Newsweek reviews The Porning of America, a book inspired by a father’s realization that “porn culture and I were in a death match for my daughter’s soul.”

He had battled the Bratz empire.

It’s too early to know exactly how kids who grow up in this hypersexualized environment will be affected in the long term. But Scott and his coauthor say it’s not too soon—or too prudish—to sound the alarm, and to look critically at the sexualized culture we’re exposed to every day. . . . [P]orn themes have gone from adult entertainment to prime time, seeping into nearly every aspect of popular culture. Sarracino and Scott define “porning” as the way advertising and society in general have borrowed from the ideas and characteristics central to most American pornography: sex as commodity, sexuality as overt, narrow views of women and male-female relationships, bad girls and dirty boys, domination and submission.

This isn’t about sex. It’s not about morality or sexual freedom or abstinence or teen pregnancy or any polarizing belief or issue.

It’s about kids’ mental and physical health. 

Last year, the American Psychological Association put out a compelling report that described the sexualization of young girls: a process that entails being stripped of all value except the sexual use to which they might be put. Once they subscribe to that belief, say some psychologists, those girls begin to self-objectify—with consequences ranging from cognitive problems to depression and eating disorders. 

Fact sheet on childhood sexualization from CCFC. 

Emphasis mine. H/T Whole Kids Project.

CCFC is a getting some good press since Scholastic decided to drop the Bratz brand from their school offerings. I have to say, though, that I’m taken aback by all the people likening Scholastic’s decision to “censorship.”

We’re not talking about a public library here, or even a school library. Scholastic is a for-profit corporation.

This ain’t censorship.

(And if you really want to get your hands on some Bratz books, looks like Amazon only has about 250 titles to choose from.) 

Unfortunately, children in public schools are a captive audience who have no choice but to be the target of Scholastic’s product pitches.

It’s funny: I’m always hearing that it’s the parents’ responsibility to say no to their kids and to let the free market work. Isn’t that just what happened here? I took the responsibility to let my girls know that Bratz-branded products are not allowed in our  house. And as a Scholastic customer, I let Scholastic know that I would not be purchasing Bratz books from them. So did many other parents. Scholastic responded by dropping the Bratz books from their product line. How is this censorship? Isn’t Scholastic just responding to their market?

You can still help Parents for Ethical Marketing win $100 by clicking over to MOMboTV. Today’s suggested post: An interview with Ted Ning from Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS). LOHAS encourages business leaders to be more responsive to the needs of socially-conscious consumers.

Without admitting why, Scholastic has pulled Bratz books from their fall offerings to schools:

The company confirmed Wednesday that its fall product line for schools no longer includes the Bratz brand — a switch from last year, when Scholastic said the books appealed to “reluctant readers” and its job was to “offer materials that appeal to children where they are, not where we would like them to be.”

Could it have been CCFC’s 18-month campaign resulting in 5,000 emails to Scholastic? Details at Shaping Youth.

Corporations are willing to listen and respond to our concerns. They are concerned about their reputations. They want to keep us as customers. We just have to let them know what we want.

Update: Miss Bimbo off her diet pills.The boys behind missbimbo.com had second thoughts about the messages they were sending their players:

As a result of this rather surprising media attention we have decided to remove the option of purchasing diet pills from the game. We apologise to any players whom this may inconvenience but we feel in light of this weeks proceedings it is the correct action to take.

Can a Bratz doll represent a strong role model? I’m going with “no,” but would like to hear the arguments.

Relaunched Sweet Valley High books have thinner characters. Thanks to Facebook PEM Fan Juliet Ray. Why would Random House a) even think to do this and b) point it out in a press release?

Celebrating Families attacks consumer culture in the U.K. Psychologists Maye Taylor and Helen Sanderson believe parents are unfairly blamed in the media:

They are getting all the responsibility for what is being claimed as a breakdown in family life and all the experts are telling them they are doing it wrong. We are both psychologists and both parents and we thought we would fight back.”

Good idea!

On day four of The Horrible Virus that Attacked Our House and All the Adults Inside, I dragged myself and my six-year-old to the local SuperAmerica for two gallons of milk, soup, crackers, and a big Gatorade.

It took pretty much all my strength to bring those items up to the checkout, and I had to take three trips since there were no shopping baskets. Once in line, of course, it took a while for our turn, so I concentrated on remaining vertical while my daughter stared eye-to-eye with the candy rack.

Mommy, can I get something?

No, honey, you can have a cookie when we get home.

But I want something!

I know you do, but you’re not going to get it.

But Mommy . . . !

Mommy’s NOT IN THE MOOD, honey!

But, but . . . it’s all right HERE!

If I had the strength, I would have explained to her about product placement in retail stores but instead I mumbled, bastards.

I bring this up because it is sort of related to Amy’s post on the marketing trend she calls “outrage baiting.” Among other things, she cites the newest thing in candy bars, caffeine, and a new additive to make any drink an “energy” drink, Blow. It’s a white powder that comes in a vial. Of course.

“Blow” and caffeinated candy bars would never be marketed to children, according to their manufacturers.

PHEW. Now all I have to worry about on the candy rack is the Bratz “perfume” bottle with powdered candy, “wand,” and matching pink mirror. Those edgy Bratz products!

Photo courtesy dosenation.com

Of course I’m on the Bratz mailing list. This came today:

If you can’t read that, it says:

Hey Bratz Fan! Head on down to your local Subway restaurants from Novemer 19th to December 30th and get Fashionably Fit! With every purchase of a super delish “Fresh Fit for Kids” meal you’ll get free fabulous Bratz swag. Being beautiful means taking care of yourself and above all eating healthy! Check out BRATZ.COM for more info! Later Style Star, The Bratz 

Great, I’m thinking, one fast-food place I don’t mind taking my kids to and now I have to avoid Subway, too. And what exactly is “fashionably fit?”

And, free swag? They’ve made a Bratz-themed evergreen decoration for my door?

Clicking through I find that the free giveaway is a “glam n’ go compact” or a “Bratz express your bratitude door hanger.”

And they’ve trademarked “bratitude.”

I do have a point here. Check out the background pattern on the ad. Look closely.

Isaac Larian, is this still my twisted sense of what I see in an advertisement?