling and trading them, etc. Sandy and Bud running around barefoot and in cutoffs were very sexy to these men.

It's not what the kids wear that sexualizes them, its the pervert who thinks kids are sexy.

Also, it's difficult for kids to make decisions about stuff that's sexualized for themselves, because they don't always have a clear understanding of what that means.

Like me grinding on the dance floor. Because I had no clue how that motion translated to sexuality, I didn't really realize that I was projecting a sexual image, only that it was a dance move I'd seen done by older dancers I admired.

But its NOT sexual if a little kid is doing it, its a dance step. As a kid gets older and their body developes its a dance step that warrants a discussion and some consideration.

I think about my friends the Is. Huge Cuban family, wonderful parties, those four year olds dance rings around me. Those kids do shit with their hips I only dream of doing -- but since they're four year olds its clear they're just doing dance steps. As they become teens the tone starts to shift and when they're adults its sexy as hell -- but they're still dancing at a family party. It's sexy but clearly it isn't a pick-up scene. Context matters. My friend M isn't trying to nail her uncle -- hell, she's Lesbian -- that's just how you do the dance.

I don't think putting a sexy outfit on a non-sexual being sexualizes them. I think it's how you behave when dressed that way that determines whether or not you're sexy. But I'm the first to admit I don't see the world the way most others do.

I can't decide if I think society is heading in a dangerous direction. I know I want to read more before I'll be able to form a solid opinion. But I do believe society's path is largely uncontrollable by the individual. I was trying to think of a metaphor and I was working on how you can influence the shape of a river but you can't really change where it's headed. Then I remembered I'm from Chicago and I laughed and laughed.

I don't think putting a sexy outfit on a non-sexual being sexualizes them.

Sexy remains in the eye of the beholder, but there are some beholders whose eyes we don't want to encourage.

It may not sexualize them, but it does attract the sexual gaze. And you can say pedophiles will gaze nonetheless, but dressing in a sexual way can be read as an invitation.

But its not an invitation. They're sick and they're making shit up.