| There is an audible groan from two mothers | | | | with my daughter about dignity, self-respect |
| pushing their little children in strollers | | | | and real power." |
| through the mall, as they are passed by a | | | | |
| scantily clad group of teenage girls. "What | | | | Acts like this simple one the above mother |
| parent would let her daughter leave the house | | | | displayed, exemplify the kind of guidance |
| like that?" she says referring to the group | | | | that parents must give to their children |
| of girls in matching short shorts and tight, | | | | starting when the children are very young. As |
| midriff baring shirts. | | | | the many media outlets bombard kids with |
| | | | inappropriate sexual content it is important |
| Girls dressing in "Ho" costumes on Halloween, | | | | that parents stand strong, be positive role |
| little girl t-shirts with sexual innuendo | | | | models and enforce the standards of conduct |
| emblazoned across the chests, reality | | | | and dress that they know is correct. |
| television that shows little girls expertly | | | | |
| utilizing a stripper pole, musical lyrics | | | | Another simple act parents can take is to |
| that are sexually explicit and degrading to | | | | stop giving hard earned money over to stores |
| women, the demise of dating and the rise of | | | | that sell sexually explicit material and |
| "hooking up" are all appalling topics to | | | | clothing targeted to children. On page 244, |
| parents of underage children. | | | | of her insightful book Prude, Carol Platt |
| | | | Liebau notes, "Every time anyone makes it |
| Books like Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed | | | | clear that over-the-top sexual dialogue or |
| Culture Damages Girls (and America, Too!) and | | | | images aren't acceptable for public |
| Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of | | | | consumption, she strikes a small but |
| Raunch Culture discuss in detail the | | | | meaningful blow for a cleaner, more wholesome |
| detrimental effect that the highly sexual | | | | culture." |
| content on television, in music lyrics, in | | | | |
| books, and on the internet has on today's | | | | It is not only girls that are being affected |
| youth. Sadly, girls are buying the false bill | | | | by today's highly charged sexual climate, |
| of goods that the media is selling them; that | | | | boys suffer too. Boys shouldn't be seen as |
| boys only want them for sex and their | | | | sexual troglodytes incapable of being kind |
| promiscuity leads to raised social status. | | | | and caring and only out for their own selfish |
| They have also been led to believe that the | | | | needs. Like girls they are complex, sensitive |
| only way to empowerment and equality is to be | | | | and loving and need to be taught that being a |
| sexually aggressive like men (what men?). | | | | man means having honor and decency. |
| Their role models are "stars" like Pamela | | | | |
| Anderson, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and | | | | "Eliminate dating and replace it with |
| porn star Jenna Jameson. Not exactly the | | | | 'friends with benefits?'" scoffs a dedicated |
| women parents would hand pick to shape their | | | | husband and father of two little boys. "I |
| innocent little girls. | | | | would never want to raise boys who treat |
| | | | girls like that. How are they going to learn |
| Although the findings in the above mentioned | | | | to relate to the opposite sex if they use |
| books are disappointing and depressing it is | | | | them like that?" He continues, "I want my |
| probably not shocking to parents to learn | | | | boys to experience the kind of deep love and |
| that pornography has gone mainstream. One | | | | happiness that I have with my wife." |
| need just turn on the television to bare | | | | |
| witness. Eighty three year old Hugh Hefner | | | | For some reason it is difficult for some |
| has a popular reality show glorifying his | | | | parents of underage children to fully embrace |
| bizarre sexual relationship with three women, | | | | the role of parent. They are under the |
| the youngest of whom celebrated her twenty | | | | misconception that they can be buddies with |
| first birthday while taping and wishes she | | | | their children, or "parenting partners". It |
| were a pimp. MTV glorifies bawdy dress and | | | | has become almost a cliché now, "children |
| behavior on shows like The Real World. | | | | don't need their parents to be their friends, |
| | | | they have enough friends, parents need to |
| Lewd behavior and exposure to overtly sexual | | | | parent." It is not necessary or prudent to be |
| stuff is not what parents want for their | | | | the "cool mom" or the "cool dad". Level |
| kids. Parents know that objectifying little | | | | headed, thinking grown ups know and celebrate |
| girls is not good for their moral, emotional, | | | | the fact that they are not on the same level |
| physical or spiritual welfare. Putting aside | | | | playing field with their underage children. |
| the frightening risk of pregnancy or catching | | | | Let the kids have their turn at being kids; |
| an STD, moms and dads don't want their girls | | | | parents: it is time to let go of childhood |
| getting used and degraded and they don't want | | | | and delight in the role of parent. |
| their boys to view the female half of the | | | | |
| population as sexual objects begging them for | | | | As sophisticated as children today seem, they |
| sex. | | | | are not miniature adults. Children |
| | | | desperately need and wish for their parents |
| A very loving and conservative mother | | | | to guide them through the tough stages of |
| recounts a story that horrified her. "I look | | | | childhood. Using wisdom, intellect, |
| hot!" her four year old said modeling a | | | | established values and adult problem solving |
| little two-piece bathing suit. "Over my dead | | | | skills parents can help lead the way to a |
| body!" mumbled the mother to herself as she | | | | bright and terrific future. If parents |
| gently removed the suit from her little one | | | | abdicate their authority in the hopes of |
| and chucked it in the trash. "No way am I | | | | being their children's friend, parents |
| letting her go down that road!" the mother | | | | shouldn't be surprised when Jenna Jameson |
| adamantly declared. She proudly continued, "I | | | | takes over their role. |
| had the first of many talks that I will have | | | | |