….or are these stats mildly disturbing? According to recent surveys, 20% of girls between the ages of 8 and 12 admit wearing mascara daily and 40% say they use color cosmetics (eye shadow, blush, etc) on a regular basis. As a consumer group, pre-teens spend upwards of $500 million per year on make-up.

I have to confess, as a tween back in the early 70’s, I was fascinated by red lipstick and sequined gowns and hoop earrings and teeny bopper boys (i.e.; Bobby Sherman, Jack Wild, Davy Jones). But as a child I wasn’t allowed to actually have any of that stuff or hang their shirtless posters in my room. Furthermore, part of loving shiny, fragrant, come-hither enhancements was the fact that it was culturally taboo for a little girl to be gussied up like a Hooters waitress.  The message was clear – I would have to wait until adulthood to enjoy the world of sexy glitz and glamour (and btw, I’m still waiting).

So it’s not that I can’t relate to a little girl’s desire to look older and prettier prematurely. It’s the parents who worry me! As we become increasingly saturated by fantasy expectations of female beauty in the media, exhibitionism and narcissism are openly worshipped. Moms wear sports bras as tops, grandmas have liposuction, teens pose nude online, and apparently, little girls cake on Revlon every morning. What’s next? Babies in string bikinis?