What's Wrong With The World Today? - Parents Without Parenting Skills (That's The Nice Way To Put It)

     I've been blogging for quite some time now and if you've been following, you know that I am pretty passionate about media representation issues and how they affect women, so this story hit me like a brick when the Roomie sent it to me.
     Be prepared because it's another story of parents and their lack of sense when it comes to raising their children to have some idea of a healthy body image.

     Sarah Burge is a mother of very nontraditional gift-giving.
     You may remember her as the so-called "human-Barbie" woman who, last year, gave her daughter a birthday voucher for a boob job when she turns the ripe age of eighteen.
     Well, friends, she's done it again. I hope you're no longer comparing holiday gifts because you may be in for a disappointment.
     This year for Christmas Burge gave her seven year old daughter, Poppy, a liposuction voucher worth about $11,000.

Burge (far right) with Poppy (the young one, obviously) ... Photo c/o http://www.thesarahburge.com/

     Seriously!? What is wrong with this woman? I can understand if she wants to undergo cosmetic surgery herself, but to teach her daughter at such a young age that she basically needs to change herself in order to fit some type of ideal? ... Now that's just wrong.

     And as much as she tries to defend herself, there's no hope, especially considering her daughter has been quoted as saying things such as, "I think it's great because you can change yourself if you're not happy."

     Aren't there already enough influences in this media-driven world telling young girls that they aren't good enough without their parents basically implying that they won't be good enough as they get older? Because that is basically what Burge is doing ... even if she doesn't realize it, or won't admit it to herself. By presenting these types of gifts to Poppy, who is extremely impressionable as a 7-year-old, she is ultimately harming her daughter's body image and her ability to form a healthy relationship with food, fashion, mirrors, men, and a slew of other things that stem from having a healthy body image.

     The fashion and advertising industries alone can kill a girl's self-esteem and considering Burge is in the limelight, Poppy was going to be bombarded with images of unhealthy models and the media's portrayal of the ideal body at a young age ... So by pushing the so-called benefits of cosmetic surgery on her daughter, Burge simply exasperated a problem that could harm her daughter greatly.

     

     It would be a lot better for Burge to teach Poppy to love herself for who she is - especially as a little girl. If she wanted to promote cosmetic surgery when her daughter was older, then whatever ... I still think it's strange as a mother to tell your daughter to change herself ... But at least Poppy would then have made the decision on her own. As much as Burge says Poppy wants the boob job and liposuction, it seems like she is making these decisions for her daughter, and that's just wrong. 

Hey, little girl with your tangled hair, your tattered clothes - you're fifteen and you're about to bloom just like a rose. You’re wishing that you had designer jeans like the ones you see in magazines. Now I know you’d give anything just to fit in but your worth ain't on a price tag, it comes from within. Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Don’t you know you’re beautiful? Just the way you are! (Don't You Know You're Beautiful - Kellie Pickler)

Side Note: Check out this site ... Just discovered it and love it!