Katy Perry's Cupcake Bra On A Kid Is Not So Sweet
Two summers ago our kids loved singing Katy Perry's California Gurls (against my better judgement). They would yell at the top of their lungs: "bikinis on top!" During this period, we were in New York eating at a deli and my son pointed to a large wall mural of matzoh balls nestled in a spoon and yelled: "Look! Bikinis!" (They did kind of look like - umm... bikinis, for lack of a better word.)
From that day forward, matzoh balls have taken on a double meaning in our family. But I should have paid more attention to Katy Perry and known that cupcakes were actually the bikini-fillers for kids.
The singer came to Toronto's Much Music awards with a group of mini-mes, each in a costume from one of her videos. There was a little one in camouflage (eeks!), in the weird alien suit, in a headgear (augh!) and so on. But it is the cupcake top (the one that squirted whipped cream in the video), complete with cherry nipples that has served up the outrage.
Jezebel posted a furious and pointed post about it, which I can only paraphrase. Read the whole post and you will never, ever look at a cupcake the same again. Dodai Stewart writes:
One can only assume the little girl — and her parents — okayed this ensemble. But everyone involved ought to know: It's not okay. It's one thing for a grown woman to cover sexualized areas with edible treats, announcing (however playfully) that her body is quite literally for consumption. But to transfer that message onto the body of a child is revolting.
Lots of people thought it was cute for a series of mini-Katys to be running around. But was it? (The results of this poll at Canadian Family didn't think so.)
We adults may think it is nothing, but what message does it say to our kids? Most would agree that we don't really want our 6-year-olds mimicking and looking up to Katy Perry (and let me tell you my 6-year-old would have been happy to score the blue wig). Over 30 percent of girls cite pop stars as their role models after their mothers. The cupcake shirt isn't such a big deal in the scheme of the things -- but it's just another sign of how we see girls and celebrities.
So, am I overthinking again? Or is a little girl with cupcake breasts an issue for you too?
While I'm on this topic, Dove is continuing on their self-esteem crusade and is hosting an event in Toronto next Tuesday where actress/singer Mandy Moore will be highlighting four women who are inspiring role models for young women. Dove has given me 10 pairs of tickets for my readers. The event is Tuesday, June 26 at 7pm at the Carlu in downtown Toronto. Let me know in the comments section by midnight on Saturday, June 23 if you would like to attend with a young woman (daughter, niece, friend, granddaughter) who should learn what a good role model really looks like. I will be there with some of my friends too! I will randomly select 10 winners on Monday, June 25 and they will be notified by email (or check back here for the winners.)
Image: REUTERS/Mike Cassese
Want more chaos? Last year, I went to a psychic, it wasn't the first time.
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