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Teeny Weeny Bikini
Thursday, July 19, 2012 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford from Child Development
I gave up the bikini a long time ago. However, I'm not ready for the bathing suit with the little skirt quite yet either. It's not just about my shape, it's about my age and stage and just how much of me I want to be sharing with the world.
These days, I'm a fan of the "tankini." It's a perfect design.
Enough about me. After all, this is a blog about child development.
I'm raising a daughter. Does it make a difference that she is a GIRL? You bet it does. You see, it doesn't matter if I didn't think it made any difference if she was a girl or a boy. The world thinks differently. The world definitely notices HER gender.
It's true there are many more opportunities for little girls than there were even a few decades ago. However, I still believe we have a long way to go. This is evidenced by the lack of female role models in jobs in our local police department, fire department, and the construction workers I see alongside the road, etc. I'm not the only one that notices. SHE notices too.
Where am I going with all this rambling? It's the teeny weeny bikini that is on my mind today.
TEENY. WEENY. (very cute) BIKINIS. Do they belong on your infant or toddler little girl?
Are they simply adorable or are we already helping to define who we think our little girls are or who society thinks they should be?
I imagine you are thinking I am crazy about now. Step back for a moment and think about it.
Doesn't how we dress impact how others treat us?
Doesn't how we dress impact the way we feel about ourselves?
Doesn't how we dress impact what we can and can't do (again, I go to back to the comforts of the tankini vs. the bikini).
I'm the first to ooooo and awwww at that little toddler in the pink bikini. It is cute.
However, you won't find my daughter in any bikini during these summer days.
How about you?
Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Jeannie Fleming-Gifford is a mama to one little lady, freelance writer, and the director of education for a non-profit community school of the arts. Graduating with a B.A. in Music and a M.A. in Child Development, Jeannie began her career in quality child developme...Read More
