'Mummy, Why Do Those Ladies Have No Clothes On?'

I thought I would raise the topic that has recently been in the media. A Home Office report has suggested that lad's magazines such as Nuts and Zoo should be raised to the top-shelf in shops, and should have age restrictions on purchasing them.

The study also addresses easily accessible pornography (including the internet) and also music videos, games and adverts that contain sexual images and references. The study indicates that all the above is sexualising children at an early age, and is influencing their behaviour.

I think such soft-porn magazines are controlled forms of sexual exploration for boys, and is far more controlled than many internet sites...boys will be boys and will access such material if they want to, would it not be better for them to buy these magazines than some of the easily accessible, uncontrolled sites on the net? Better the devil you know I say, so I wouldn't think a high age restriction would be appropriate. But it is also true to say that parents need to be vigilant while children are on the internet!

However, I do think that the magazines should be on a higher shelf. Wandering through a supermarket with my 3 year old son sat in the trolley looking for 'In The Night Garden' or 'Thomas the Tank Engine' kids magazines should not be interrupted by Zoo and Nuts and the like which are next to them. Its outrageous really, it is not appropriate and should be addressed.

What is also quite shocking are some of the childrens and babies clothes with sexual references on them. A bib with 'All Daddy Wanted Was A Blowjob' decorated on the front is ridiculous. An amusing adult joke, but entirely inappropriate for children. I think childrens clothes are often quite slutty - 8 year old girls wearing tops with 'Porn Star' printed on, and 'Play boy'...I don't think is acceptable. Sexual liberation and freedom is a good thing indeed...but have we gone too far where we feel it is acceptable for our children to dress themselves in this way, and for it to be OK for very young children to be exposed to sexual representations within the media?

It is no wonder that children and teenagers have distorted views on how both men and women should look and behave, if the representations they see from an early age is of porn stars and air-brushed models.

Getting rid of all these is not the answer, nor is it practical. There should be government schemes which encourage self-acceptance, confidence and self-esteem within schools, and acceptance of other people. It is refreshing that many magazines now feature 'real' men and women in articles, but it is clearly not enough.