For my COMM 229 Foundations of Communication class, we had to read a chapter concerning Stereotypes and how the media perceives race and gender. I found it very interesting because it's true how today's media twists certain misconceptions about race and gender. It can be real awful to witness what they say on television.

After we read the chapter, we had to find a quote that really stuck out to us and elaborate on it; we then had to write about it on our class Discussion Board, but I would like to let my readers in on the quote and elaborate more on it.

The quote is by Christine Odone from her article, "Sexy kids" in New Statesman. Odone writes, "The pink cotton T-shirt's lettering reads: "So many boys, so little time." It's an odd line, which usually raises a smile. But...this T-shirt is a '5-6 years' size...What about the thong for 7 year olds...or the padded bra for a 9-year old?"

This quote is a very interesting one because I feel that it is true regarding what Odone says. I do not like when I see little children wearing provocative clothing because it can be offensive and the children most likely have no idea what the saying means. If I saw a young girl around the age of 7 or 8 wearing a T-shirt that said, "So many boys, so little time", I don't know what I would do. I don't understand why children are wearing clothing like that. I was used to wearing cartoonish shirts or something neutral that didn't represent or mean anything offensive. I was wearing T-shirts that had the X-Men characters on it, or shirts that had cartoon characters from television shows. I guess it shows that how much time has changed in so little time. I'm only 21, so it was only 10 years ago when I was wearing clothing like that. It's amazing how much the style of clothing has changed over the years. Seeing a mother buying her young daughter a padded bra or thong is just disgusting. She is too young to be wearing articles of clothing like that.

It also has to deal with the fact that children try their very best to fit in and act "cool" when they are in Elementary School or Middle School. It's sad, that wearing these clothes might be one of the underlining reasons to give them a chance to fit in. I remember when I was a kid and I had to wear good clothing to help make a good impression on other people, but I didn't have to wear provocative or "sexy" clothing like the kids are wearing now. It's sad that they are forced to wear clothing that include meanings that they are probably clueless about. They just wear them because they think the shirts look good. First impressions are crucial when you are a kid, and I understand that. But, instead of trying to blend in with this crowd, why not stand out and rebel against them by doing something that's against the norm. Do something that will make you stand out but in a good way, rather than wearing ridiculous clothing that will make older kids or adults turn their heads in disgust, when in fact you are completely innocent because you're just doing what all the "cool" kids are doing. Take the advice that my mother gave to me when I was a kid. Don't be like them, be yourself, because if you follow them every step of the way, you'll never discover who you are.

In 10 years, we'll see what kids are wearing now; but from what they're wearing now, and how the style of clothing continues to change, it's a little frightening when I think about where our society will be in 10 years. Who knows...