Can Country Affect the Lolita Effect?
All it took was one Playboy bunny emblem on a little girl's shirt at the mall last week, and I freaked. So I went looking for some kind of explanation. Who bought this for her? Does she even know what it means? And, if so, why on earth does she think it's cute? I got a 231-page answer from this book called The Lolita Effect. It basically comes down to blaming the media. And by media, they usually mean music.
But after burying my head in this book for the past few days, I am relieved to see that the author isn't blaming country music. Granted, we've had our share of erotic visual imagery in some videos. Trace Adkins' "Hot Mama" comes to mind. And sometimes the lyrics seem to give permission to drunken one-night stands and the Vegas marriages that result. But the hypersexualization and perpetuation of myths seems to come from the songs, raunchy scenarios, wardrobes and exhibitionist ways of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, the Spice Girls, the Pussycat Dolls and even the soft-porn repackaging of former Disney stars Hilary Duff and Miley Cyrus.
Studies claim that teen boys and girls rank MTV as their favorite cable channel and spend an average of six hours a week in front of it. And the reason that matters is that, according to this book, kids who watch highly sexualized media are about twice as likely to have sex early as kids who don't. So unless you want Shakira to be the sexual guidepost in your life, you may want to stick with country music during the formative years.
If you've ever taken your daughter to a birthday party at a Club Libby Lu or put a Bratz doll under the Christmas tree, you know that music is not the only contributing factor to the problem. But when it does come to making music choices, I'd like to think that there is less demystifying to be done after an hour of watching country music videos or listening to country radio. And that country music might just be the antidote to all the toxins from other genres.
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RedMaZ says:
Well…wasn’t that nice of them to leave Country out of todays Pop Culture? Now lets talk about having blinders on.
Kim says:
Yeah, no joke. What about marketing things like Carrie Underwood’s “before he cheats” to 12 year-olds? what does that teach kids? Vandalism is cool and lets not forget the hot pink bra straps she had hanging out of the black top she had on. you have to pick and choose from every genre. there are good rock/pop bands out there that aren’t promoting sex, and there are sure as hell country acts out there that have material the is just as immoral as pop.
And I am really beginning to wonder if Taylor Swift is going the Miley route, because her wardrobe has been creeping down at the top and up at the leg recently. thigh-highs and mini’s are not of tweeners, i thought.
Kevin says:
Its true that every genre these days has some sexual marketing and lyrics and such, but for example if I had to choose for children to watch MTV or CMT, I would definitely choose CMT because overall there is less sexual material there than on MTV. Not saying its not there at all on CMT, but in my opinion its by far, less than on MTV. Same with radio, I’d rather have kids listen to the top 40 country songs than the top 40 pop songs.
RedMaZ says:
Sorry but, that makes no sense.
Kim says:
It makes some. I agree that there is a lot less. But there is still sexual marketing going on, but CMT as opposed to MTV (they are affiliated with each other, BTW, but thats not the point) cuts out MOST of it. but not ALL of it. Its still contributing, but on a smaller scale. CMT and the other channel do “wholesomeness” and ‘innocence” some lip service with the “family friendly” video time slots. but even thats not perfect. i was a little disturbed to find that CMT though dierks bentley’s “trying to stop your leaving” video was family friendly. the version i saw wasn’t.
does anyone see a solution to this Lolita affect? country is part of it at times, but not always. so who is?
countryfan11 says:
Isn’t Miley a few years YOUNGER than Taylor? Not that dressing appropriately wouldn’t still be preferred by
teens emulating her. But sex sells- EVERywhere, and it
IS getting marketed to the younger set as well-too bad.
What IS “innocence” these days?
Kim says:
Good question. I guess thats that big debate. where does or should it stop?
Kevin says:
If you were talking about my entry RedMaz….your wrong. It makes plenty of sense. Let me break it down for you. There is less sexuality portrayed on CMT than MTV. There is less sexuality portrayed on country radio than on what is known as pop radio.
hotelmotel says:
There’s more sexual material in The Canterbury Tales than in the typical country music video or MTV video, but I’d rather my kid spend time with Canterbury than either country or rock videos.
Louise Gibson says:
All you have to do is watch TV, look at the books that are on the stands at the stores and you have to know that there is a moral problem in this country.
The sad thing it has been handed down to our young people. Just look at how they dress. A thirteen or fourteen year old girl can look like she is 16 or 17. Why in the world would a parent want their child to do this?
Why do we want to rush them into being an adult. Once you cross that line it is forever and even if you have a wonderful life as an adult, there still are so many problems that we deal with each day. Help them enjoy being kids as long as you can.
I read that Faith Hill had decided not to let her little girl have a cell phone. Go Faith… I am proud of you and Tim. You know before kids had all these expensive gadgets they used to play and have fun with their friends.
Perhaps if more parents would follow Faith’s decision the peer pressure would not be so great on these kids.
I have always thought of country music as Family music. Some of these country videos and songs have really crossed the line also.
I have two wonderful grown kids, I am glad they were kids before all these expensive “Toys” became so popular.
Scott says:
The fact is that sexuality is a part of life. The thing is though, as a father of a 2 1/2 year old, I’m far more comfortable having Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” video playing on the tv than I am with a lot what’s shown on MTV.
I don’t have a problem with sexuality. As a parent, it’s my job to help my child grow up healthy in a world that is becoming more and more media-driven.
However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between a music video that some might consider sexual and a music video that is provocative. I don’t consider Before He Cheats, or anything else of Carries (or of most country artists’ music video) to be sexually provocative. I do consider most of what’s on MTV to be over the top.
Scott
Brittany says:
As much as the media has to do with many of childrens decisions, so do parents. I believe that parents need to be with there children more, and talking to them; Not letting the t.v. be the parent. There needs to be more responcibility everywhere. It does make me sad that parents cannot say no to there children, and let them wear what they want, and do what they want, then want to turn back around on the media like its totally there fault…
Kim says:
Thats really what it boils down to, Brittany. people don’t want to be responsible for anything.
And Scott, I have to disagree with you. Using Carrie as a microcosm of the issue, my point was backing up a point Redmaz made above. That yes, there are sexually provocative country stars. The “before he cheats” example was pointing out that Carrie (et al) are not totally wholesome, although they are better than the junk on MTV. If you think playboy logos on a 12 year old is over the line, then why isn’t hot pink bra straps hanging out of a black leatherish top? Because Carrie’s done that, and a few other things. Like that outfit and set she had at the Grammys. That looked like a 50 cent video with Carrie at the top.
I get bent out of shape about the sex appeal thing when country stars especially say that they are all goodness and light and family-friendly and a good influence on young people when, if you look again, sometimes thats not true. I couldn’t care less if a star was an absolute slut, as long as they didn’t try to tell me they were something else, and then market themselves that way. Be what you are are and let the audience decide.
I think people want an all or nothing approach to issue: all sex appeal or none. and like scott implied and Redmaz said, that just isn’t how it is, country included. I agree sexuality is part of life, even the Bible agrees with you too. But I don’t think children should be subject to everything about it all at once.
Kevin says:
I dont think anybody is disputing the fact that the sexuality is present in country music. What I said and I think some others have said too is that I would much rather have kids listening to country as opposed to the pop, r&b and hip hop that is found on mtv
RedMaZ says:
The country music you’re referring to is also Pop. Pop music is not a specific genre. It’s an industry based on sales. Sex sells. To leave the country music you speak of out of the Pop Culture equation is ridiculous.
RedMaZ says:
Like I said, you’re not going to lump all of todays country music into one cute little package. Those days are over. If you are refering to Pop Country, then say so. Simple as that. This quote. “I’d rather have kids listen to top 40 country songs than top 40 Pop songs” Were you refering to Top 40 Roots Country songs? Of course you weren’t. That’s why that quote makes no sense. Be specific please. I don’t see that being too much to ask for. As far as me not understanding anything else, well obviously that’s wrong. not only do I know about Roots music, I know about Pop music too. Can you say the same thing for yourself? My “script” is based on facts. Get used to it.
Kevin says:
Im just here to comment about the blogs too, but you make it hard for me or anybody else to do that by always trying to correct everything that is said when there is no need for it. If i scare you, thats your problem
Kevin says:
If I was trying to tell you that the world was flat or that the sky was neon pink and purple then yes you should correct me. But some things are understood and dont always have to be taken in the most literal sense.
RedMaZ says:
They do now. I certainly understand. It seems you are the one having difficulty with this.
Kevin says:
na.. im not having difficulty at all.
RedMaZ says:
I’ll guess we’ll see about that the next time you post something about music.
RedMaZ says:
That was as much as a threat as you know about music. I think you’re safe.
Kevin says:
I didnt remember reading that it was required that one be a musical genius in order to comment on these blogs. My comments make sense to everybody but you, so i think i know enough.
RedMaZ says:
You’re right you don’t have to be a musical genius to comment here, but knowing basic music fundamentals would be nice. And I agree, I also think you think you know enough.
Kevin says:
sorry, i made a mistake. I KNOW I know enough.
RedMaZ says:
Not the first mistake you’ve made. It’s okay…
Kevin says:
thats your opinion
MiaT says:
Thank goodness I have a son. !!
Really, Alison? says:
You’re obviously mistaking MTV for the MTV of the 80s. Kids can watch MTV for six hours straight without seeing any music videos. They will see hyper-sexed reality shows, though. That’s where the damage is done.
And the only time I’ve ever seen Miley Cyrus sexualized was in a photo shoot with her father -A COUNTRY STAR! And in her own cell-phone pictures.