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Before puberty hit, all I was worried about was what game to play at recess and if my parents would let me have soda at dinner. That’s how it should be. But preteen girls today are worried about everything from makeup to diets, and a recent article in Discovery Girls magazine is fueling the fire in some people’s opinions.
Discovery Girls, aimed at ages 8 and up, recently ran an article called “Which Swimsuit Best Suits You?” It gives tips on how to cover problem areas and highlight certain body parts. For example, those who are “curvy up top” are encouraged to find bathing suits that “draw the eyes down” as “coverage is key.”
Parents were outraged and took to social media to point out the body shaming in a publication meant for young girls.
This is ABHORRENT. Magazine for 8 year olds @DiscoveryGirls reducing their focus to flattering swimwear. Do better. pic.twitter.com/3PYyegNr7H
— KHD (@curlyhairday) May 10, 2016
Well done 'Discovery Girls', you've taught the next generation of women to hate their bodies https://t.co/7F5fPa6CB3 pic.twitter.com/e2m7uzi7NY
— Rachel Moss (@rachelmoss_) May 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/mamabirddiaries/status/730366444752539649
https://twitter.com/taffyakner/status/730009995526410242
The magazine’s publisher, Catherine Lee, posted an apology letter on Facebook that agrees with the outraged parents.
“It’s still hard for me to believe that an article so contrary to our magazine’s mission could have been published on our pages,” she wrote. “The article was supposed to be about finding cute, fun swimsuits that make girls feel confident, but instead it focused on girls’ body image and had a negative impact. Nobody knows better than Discovery Girls how impressionable our girls are at this age and we are ALWAYS mindful of this.”
Has the damage already been done?
