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Matalan accused by campaigners of “sexualising” children with Candy Couture clothing range for girls  |  Manchester Evening News (4.5.21)

“Campaign group Let Clothes Be Clothes says that Matalan’s crop tops, side lace denim shorts and tight bardot dresses ramp up the body-confidence pressures – they’re short and skimpy because they reflect adult, sexual designs. What does this tell young girls? Meanwhile the Teenage Boys Clothing section has practical, comfortable basics like hoodies and jeans”

TALKING POINT Are girls and boys judged differently on their looks?  Read the article >

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Teenagers’ magazine ends up in every secondary school in New Zealand  |  Stuff.NZ (30/4/21)  
 

“When Angie Del Favero​ and Rachel Zhou​, both 17, said they wanted to raise awareness about problems like family harm, modern slavery and human trafficking they got pushback from adults. But they founded a social enterprise, Find Your Fire, to empower young people to make changes in their communities. Their imPower magazine is now in schools”

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TALKING POINT What do you think about what Angie and Rachel did?  Read the article >

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Disney Parks Gear Up to Celebrate Pride Month  |  Inside The Magic (3/5/21)

“For Pride month in June, Disney is celebrating ‘acceptance and magic’. They have lots of rainbow-themed products like Mickey Mouse ears and T-shirts showing a Star Wars Pride Rainbow Lightsabre. One map shows two men skipping hand in hand. There’s mention that Johnny Depp said that Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean is gay”

TALKING POINT What difference do these kinds of products make?  Read the article >

4

Vagina Superhero “My Little Yoni” Is Here to Make Early Sex Ed Easier  |  Entrepreneur (7/5/21)

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“Having My Little Yoni – ‘the world’s first vagina superhero’, which represents a vulva in a fun way – in the house removes culturally conditioned shame around vulvas, gets kids to be curious and helps girls feel in charge of and proud of their bodies. Creator Ariel Saint White says: ‘Kids should learn about vulva anatomy and sex as normal parts of life’”

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TALKING POINT How would young girls, and boys, react to this toy?  Read the article >

5

TikTok Mom Points Out the Infuriating Difference Between Clothing for Girls & Boys  |  SheKnows (12/5/21)

“A mum in Australia complained to Kmart stores about its T-shirt slogans: ‘Take it easy’, ‘A whole lotta love’ and ’Bright as can be’ for girls but ‘Adventure’ and ‘Alpine Trails’ for boys. She said: ‘Why do we tell girls how to feel and act via clothing? Be happy, love, be perfect. Boys’ shirts encourage boldness and fun, and they don’t tell them how to feel‘”

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TALKING POINT Why is it important to think about this messaging?  Read the article >