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