Silly women, don't you know that 8 is the new 15?
So I’m sure most of you have heard the whispers on the internet, but in case you haven’t, here’s a real tale of horror right here.
In case you don’t think that you’re really reading what you’re reading, let me assure you that you’re reading right. Wal-Mart plans on marketing ANTI-AGING makeup to tweens from 8-12. I don’t think there is a level of wrong that hasn’t been touched.
The first question that ran in my mind was “since when do little girls need makeup”? This isn’t just playing in mommy’s stuff here, this is promoting the same crap beauty standards that fuck all of us up. When I was 8 I was still rolling around in the mud and finding ways to destroy my Barbies. I remember going through that crap in my later teen years. I don’t think I need to ask how unnecessary this is. Don’t get me wrong, if you want to use makeup and it makes you feel good, then great. But why are we basically training little girls to do it?!
I have always been severely creeped out by small children wearing makeup that’s not in a play fashion and as much as I don’t want to give into the “sexualizing our young girls” thing, I can’t help but go there. I don’t think that wearing makeup will lead to overt sexuality or anything, but I do question why these companies feel the need to market to young girls and have them “look better” so to speak. What kind of unneeded attention is this going to bring?
The second question that I can’t even analyze or comment on at all is why in the HELL is it anti-aging makeup? I do not care one bit that the anti-aging materials are natural and won’t be harsh to young skin. Since when in the history of the world does a 12 year old need to shave a few years off?
I dunno. Between this and pole dancing classes geared towards kids, I’m beginning to lose my faith in society. I would definitely love to hear your thoughts on this.
Well, if you look at it from a purely economic stand point (which I need to do in order to not RAGE: they’re sort of cultivating a whole new market. I mean. I’m 23. I feel like I need at least a little make up to leave the house, and I’ve only been wearing make up since I was probably 16 or so? But they’ve been largely ignoring this pool of potential customers. So, they sell it to girls now and make a buck, maybe two. But they’re also creating a large pool of future women who feel even more dependent on make up than many today do, because it’s been around for longer, and been foisted upon them for longer. Ditto the anti aging. The earlier you start them worrying about what they need to look “right”, the more they will buy for longer.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vyckie D. Garrison, Pursuit of Harpyness. Pursuit of Harpyness said: WRONG. JUST WRONG. http://bit.ly/dU8NBl [...]
Wow, don’t tweens have enough pressure on them to grow up too fast / look older etc without throwing something ELSE into the mix?
I have serious issues with all the “anti-aging” crap targeted at women. Like women should feel bad if they look their actual age? How fucked up is THAT when you think about it?!
There was a segment about this on CNN, and I completely agree with you. There are many levels of wrong with this, and it makes me sad that little girls have to start worrying about their appearance as such early age.
Christ. If I had daughters, I would feel utterly compelled to live in a yurt somewhere, completely removed from contemporary US culture. It’s just fucking poison.
I second PhDork’s suggestion.
Also, the only anti-aging product that will actually make you look younger as you age is sunscreen and boys and men need to wear sunscreen exactly as much as girls and women do, that is, to avoid skin cancer.
Oh for God’s sake. And when are we going to see Viagra Junior?
I am fat. I have a round face. This causes people to:
1) Express shock! That I am married (warning: this may be because I am fat. Not enough data at this point as I do not generally shout my marital status in the street).
2) Say plaintively, “But I thought you were younger!” Because now that you know I am in my lateish twenties (!!!) I am not as interesting?
3) Call me “honey,” “sweetie” and otherwise condescend. Two years ago, at the age of 25, a woman at the thrift store I was buying a saucepan at say, “And is this your first time living along, sweetheart?” in a syrupy voice.
So! Fat: the most effective anti-aging ingredient around!
Oh my god. Please excuse my typos.
Irregardless of the outrage of targeting 8 YO for makeup, someone needs to point out the long term health consequences.
There is way too little mention of the dangers of makeup for adults, let alone starting kids on using artificial glop on their skin and *around their eyes* all day!
I think the huge beauty advertising industry keeps media from reporting: reactions to chemicals in makeup (including formaldehyde, fish scales and carbon); bacteria in makeup more than a few weeks old; bacteria on fingers and tools used to apply makeup; reactions from inadequately removed makeup.
All of these things contributing to chronic skin conditions and eye infections both short term and long term.
Wonder why there are now more ads for dry eye treatments? I suspect more people suffer from this (particularly women) because of permanent damage to the ocular area from beauty product chemicals.
@Xenu01 – I wish my fat was “miracle-anti-aging-fat” like yours! Mine got me asked, by two separate people, if I was the mother of a friend. Said friend is 5 years younger, and we do look superficially similar – except she’s not fat.
As for the story, all I can say is “ugh!”
It’s sad that our society is so preoccupied with youth that we even push the young to look younger. What’s next?
I saw this but missed the anti-aging part somehow. I was appalled that a little girl in the accompanying footage was applying what looked to be that under-eye-anti-puffiness-whatever stuff. I guess it’s never too early to start selling kids snake oil.