The Sexualization of Early Childhood

Often times when we speak of early childhood education, sexualization does not come to the fore front of our thoughts.  At the same time, when we speak of sexualization, we often think of intimate relationships between adults.  We need to understand what is being considered when we speak about sexualization in the early childhood field.  It is more than simply sexual relationships between two people, but the understanding of these relationships.  The things children hear and see when they are young will have an impact on the relationships they will have when they get older. 

One example of how children are exposed to sexualization at an early age is the clothing that is available for children to wear, such as skinny jeans, crop shirts, and heels.  When shopping for my 5 year old daughter, I am overwhelmed with disbelief at the adult-like clothing that is available in her sizes.  Another example I have noticed, is the selection of Halloween costumes that are available to children.  Many of these consist of superheros with unnatural physical characteristics along with a variety of celebrity look alike costumes.  Many of these costumes have some sort of sex appeal to them.  Even Tinker Bell has a revealing costume.  Finally, I have observed many children imitate things they have seen or heard on television that celebrities have done, said, or sung.  While children don't always understand what they are doing or saying, they are simply copying what they are seeing and hearing.

While many children don't understand what they are seeing or hearing, and adults don't always see a significant consequence of these copycat actions, these exposures can have an impact on who these children become and what types of relationships they will be creating throughout their lives.  Many of the implications of these exposures will not be seen until later in life.  However there are implications involved with improper exposure to children.  As adults in the early childhood field, it is important to help children appropriately understand the issues related to sexualization.  Children need to have positive supports that they trust and feel comfortable with to ask questions.  With the amount of exposure of sexualization, it would be impossible to shelter children from all of it.  Therefore, it is essential that we explain things in terms that they will understand, depending on their level of development.

After learning about sexualization in early childhood, I have become more aware of how sexualization relates to children.  The impacts that improper exposure to sexualization can have a detrimental impact on the relationships that children will be able create later in life.  It is extremely important for children to have adults they can trust to help them understand the issues related to sexualization.