'Toddlers and Tiaras' and sexualizing 3-year-olds By Melissa Henson, Special to CNN TLC's "Toddlers and Tiaras" has been mired in controversy since it debuted in 2009, and much of the distaste for the series stemmed from concerns about whether we were feeding the stage mothers' desire for attention, or about the insensitivity in taping and televising children in the middle of a meltdown or temper tantrum. But whether you think child beauty pageants are just a chance for little girls to play dress-up, or a training ground for superficial, self-centered princesses in the making, everyone should agree that sexualizing a 3-year-old little girl is wrong. In what was likely a misguided effort to gin up publicity and ratings for the show, TLC released footage of a 3-year-old contestant dressed as the prostitute played by Julia Roberts in the 1990 film "Pretty Woman." This stupidity came just one week after TLC -- still known to many as The Learning Channel -- was forced to pull its Facebook page because of the deluge of negative comments over an episode that featured a little girl dressed up to look like Dolly Parton, complete with padded bust and buttocks. Instead of creating ratings-friendly buzz, TLC engendered outrage among millions of parents and grandparents, who are tired of seeing children exploited for ratings and robbed of their innocence by a greedy entertainment industry that will stop at nothing to make a buck. Like Roberts' film character just before she hits the streets, the toddler is shown strutting back and forth on stage wearing thigh-high PVC boots, a blond bobbed wig, and a white tank top connected to a tight blue skirt at the midriff by a large silver hoop. Common sense is all too often a casualty of the media culture we live in. Parents assume the sexual content and innuendo in the programming they are watching will go over their child's head, or think it's cute to dress their child in sexy clothes or encourage her to imitate Beyonce's dance moves so they can post it on YouTube. In reality, they are teaching their children what kind of behavior will help them get noticed. Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/12/opinion/henson-toddlers-tiaras/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9

285 Indian girls shed 'unwanted' names MUMBAI, India (AP) – More than 200 Indian girls whose names mean "unwanted" in Hindi chose new names Saturday for a fresh start in life. A central Indian district held a renaming ceremony it hopes will give the girls new dignity and help fight widespread gender discrimination that gives India a skewed gender ratio, with far more boys than girls. The 285 girls — wearing their best outfits with barrettes, braids and bows in their hair — lined up to receive certificates with their new names along with small flower bouquets from Satara district officials in Maharashtra state. In shedding names like "Nakusa" or "Nakushi," which mean "unwanted" in Hindi, some girls chose to name themselves after Bollywood stars like "Aishwarya" or Hindu goddesses like "Savitri." Some just wanted traditional names with happier meanings, such as "Vaishali" or "prosperous, beautiful and good." "Now in school, my classmates and friends will be calling me this new name, and that makes me very happy," said a 15-year-old girl who had been named Nakusa by a grandfather disappointed by her birth. She chose the new name "Ashmita," which means "very tough" or "rock hard" in Hindi. The plight of girls in India came to a focus as this year's census showed the nation's sex ratio had dropped over the past decade from 927 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of 6 to 914. Maharashtra state's ratio is well below that, with just 883 girls for every 1,000 boys — down from 913 a decade ago. In the district of Satara, it is even lower at 881. Such ratios are the result of abortions of female fetuses, or just sheer neglect leading to a higher death rate among girls. The problem is so serious in India that hospitals are legally banned from revealing the gender of an unborn fetus in order to prevent sex-selective abortions, though evidence suggests the information gets out. Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-10-22/India-women-names/50869628/1

It has recently come to my attention that my 10 year old daughter is much more confident and well adjusted than I was at her age. Heck-I think she's more confident and well adjusted than I am NOW! It struck me this morning while I was trying to have a conversation with her about mean girls. My daughter informed me she simply doesn't listen to what the mean people have to say. I tried to peel off the layer of happiness until I stopped and thought why? Why was I trying to find a problem where there clearly isn't one. I need to let her be the happy girl she is. She isn't me. She doesn't feel, act or react the same way to things that I do, and thats not a bad thing. It is, in fact, a very good thing because I am an insecure neurotic mass of adult so much of the time. So, yeah me for having a happy well adjusted kid!

My daughter is 7 years old and very mature for her age. I am worried about her going through the change early since she has always been off the charts for height for her age(father is 6'6") she is almost my height at age 7(i am only 5'1"). I noticed she has been very emotional lately and she seems to be developing and actually said mom I am getting boobs the other day. When is the right time to have the talk with her. She seems too young but i don't want her to be shocked when it does happen. I was 11 when i got mine and remember being so upset. Any advice. She turns 8 in February so I am thinking of brining it up at her dr. appt.

I thought you ladies might like this! She raises some VERY good questions.

Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that Rachel Simmons is leading a Talk tomorrow! Rachel wrote Odd Girl Out and created the Girls Leadership Institute and is an expert on girls and their development. Be sure to join us at noon ET/9 am PST tomorrow, January 31!!! Here's the link - http://www.themotherhood.com/talk/show?id=62357

Tamar from Ladies Holiday posted about this, it is a great conversation and for those of us who didn't have a great mother role model or just chose to do things differently this forum is such a great place to get support and ideas. Thank you! The post is here "seeking women's wisdom"- it's too long to put in here : http://www.ladiesholiday.com/2012/01/seeking-womens-wisdom.html Enjoy!!

Miss Lori thinks we are all responsible for the sexualization of children like Isabella Barrett from Toddlers and Tiaras .... I think this is a must read for everyone. http://www.misslori.tv/2012/02/07/miss-lori-thinks-we-are-responsible-for-sexualization-of-children-like-isabella-from-toddlers-and-tiaras/