Retailers given 18 months to stop selling clothes that sexualise children

The warning to pull child-size padded bras and knickers emblazoned with ‘porn star’ slogans from the shelves, comes on the eve of the publication of a report condemning the sexualisation of children.
Prime minister David Cameron Prime minister David Cameron was the one who called for the report (Pic: EPA)

Retailers will be given a last chance to clean up their act voluntarily or face legislation, government sources said yesterday.

Nine high street chains, some of which have been forced to withdraw inappropriate clothes after complaints in the past, will today attempt to pre-empt the report by signing up to a new code of practice drawn up by the British Retail Consortium.

The guidelines advise retailers that ‘fabrics and cut should provide for modesty’ and ‘slogans and imagery must be age appropriate and without undesirable associations or connotations’.

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i can only say that this is very good news to the industry..all to often iv had to walk away from the shops in disgust at half the stuff they have on sale for kids, its ridiculous.

Im never for more laws and regulations.

But this law makes sence. I have no kids , im 23 and when I see the state of some 'children' walking down the city where I live, im always thinking they let their child out in that? The cloths they ware are so slutty my girlfriend wouldent even ware it out but a 12 year old would.

This sort of clothing wouldn't be made for kids if it wasn't selling...

Perhaps there's a bigger problem here. Personally I suspect conditioning of some of the populous is to blame and I would say TV would be playing a role.

We don't need to change what these companies are trying to sell, we don't even need to try and stop what's been pushed on us by media. We just need to realise that we live in a world full of wonders and dangers and we must choose what we expose ourselves and our children to.

I will never rely on big business or governments (what's the difference) to do my job for me.

reply to post by Recouper


I dont agree on the censoring of tv. The girls on tv that are wearing the sexy outfits are usually over 18 and in musuc videos.

Instead of keeping the child away from these videos. You should educate them as to why the music stars are not wearing alot of cloths. Sexy 18 year olds = money for music producers.

Dont hide the real reason why. Educate, educate, educate.

reply to post by Recouper


BRAVO! People constantly complain about government intervention and big government and how they are against it, but the MOMENT government wants to intervene and make laws that some agree with, all these principles (of smaller government) fall by the wayside.

It's infuriating to see people rally against big government, only to praise it when they agree with it.

reply to post by michaelmcclen


Educate or limit to your understanding? Ever watched a child examining something on their own, only to stop and move on once an adult comes along and gives the child a label for what they are looking at?
"Yes dear, that's a daisy".
If you just leave the child and observe you'll notice just how much truth they gain from every part of the world they come into contact with.
It's our adult interpretations of the world that are often incompatible with a child's reality. Sometimes we think we are educating when we are actually curtailing curiosity and wonder. There are somethings which are not appropriate for children to be exposed to. As parents we are in a position to be active in what forces we allow to shape our children.
Also, for a child to be the most successful in their natural learning of the world they need to trust the world. They'll learn that many people shouldn't be blindly trusted and corporations destroy life all the more accurately if they have been given a safe and natural environment in which to grow and learn about their world while they are learning about themselves, because they grow to become adolescents and adults who are more curious and probing in their endeavours to understand the world.

reply to post by Benevolent Heretic


Laws are ill suited to the task of shaping our society. In fact, I think laws are dangerous... necessary unfortunately (at least I assume so), but dangerous.

Do we want to be in control of our lives, or do we want government (and those with the resources to influence government) to have control over us?

I know what I would rather and I’m guessing you and I are on the same page with this one.

My first thought is bravo to the lawmakers that are stopping the selling of the inappropriate clothing for young girls. However, at the root of all this the parents are to blame. I am the mother of 2 young girls and it is my responsibility to teach them what is acceptable behavior and clothing, not the government.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that the selling of this merchandise is being halted, but ultimately the parents are to blame. They have allowed their children to be sexualized at a young age by not monitoring what they are watching on tv or looking at on the internet. Or maybe they simply don't care?

Pay attention to who your child's idols are. Control the content of what they are watching. And teach them how to respect themselves and demand that others respect them as well.

I don't think they need to be selling padded training bras!

I shop in the kids section at a few stores because I'm small, it sucks but sometimes I can only find things in the kids section.

I am amazed at what kind of outfits they have in the kids section. I know if I had a little girl I wouldnt let her wear half the stuff they sell. I recently bought a jean skirt at Target in the kids section since they had NONE in the adult section..It's actually quite short for a kids skirt, a little shorter than I wanted but it fits just fine. Even my bf thought it was too short for kids and he has a daughter.

It seems like they want little girls to dress like mini adults, I disagree. I want my kid to be a kid not a mini copy of me!

reply to post by ronishia


First off, the way some parents use their kids in "beauty" contests and dress them like hookers offends me.

But:

Govt needs to stay out of this. It's too subjective a thing, what offends people and what doesn't.

Don't like it? Don't buy it. And let the store and its corporate office know why you won't be shopping there anymore until they pull those freaky outfits off the shelf.

Vote with you wallet instead of trusting any government to do the sensible thing and in moderation.

You know what an elephant is? It's a mouse built by government committee.