Too Young

Too Young

Dancing is a form of expression to a myriad of people. Young girls are acting and dressing to what they see in the media.With that said there needs to be certain limitations to dances that could be construed inappropriate to young girls. Salsa, bachatta, reggaeton dances can be considered controversial dances for young girls to participate in. These dances not only sexualize girls at a young age but could potentially make them victims of sexual assault. Dancing seductively not only leads a young girl to act "grown up" but dress provocatively. This places young girls in vulnerable positions where others can sexualize them.  

These are a few quotes that stood out to me during my research:  

"If a pedophile approaches a child and says, can you do that dance for me, and can you do it rubbing up against me, that child is less able to distinguish that this is wrong," Dennis says.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/girls-provocative-dance-routine-single-ladies-sparks-fears-growing-fast-article-1.445170

In 2007, the American Psychological Association reported that the sexualization of girls is a broad and increasing problem and is harmful to girls. It's seen in movies, video games, music videos, music lyrics, and magazines. Experts associate the images with long term psychological damage.

"Those types of things set our girls up for horrible situations like eating disorders, low self esteem, depression issues," said Johnson. "All of that can come from putting our little girls in advance situations that they're not ready for."

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=17015782

This issue matters to me because there are so many incidents of sexual assaults towards young girls and I feel that part of the reason this is happening is due to the way girls are portraying themselves starting from a young age. Being a part of the East Los Angeles Women's Center has unveiled my eyes from all the sexual crimes that happen on a daily bases specifically to young girls. It horrific to think of but something that needs to be talked about and stopped.  

"I believe that young girls shouldn't be dancing provocatively. Now a days you can never truly know a person."

-Manuel Aquino

"I think that young girls are being influenced a lot nowadays by social media to to dress like that and to show a lot of skin to get a lot more attention because they believe that attention is more important now and that is putting them in danger because men out there can cause harm to them"

-Edgar Reyes

"Looking at an image of an older women it's catching the attention of an older man. It gives off a signal to men. Its not appropriate, it's like asking for trouble from the boys. Let them be little girls, they have plenty of time to be grown up in the future."  

-Alice Cervantes