Abercrombie & Fitch has long been known for marketing provocative clothing to the teen market. Now they're taking it to new heights, by pushing padded bikini tops to "tweens" -- basically, the preadolescent stage, about nine to twelve years, usually applied to girls. With the trend towards the sexualization of girls at an increasingly younger age, this product could reach girls in preschool.
As the videos here will show, WalMart is also getting in on the action, marketing cosmetic products to girls of the same age group.
Our second clip features commentary from a professor in the UK (starts at 0:41), warning about the adverse effects of this trend. A more detailed analysis is provided by ABC News, courtesy of Dr Michael Bradley, child psychologist and author of When Things Get Crazy With Your Teen. As embedding the video proved difficult, it can be accessed here. It begins about halfway into the clip.
And of course, we're always on the lookout for more suitable (as in, age appropriate) alternatives. Discuss.
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