This video went viral this week and my jaw dropped when I saw it.
These are 7-year-old* girls at a World of Dance contest/exhibition; they’re dancing to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies.” I happen to love the song. But I am absolutely horrified at these little girls doing a number like this, in costumes like this. No, let me restate that. I’m absolutely horrified that anyone would teach little girls a routine like this and that the girls’ parents went along with it. Where were the adults? Don’t they know the meaning of “age appropriate”?
My daughter-in-law and I have already had a conversation about my 4-year-old granddaughter’s dance lessons, and we are in complete agreement. At least one little girl is not going to be wearing heavy make-up or sexy costumes, or learning inappropriate, suggestive dance moves until she is much, much older. And has left home.
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* 8 or 9 years old, according to some sources
Yep. That video is a pedophile’s dream.
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As bad as this is, the attempts of the parents to defend/justify it were even worse.
I wouldn’t let my 11 year old daughter, or my 15 year old dress like that. There’s a big campaign going on in the UK at the moment about the sexualisation of young children. About time too.
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Obviously we’re way overdue for a similar campaign in the U.S.