A recent study by the Girl Scouts of the USA, reported in the Pioneer Press, brought to light something that’s been on my mind lately – the Britney backlash.

Friday, September 29, 2000

A recent study by the Girl Scouts of the USA, reported in the Pioneer Press, brought to light something that’s been on my mind lately – the Britney backlash.

It seems little girls are no longer content to be little girls and try to grow up too fast. That’s accomplished by wearing clothes that are inappropriate for their age, obsessing about boys and dieting at a dangerously young age. Britney Spears is not to blame for all of that, but as a pop icon and a hero to preteen girls across the country, the image she presents plays a role.

"Girls Speak Out: Teens Before Their Time" was based on conversations and surveys of 214 girls between the ages of 8 and 12. Internet surveys with more than 1.000 other girls in the same age range was also conducted.

The findings – girls are starting to worry about their weight and boys and their self-esteem is dropping.

Two-thirds of the girls in the third grade liked the way they looked. But by seventh grade, a little more than half – 56 percent – of the girls said the same.

It’s a shame that a quarter of third grade girls and half of the seventh graders don’t like the way they look. Most made comments about their weight.

Almost a quarter of the girls age 10 to 12 thought it was OK to start a romantic relationship at age 12 or 13. Some researchers predict there could be a major problem with preteen pregnancy and preteen suicide in the next 10 to 15 years.

It’s disturbing to see young girls wearing tight tops and midriff bearing shirts, just like their idol Spears.

"Being Britney Spears would be nice because you could wear a bikini without a big, fat tummy sticking out all over the place," one third-grader said.

I don’t see a lot of young girls here who wear skimpy outfits and makeup – most of the parents in southern Minnesota seem to have too much sense to buy such clothing for their children – but it gets to be a different story as the girls approach junior high school and begin dressing in a more provocative manner.

Although parents may not always be at the mall with the girls when they buy clothes, they still have a say in what they wear.

It’s important to start fostering healthy images early. Girls should be looking up to athletes and authors, as well as actresses and singers. There’s more to being happy than having a flat tummy.

Shawnda Schelinder’s column appears weekly