What do you buy the seven-year-old girl who has everything? How about a padded bikini? Today it was reported that Primark was stocking a pink halter-neck number for this age group, dotted with gold stars and featuring moulded cups. This sparked a furore, with everyone from David Cameron to child protection campaigners condemning it.
It's not the first time, of course, that inappropriate clothing has been marketed to young girls. Over the last decade, as the sex industry has grown exponentially, we've seen its aesthetic – towering heels, tiny skirts and pushup bras – sold to an ever-younger audience. Launching a report for the Home Office earlier this year, warning of the dangers of sexualising children, a clinical psychologist drew attention to a few of the worst offenders, including babies' bibs inscribed "All daddy wanted was a blow job". In recent years we've seen the sale of soft, leopard-print high heels for babies and a Playboy bunny stationery range for girls; in 2008 it emerged that Tesco was selling a padded bra for seven-year-olds.
Dressing children in clothes associated with sexual display and availability is obviously grotesque, and it sets young girls up for a lifetime of objectification. At a time when they should feel free to wear what they like – be it dungarees or a dress – they're already being taught that they should dress specifically for male approval. Thankfully almost everyone seems appalled by this, and the Primark bikini was pulled from shelves today as a result. If only it had never existed at all.
