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I've noticed a definete trend in seeing younger girls dressed provocatively on child model websites, clothing catalogs, and such.

I'd like to start with the following questions:

1) Is it possible to enjoy a child model site and not be a pedosexual?

2) Do these, in your opinion, constitute child porn? (Forget what the law in your country says - I'm looking for OPINIONS here.)

3) Do you believe that the children are harmed by participating in this sort of modeling? If so, what sort of harm?

4) If you believe that the child model industry should be regulated/restricted, what would the regulations be? I'm particularly interested in your answer if you answered Yes to the third question.

5) If you answered the third question No, are there any benefits for the children? If so, what are they?

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Emily

Child modeling is fine as long as the parents arent pressuring them to do it and they are doing it because they like it.

Feather

1) Yes it is possible, however I'm guessing that people who enjoy looking at child models of a gender they are sexually attracted to are probably more likely to be pedosexuals than the population in general. But that's just based on the nature of modelling (i.e. models are generally models because of superb physically attractive features--the point of modelling is to get a physically, if not sexually, actractive person to show off in various poses).

2) Not in the "legitimate" child model circuit. I'm sure that there are pedosexuals who also have clothing fetishes that seek out and/or create "child model" pictures specifically for the purpose of sexual gratification--this would be child porn, in my opinion.

3) I believe children are more likely to be harmed than not. There are several factors. One is the pressure placed on models in general--this kind of pressure isn't likely to be any less for children. Another is the inflated importance of the child, which may lead to an unjustifiable arrogance and, along with various other factors, social dysfunction in later life. Overall I'd view child modelling as a negative influence in a child's life, although there are exceptions (as is always the case). But this is strictly opinion. I don't actually have any studies or first hand experiences in this matter, and could therefore easily be totally off base.

4) I think the child modelling industry should be strictly regulated. I'd go so far as to require parents to have psychological evaluations of the child they wish to be a model regularly, in addition to the standard "nothing sexual" type regulations. Children (normal children--not exceptionally gifted ones) simply aren't capable of consenting to this kind of behaviour wholly, I think, and therefore when their parents choose to involve them in it there should be safeguards for their well being.

Nowhere357

I find Feather's post to be reasonable.

While I'm here, let me say that I am confused by your screen name.

Okay if I call you "prince"?

Loren Pechtel

Originally posted by ...
I've noticed a definete trend in seeing younger girls dressed provocatively on child model websites, clothing catalogs, and such.

I'd like to start with the following questions:

1) Is it possible to enjoy a child model site and not be a pedosexual?

Yes. In times long past the usual age of pair-bonding was younger than 18. Thus that's the age we are wired to find of maximum attractiveness. There's nothing pedophilic in finding post-puberty girls sexually desirable.

2) Do these, in your opinion, constitute child porn? (Forget what the law in your country says - I'm looking for OPINIONS here.)

Yes. To me, child porn has nothing to do with nudity, but rather sexual intent.

3) Do you believe that the children are harmed by participating in this sort of modeling? If so, what sort of harm?

It depends on the girl. I don't believe it's inherently harmful to them, but I don't think the parents have the best interest of the girls in mind, either.

4) If you believe that the child model industry should be regulated/restricted, what would the regulations be? I'm particularly interested in your answer if you answered Yes to the third question.

I do think oversight is needed, although I don't know how this should be handled. Psych isn't my field.

5) If you answered the third question No, are there any benefits for the children? If so, what are they?

Well, the money they make could be of benefit.

Loren Pechtel

I think your arguments apply equally to child actresses.

echidna

With the increasing incidence of Body Dysmorphic Disorder and various Eating Disorders especially in adolescents, pressuring or even allowing a child to engage in activities which promote an inflated sense of external image is inherently risky. Teenagers seem to suffer from image problems already too much. Of course there’s nothing automatically dangerous with these activities (child modelling & acting), but parents need to be careful that the child grows up with a healthy sense of self respect, entirely independent of what other people think or say which is something entirely at odds with the acting & modelling professions.

Feather

I think I'd have to agree with that, but in the interest of equality extend it to child actors as well.