In my earliest trip to my homeland I had a couple of girlfriends visiting me to catch up on our lives. Nice icy cold bottle of chardonnays on a hot summer day and you’ve got yourself a perfect afternoon, what a delight ! One thing led to an other, we began discussing about what is appropriate for little girls to wear at the beach. I however, realise that most opinions will be influenced by the culture, religions and more importantly the environment in which the child is raised.
For my part, coming from a very westernised upbringing and now living in the Mediterranean (which has more of a Eastern mentality) has drastically changed my view on a lot of things, family values, morals and such.
I believe that children should be children and not “labeled” as per their gender. I must say that there is nothing wrong with your daughter wearing pink or princesse clothing nor is for your son to wear boyish pattern or the latest super hero logo but there is also no wrong in a girl or a boy wearing neutral colours. I love dressing my little one with matchy-matchy outfits (yes I am one of “those” moms and I am proud of it) but I don’t wear such girly clothing.. So more often then not she wears black, kaki, nude & jeans on jeans like mommy ;) Anyways, i’m getting off topic, to get back at what my friends and I were talking about our discussion was regarding little girls wearing bikinis.
My opinion is simple. I would rather my daughter wearing a one piece or only the bottom of a bathing suit or even so her diaper (being topless) which turned out to be quite scandalous for my girls then her wearing a bikini which they approved by saying “it is cute”. I agree it is cute but not for my daughter. You see, I feel as it objectify and put pressure on girls to be sexy from such a young age. Plus she will have many years of wearing what ever she wants. For now though I prefer she lives and dress her age.
Let’s evaluate the idea of a little girl being topless at the beach. Being in a safe environment surrounded with her peers dressed in same manners, in a family friendly beachbar I just don’t see the harm to it. I must say the point of my friends were quite valid. They said they would be concerned with sex offenders and I most certainly would have the same opinion living in the West. It is simply not a concern for us living in the East. For me, living in a small village by the sea where everybody knows everyone it simply is normal to see children playing in the sea being topless, girls and boys. “Nudity” isn’t taboo. It is actually typical.
Furthermore, I believe at such young age, sex (male or female) shouldn’t be emphasised. If a girl wants to play soccer with the boys she should feel equally able to do so, nor do I see something wrong with a boy playing with dolls and being maternal. If a boy has beautiful curly hair and his mom makes him a ponytail because she love his curls too much to cut them and people are “confused” whether the child is a boy or a girl. I say, let them be puzzled ! Who cares what people think. We all do have roles in life but let them figure this out by themselves in there own ways. I believe in letting children be. In a safe environment, with good guidance, discipline, respect and lots of love. After all wherever you are from on this planet, no matter the ethnic background or religious beliefs we all have one thing in common as parents. To give or little ones the best of ourselves for them to thrive in whatever they want to accomplish or be.
Beezeemum
I believe that children should be children and not “labeled” as per their gender. I must say that there is nothing wrong with your daughter wearing pink or princesse clothing nor is for your son to wear boyish pattern or the latest super hero logo but there is also no wrong in a girl or a boy wearing neutral colours. I love dressing my little one with matchy-matchy outfits (yes I am one of “those” moms and I am proud of it) but I don’t wear such girly clothing.. So more often then not she wears black, kaki, nude & jeans on jeans like mommy ;) Anyways, i’m getting off topic, to get back at what my friends and I were talking about our discussion was regarding little girls wearing bikinis.
My opinion is simple. I would rather my daughter wearing a one piece or only the bottom of a bathing suit or even so her diaper (being topless) which turned out to be quite scandalous for my girls then her wearing a bikini which they approved by saying “it is cute”. I agree it is cute but not for my daughter. You see, I feel as it objectify and put pressure on girls to be sexy from such a young age. Plus she will have many years of wearing what ever she wants. For now though I prefer she lives and dress her age.
Let’s evaluate the idea of a little girl being topless at the beach. Being in a safe environment surrounded with her peers dressed in same manners, in a family friendly beachbar I just don’t see the harm to it. I must say the point of my friends were quite valid. They said they would be concerned with sex offenders and I most certainly would have the same opinion living in the West. It is simply not a concern for us living in the East. For me, living in a small village by the sea where everybody knows everyone it simply is normal to see children playing in the sea being topless, girls and boys. “Nudity” isn’t taboo. It is actually typical.
Furthermore, I believe at such young age, sex (male or female) shouldn’t be emphasised. If a girl wants to play soccer with the boys she should feel equally able to do so, nor do I see something wrong with a boy playing with dolls and being maternal. If a boy has beautiful curly hair and his mom makes him a ponytail because she love his curls too much to cut them and people are “confused” whether the child is a boy or a girl. I say, let them be puzzled ! Who cares what people think. We all do have roles in life but let them figure this out by themselves in there own ways. I believe in letting children be. In a safe environment, with good guidance, discipline, respect and lots of love. After all wherever you are from on this planet, no matter the ethnic background or religious beliefs we all have one thing in common as parents. To give or little ones the best of ourselves for them to thrive in whatever they want to accomplish or be.
Beezeemum