Monday, September 26, 2005
Thoughts?
Today I was listening to Dennis Prager, a conservative radio talk show host. I caught the tale end of a conversation he was having with a woman about young girls' clothing and, from what I could tell, how immodest it was becoming.
I admit, I find myself raising an eyebrow at some of the things I see parents letting their young daughters wear for the sake of style. The thing that caught me about this listener was her comment towards the end of the conversation. I am paraphrasing here:
I think many women essentially long for the days when they had their girlish figures. So much so that they use their daughters to recapture their youth. Basically, live vicariously through them.
I really wish I had the exact comment. It was very insightful, as I had never thought of it that way.
What do you think?
I admit, I find myself raising an eyebrow at some of the things I see parents letting their young daughters wear for the sake of style. The thing that caught me about this listener was her comment towards the end of the conversation. I am paraphrasing here:
I think many women essentially long for the days when they had their girlish figures. So much so that they use their daughters to recapture their youth. Basically, live vicariously through them.
I really wish I had the exact comment. It was very insightful, as I had never thought of it that way.
What do you think?
Name:
4 Comments:
You know I've had this conversation with girlfriends who have daughters... about just how raunchy girls clothes are, once they move past the 6X size. And what a shame. It makes buying SO very difficult. I have a 9 year old daughter, and we have to look high and low every year to find her a special Easter dress that doesn't have black satin, red roses or glimmering rhinestones. ICK.
I don't think I've ever considered that children dressed so scantly are being done so by mothers that miss thier girlish days. What a thought. I've always just figured the moms don't realize the danger in exposing such young girls to "sexy" clothing so early. I mean really.. if your 7 year old is wearing belly shirts, what will she be wearing at 17? Makes me shake my head to consider it.
I have never considered that take on the issue. It could certainly be true. Mostly, I have credited it to the "if you've got it flaunt it" mentality. In that respect, I think what moms pass on to their girls is a lack of respect for their own bodies - that part of us that believes we are only beautiful if there are men drooling on us.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss (I don't know if I spelled that right) did a series on modesty a while back. One point I remember her making was that any clothes that we use to emphasize or accentuate our private parts should be considered immodest. That was a new way of looking at it for me.
That's my 2 cents.
I actually have heard this before, and like you, thought it was a very interesting thought. When I heard it I immediately started processing how I think about this. First let me say that I have always been on the modest side. When I wore tight jeans as a teen, I felt awkward.
I now have three beautiful little girls. My two younger girls aren't really at the age that this is a problem, but my 5 year old is. We have had discussions about wearing shorts out in public that are too short and she hates to wear shirts that show her belly so I usually buy them a size larger. I do however, find myself being really proud of their appearance. Especially if they look cute in trendy clothes. I can see where if you don't balance your thinking, you could cross the line.
I have been reading 'Captivating' by John and Stasi Eldredge and it has really opened my eyes to the beauty that God has created us to be, and enjoy in ourselves, but like many things has been twisted through sin. OK, I'll get off my soap box now! :)
WOW! The three of you hit the nail on the head. Each of you basically are on the same wave length just writing differently. I agree with all of you! As Kendra reached her teens, it became a battle of will more than anything else. She would even take clothes to school and change. I really believe that this was just a "test mom" thing but peer pressure really had alot to do with it as well. Now that she is 21, she still wears some things that I dissapprove of but she does look nice. On occasion her dad or myself will tell her she needs to change but all in all she is a big girl and must learn to respect herself and not worry about "peers". I love her anyway.
ps. I am definitely a little jealous of some of the cute clothes she can wear that they don't make for fat people! What's up with that? Maybe we should all get together and make a really fashionable, trendy, not for Grannies, cute, line of clothing?
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