Spring Break
Child Abuse By Fashion Industry Must Stop
Alex Sanders
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Commentary
Kindergarteners are often being forced into this environment of self-hatred, judgment, drug abuse and competition. Not many five-year-olds dream to one day be a size zero and to be able to solely subsist on a stick of gum and a Diet Coke every day. Parents are forcing their kids into the modeling industry for self satisfaction. Whether they are trying to live vicariously through their kids because they were never able to live out their own dreams, or if their child is unnaturally beautiful and on a whim they decide to place them on a polished, paparazzi lined runway, it is not a good choice.
Kids are supposed to enjoy their youth and revel in carefree days, not take instructions from producers and designers. After a while, it has to take a toll on the kids. Additionally, aside from parents' initial reasoning to place their children in the spotlight, why would they keep them there for an extended period of time? Children will soon be molded into dolls. They will learn to take instruction, be self-conscious and compete with other girls who are their age and older because of the nature of the business.
There is no problem with innocent, friendly competition between kids, but competition in the modeling industry is fierce. If children stay in the industry from a young age, they will learn to lead a certain kind of lifestyle. As a pre-teen and a teenager, they may strive to be as slender as their 5-foot-8 co-worker. And to get that competitive edge, they may take drastic measures such as indulging in diet pills and skipping meals. Eventually, young models are more likely to take up smoking as well. This is not because of peer pressure or second hand smoke. It is because a chief part of a model's job is to stay thin. Many models smoke because nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Dieting is experiencing an upswing in teenagers of either sex. Because of this vicious cycle, child models are exposed to health risks other than starvation. With all of the complications and health problems that smoking is likely to cause, child models do not seem to have a healthy life ahead of them.
Kids are supposed to enjoy their youth and revel in carefree days, not take instructions from producers and designers. After a while, it has to take a toll on the kids. Additionally, aside from parents' initial reasoning to place their children in the spotlight, why would they keep them there for an extended period of time? Children will soon be molded into dolls. They will learn to take instruction, be self-conscious and compete with other girls who are their age and older because of the nature of the business.
There is no problem with innocent, friendly competition between kids, but competition in the modeling industry is fierce. If children stay in the industry from a young age, they will learn to lead a certain kind of lifestyle. As a pre-teen and a teenager, they may strive to be as slender as their 5-foot-8 co-worker. And to get that competitive edge, they may take drastic measures such as indulging in diet pills and skipping meals. Eventually, young models are more likely to take up smoking as well. This is not because of peer pressure or second hand smoke. It is because a chief part of a model's job is to stay thin. Many models smoke because nicotine is an appetite suppressant. Dieting is experiencing an upswing in teenagers of either sex. Because of this vicious cycle, child models are exposed to health risks other than starvation. With all of the complications and health problems that smoking is likely to cause, child models do not seem to have a healthy life ahead of them.
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