Comments on: The Single Ladies Dance Outrage & the Crisis of Girls’ Sexualization

By: Offline and Online Cultural Messaging about Girls and Sexuality | Cyberbullying Research Center Blog

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 16:45:25 +0000

[...] phenomenon in a fascinating writeup, and our colleague Rachel Simmons discussed it recently on her blog. I was curious if any of our readership has been unsettled by similar observations, and would [...]

By: Will Entrekin

Will Entrekin — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:48:24 +0000

Is it really about sexualization or commercialization? The girls may not be aiming to be sexual so much as they’re aiming to be commercial, which is working if they were on “Good Morning America,” and which continues to work considering we’re all talking about it and discussing it.

If they are trying to be sexy, they seem to be doing so only because that’s what sells.

Nice post.

By: emily

emily — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:57:10 +0000

those roots chicas are off the hook! thanks for sharing their art. and i very much agree with your comments rachel, here, here!

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:33:27 +0000

I agree that the post doesn’t get into the role of adults. I made a decision not to because so many others seem to be focusing their outrage on the where-are-the-parents angle.

As for the Roots dancers, the point is not to advocate for 9 year old girls dancing like that – or erotically at all, in fact; I try to make the point that sexuality should be much more organic and self-directed at that age than so choreographed and imposed – but to suggest an alternative to the version of “sexy” that seems to be both everywhere and the only way to be. Thanks so much for your comment!

By: Michele

Michele — Sat, 22 May 2010 01:30:14 +0000

When we live in a world when it is acceptable to sell babies bra and knicker sets, when the only clothing available for 7 years olds in minature adult women’s clothing what do we expect. The media and many in society tell young women, learn pole dancing it is empowering, Lap Dancing is innocent and it is ok to be at a club and to put on a sex show on the dance floor with your girl friend to attract men why are we suprised when mothers allow their young daughters to behave this way. Until we promote women’s intelligence over there physical looks this is not going to go away.:-(

By: Brook

Brook — Fri, 21 May 2010 23:16:03 +0000

I’m disappointed. This blog article lacks a discussion of the choreographers role in mediating/facilitating this. While girls across NA are doing this stuff without assistance, these ones have been, and to neglect that leaves a hole in a cogent argument.
Also, doesn’t the roots dancer connection needs to be brought back to the girls? They are put forward as positive dance role models. Okay, I see how they relate/contrast to Beyonce, but I want to know how 9 year olds doing the exact same moves on a You-Tube clip would be empowering (or not) — or at least different. Children will want to dance, and they will want to do so like they imagine adults do — so that needs to be discussed, no?

By: Rude Awakening

Rude Awakening — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:49:23 +0000

i agree and am somewhat shocked on so many levels. My first reaction was the same as everyone else, how can their parents let them do that. Then a shocking realization comes over me and slaps me up the side of the head. When did we become a society of negativity. Why didn’t we see… all the girls dance pretty good, they keep to the beat of the music while staying in sync with each other. something all dance groups strive to accomplish. Instead our minds and thoughts go to the gutter immediately. Shame on us. Its not the kids issue, its adults that want to find something wrong with everything. why do you think the news shows 90% disaster and death, it is by our demand.

By: Cybele

Cybele — Wed, 19 May 2010 01:32:52 +0000

Hi! I am one of the Roots dancers…Thank you for including us in this…All of us work with women and children and I think it is very, very important to consider the age of a performer before setting a choreography on them…The single ladies song is a song that is clearly about an adult woman situation(being in a club and HELLO, being SINGLE!) I think we really have to think about what it means to put girls on a stage representing the message of that song. The way that they were dressed has a huge impact! If we look at the styling of those outfits, what do they remind us of? As I have said before, there are traditional dances from all around the world that include hip gyrations and other “sexy” movements. In many cultures, girls start learning these dances from a young age; this is an important part of them understanding their bodies and preparing for future childbirth etc. It is not the movement itself that is offensive to me in this case, it is the overall image and intention behind it. When you talk about commercial music in our society, these are songs and images that are meant to sell. So, we have to take some responsibility as consumers. Single ladies is a good club song, but is there any good cultural value in including that song or theme in a dance for young girls? Those girls were AMAZING dancers, but they deserved more. They deserve to be taught how to represent themselves as beautiful, strong girls and their powerful movement should be used in an appropriate way. Again, thank you for including us!!! I think this is a great topic, this piece is only a small example of a greater issue, images that use sex to sell affect girls and women everywhere. I was one of those girls trying to copy music videos as a pre-teen and unfortunately I had to step out of American popular culture to educate myself and form my own views on female beauty and sexuality.

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:44:23 +0000

I definitely think it would be less of an issue of the outfits were different. Have been thinking about your question all day. Though some of those hip thrusts…I don’t know…..

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:41:29 +0000

Agreed – and I appreciate the additional insight and agree. Have you seen the film “Race to Nowhere?”www.racetonowhere.com – it looks at the pressure kids are facing and intense emphasis on performance. It does take so much of the pleasure out of it – or at least pleasure for the sake of pleasure. Thanks so much for your voice here – I appreciate it!