Do You Agree: It Is Wrong To Promote Sexism Among Children?

Question

There has been much said about the sexist messages about girls and women in certain music, like some rap songs. Many boys will listen to this and it may brainwash some about how they view and treat girls and women.

Likewise, I have been shocked to find an anti male culture among many girls and even young women on the internet where they treat kicking a boy or man in the testicles as harmless fun. Some girls have posted videos of this on Youtube, and there are many sites and forums where some girls say how much fun they get out of this.

This is actually very dangerous and can cause blood clots and cysts (large lumps visible outside a man's body, which can sometimes only be surgically removed), it can lead to infertility and even death.

Yet there is clothing sold worldwide aimed at girls and young women with slogans like "Girls Kick Balls" showing a cartoon girl kicking a boy so hard in the testicles that he is lifted off the ground.

Answer 1

Agree. It is wrong to poison the minds of the young with such ideas before they actually went out in the world and formed an opinion by themselves. I may have been entertained by the fun that goes on at the Barone's, but would not let my kids watch the innuendo going on over there before they are properly informed about the gender and the roles (or the absence of gender-specific roles)

Answer 2

I agree it's wrong and it's the parents who are buying those clothes for their girls to wear. I would bet the parents are not thinking their girls are actually doing it though. They probably look on it like the older slogan.. Girls kick butt...But any slogan that is encouraging girls to kick boys in the testicles or promotes any kind of violence against anyone is wrong and parents should wake up and see what kind of world we live in that kids today are taking things literally! I wonder how parents would react if boys were wearing shirts that said.. Boys pinch nipples?? Would they throw a fit? I think so. And they should be upset about ..Girls kick balls as well.

Answer 3

I think instead of taking an us and them/vs look at it, tho you are mentioning the children, the issue is "promote".  All can  take a look at that word plus the obvious.  I don't believe that an artist doesn't have the ability to come up with something better.  Sure there is irony to minds that see it and some children would.  Hold it, what about the rest of the children?    There is proof this not funny to many people of all ages.  Will children always go home and ask a parent why the t-shirt displayed such a thing or mom/dad PTA business here.  Maybe they'll react to fit in.  Is this the ONLY way a t-shirt sells today?  There are parents who would allow a child to wear a t-shirt like this and then there is the child who does the switch-a-roo etc, etc, etc, over what?   Is the artist angry or being inconsiderate while thinking about self, at the same time they have skills.

Hope that artist is happy now (Paf!) but who is the issue here...the child before the artist who already had a childhood.  Dear artist:  the child is now in trouble or maybe so going without discipline while promoting for the artist, bragging, someone gets hurt etc.  Is it worth it?

Bottom line: I agree the t-shirt has surfaced as being a problem.

Answer 4

Children shouldn't be exposed to sexual content, period.  Let alone be encouraged to commit  cruel and demeaning acts.

Answer 5

Do you really need someone to tell you that it's wrong ?

I'm curious how entertaining it would be for those women, once the man recovered and chose to retaliate... Would they be laughing all the way to the ER ward, with a few broken bones and a face that only a mother could love... I imagine most women would think twice about it once they considered the consequences...

Answer 6

Yes, it is wrong, boys should  not grow up to be sexist towards girls and girls should not grow up to be sexist towards boys.

Sexist attitudes are unhealthy in both genders.

Answer 7

That is what society gets when they put girls in the position of being a product or an object, women are human and we received worst treatment than guys getting kicked in the balls.

Answer 8

I do not agree with the wonderful answer provided by Ella_Fitzzy above.

Answer 9

Yeah, it's wrong! Hello?

Kids shouldn't be exposed to anything like that.

Kids shows nowadays show the worst things like you wouldn't believe.

It's wrong for kids to be exposed to sexual content, but you can't say a kid is watching something bad if they are, because they were probably just watching a kids show and something came up.

It's really hard not to be exposed to it, but I think it really needs to stop.

Answer 10

Is wrong to promote sexism among anyone. But in your little head sexism is bad only when women are victims.

Answer 11

I think u can't put a child on a bubble, but we have to teach them to treat with respect to all people, and what actions are offensive and sexist. Because they could be influenced by outside environment, but values are a home thing.

Answer 12

What's your definition of "sexism" ? Are you referring to the clothes and toys you allow your children to wear and play? I played with dolls and with cars. I also wear pants and skirts.

Honestly, I believe that we are born with our own personality and we are all victims of our own environment.

I believe it's wrong to define certain things and tasks by gender but there is no shame in acting or dressing like a girl. I was raised with a confident mother and I have two younger sisters. My boyfriend believes that I am a beautiful independent feminist. What's important is that we respect each other for our qualities and our faults. No one's perfect. Don't worry so much. What a child wants and needs most is someone to love him/her.

Answer 13

Of course it is. We should teach all children what sexism is and why they shouldn't participate in it.