From The Moree Citizen
The Moree Anglican Church is offering parents carers and those working with children a workshop focusing on the dangers of early sexualisation of children in our culture.
Run by local pathologist and youth worker, Wendy Smith, the presentation allows parents to find out where the message is coming from and how they can protect their children.
Organiser Sharon Kirk said the presentation looked at the influences of sexualisation in the media, the internet and advertising aimed at body image.
“Children aren’t given the chance to be kids any more. They are not encouraged to be young and play. Everything is geared towards making them grow up so fast,” Mrs Kirk said.
She said as children were consistently bombarded with advertising and media geared towards physical beauty, sexuality, and pursuing relationships, young children, and girls in particular, were hearing a very powerful message about what they should value and aspire to.
Mrs Kirk said this message was potentially dangerous to young minds, contributing to confusion, insecurity and low self-esteem.
The presentation has been delivered across the North West and New England.
Mrs Smith was also invited to speak in Western Australia in November of last year.
She will be presenting ‘Denied Innocence’ on Wednesday, September 5 at the Anglican Church Hall, Moree at 9.30am. An evening session will be held on the same day at Moree Public School, at 7.30pm.
[Editor's note: The Mothers' Union is running the Bye Bye Baby campaign geared at ending the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. Learn more at http://www.themothersunion.org/byebuychildhood.aspx]