The pressure for young women to look sexy and hot all the time is making them wear shorter, tighter and more revealing clothes. This is fuelled by the images of what is perceived ‘hot, sexy, successful and independent’ celebrities like Paris Hilton, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian. All of whom are presented to impressionable teenagers as role models.

In her book Does my bum look big in this ad? Lisa Cox tries to educate teenagers about the influences of popular culture and role models “so why were they called role models to begin with? Was it because of their bra size or their ability to fit into super-skinny jeans? It seems we’ve become so obsessed with physical appearances, that we’ve come to associate them with greatness”.

Maggie Hamilton, author of What’s Happening to Our Girls? And Generation Next speaker says “daily girls can read about and watch the antics of teen icons on and off screen. Theirs is a world of exposed nipples, enhanced boobs, butt cleavage and low-rider jeans.”

She continues “Many girls are so desensitised to sexual material, they have no idea of the impression they create when wearing skimpy clothes or behaving in a certain way. Girls need to be aware of the signals they send out.”

It almost seems to be a rite of passage for teenage girls to expose backs, legs buttocks, mid drifts and breasts. The parts of the body not exposed are covered in such tight clothing that everything is revealed anyway.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, one fashion editor believes that on a Saturday night in Kings Cross it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish girls having a night out and working women of the night, commonly known as prostitutes.

This is a view shared by Vogue editor Kirstie Clements and fashion commentator Zoe Foster, who have issued a plea for girls to “cover up” and put an end to the skanky look.

“Skirts so short they didn’t even cover the butt cheeks,” she said. “Half a metre of stretch nylon from Spotlight seems to suffice as a dress. Where have all the teenage girls gone who just look pretty and fresh, with sandals and a cotton sun dress on?”

Former Cleo and Australian Women’s Weekly editor Ita Buttrose has also contributed to the debate saying “Sometimes I think that you can be more alluring covered up than you can be uncovered.”

“I see girls heading off to work in tops that I think are too low-cut for the office. I think some girls do themselves a disservice by letting so much hang out,” she said.

“There is so much pressure on girls to be sexy, that they feel they have to show legs, breasts and bum to be sexy and to stand out,” Zoe Foster said.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Source: The Daily Telegraph. Does my bum look big in this ad?