Item numbers leading to the sexualisation of children: Shabana Azmi

First Previous

Page

Next Last

Frequent Posters

998331

Suspended

Posted: 10 years ago

#21

Last year, I saw a little girl, a street kid, acting horny. When I went closer to her I found she was dancing to some item song she was crooning.

Edited by NailClipper - 10 years ago

Quote

998331

Suspended

Posted: 10 years ago

#22

I was wondering how many pedo must have wanted to get inside her. May be, someone already...

Quote

Looks like you are new here. Register for free, learn and contribute.

kabeeraspeaking

@kabeeraspeaking

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

#23

Originally posted by: -enchanted-
I dont think it leads to sexualiztion of children, but I do agree there should be some self check by film makers as far as lyrics of the songs are concerned. I remember during 2012 when Nirbhaya rape case was the burning topic on news channels, on music channels we had Kareena Kapoor dancing away to lyrics like "main to tandoori murgi hoon yaar, gatak le saiyaa alcohaal se" (I am not singalling out the actress or the movie, only giving an example). It was disturbing on so many levels. Can women be objectified and insulted to any level in garb of item number? And what is worse that such songs make a place somewhere on psyche of impressionable youth esp. rural ones who idolize movie stars. I am not advocating a ban on item songs. Item songs have to be fun and sexy and that is fine. I have no problem with Sheila or Munni or Baby doll, but songs which downrightly abuse women should be discouraged. Especially because there is no censorship on them. While movies are categorized as per their content and accessed in movie theatres, songs have universal access through TV. Anyone belonging to any agegroup can watch them anytime and its very difficult to monitor TV viewing. So its perhaps the responsibilty of filmakers and actors to make sure that the songs they are making /dancing away to, are not completely derogatory to women instead of merely talking about women dignity and respect in interviews.

And so it goes for children. Media, consumed in any form (audio/visual, print/broadcast/internet), has a huge influence on us, which can be seen consciously in people around us and even ourselves but most often, it happens on a subconscious level. We don't even realize but the way we get desensitized or how we start viewing some things as acceptable/routine due to continuous exposure is insanely fast. At a younger age, this happens even faster. So I think a lot of people aren't understanding what 'sexualization' of children means here and someone did explain it well on the previous page (think it was ILuvBolly). Shabana isn't necessarily saying that kids are being sexual or people are viewing them sexually. Sexualization of children means that kids are being exposed and introduced to the idea and means of sexualization much earlier in life, which is detrimental for many reasons...the primary of them being that it makes them self-aware about notions of sexual identity and sexual activity much earlier than they need to for normal development. To be honest, we're in an age of hypersexualization because you will see girls as young as 5-6 are in beauty stores, buying cosmetics and such to make themselves more 'pretty' because that is how they feel they will be or look appealing to boys. The age of puberty is decreasing, and when these kids hit 10 or so years...they will then surely process what the lyrics mean and everything that entails that processing and self-awareness is only naturally going to follow. A lot of kids at an even younger age already understand what a lot of these songs are saying...we underestimate their power to pick-up on implications from adult conversations and reactions. Girls take away the messages that they've been given (nothing out of ordinary to see a highly decked up woman dance for drunk men on a khatiya) and the boys will take away what they see as the norm (it's perfectly normal for women to be treated as objects of pleasure.) So...the kids aren't much different from the impressional youth or the people idolizing movie stars...in fact, kids are the ones who fit both those characteristics very well.

The last part of your post is very true, and I think that is exactly what Shabana meant. That if an actor or actress is going to do these kinds of things, they should know (make an informed choice) about the effects that their participation in such type of entertainment will have on kids or society. If one is okay with sending across the messages that these songs send across, then do so. But if they care about the kind of influence or contribution they are making to society through their profession, then they should pay attention to the lyrics, picturization or even ideology behind these songs before accepting to do them. She's definitely telling actors to become more responsible for their choices and her censorship answer shows that she's not trying to encourage a ban on things...more like a personal censorship of sorts for both the actors and the audience, I think, to produce or consume what you do with discretion.

Edited by kabeeraspeaking - 10 years ago

Quote

Otto

@Socklet

Sparkler

+ 10

Posted: 10 years ago

#24

I see so many people saying the parents should take care about this. I had a friend who did'nt have a Tv in her home but she used to watch music videos in school from her frnd's mob. So how the parents will know about this? I have seen many people when you stop them from doing/looking something they become more curious.

Quote

kabeeraspeaking

@kabeeraspeaking

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

#25

Originally posted by: .KuchiMama.Ds
I see so many people saying the parents should take care about this. I had a friend who did'nt have a Tv in her home but she used to watch music videos in school from her frnd's mob. So how the parents will know about this? I have seen many people when you stop them from doing/looking something they become more curious.

I think talking to your child goes a long way. There is nothing wrong with doing/looking because they will actually see/do these things regardless when they get older too, right? The difference with kids is just that, at their young age, they do not have strong foundational ideas and can get easily swayed by just about anything, possibly start viewing themselves and others around them in different ways, perhaps even follow up on these things they've been influenced by. Treating your child like a mature person and having conversations with them about these things (before they learn about them in hiding from you or from misinformed sources)...I think that can help them tackle with a lot of stuff around, which they will undoubtedly face in social settings such as school or with friends, in a much more responsible way...just to keep themselves safe, steer clear of trouble and not to hurt others either.

Edited by kabeeraspeaking - 10 years ago

Quote

Enycedoll

@Enycedoll

Rocker

Posted: 10 years ago

#26

The media is just a scapegoat for parents to blame the media rather their lack of parenting.

Education begins at home and I have seen time after time parents, especially desi parents, leaving that job up to the schools to do. Its the parents job to teach/show (by becoming a role model) the child what is acceptable and what is not. It is not the teachers job, or the TVs job, or the Aunt or Uncles or cousins job. Its time a lot parents own up to their lack of parenting.

Quote

Enycedoll

@Enycedoll

Rocker

Posted: 10 years ago

#27

Originally posted by: .KuchiMama.Ds
I see so many people saying the parents should take care about this. I had a friend who did'nt have a Tv in her home but she used to watch music videos in school from her frnd's mob. So how the parents will know about this? I have seen many people when you stop them from doing/looking something they become more curious.

The parents can sit down with the child and discuss it. They don't necessarily have to censor everything. They can tell them 'hey, this exists, but it's just entertainment, nothing you should strive for.'

Quote

I Dont Know;(

@One-Of-A-Kind

Rocker

+ 4

Posted: 10 years ago

#28

Children of 6 to 7 years is ok.. but in teenagers is a lil problem

Quote

1020442

Hibernated

Posted: 10 years ago

#29

Sowing noxious seeds on a highly fertile field , tree of wholesome fruit will sprout ??

Voices asserting that kids watching & imitating those 'gross' item numbers would have no 'detrimental' impact on their psyche either have no idea how human psychology gets moulded or their interpretation of 'gross' and 'detrimental' is different from some others..

As I can see , there is crystal clear and further 'downshift' in the 'preferences' of kids grown up in 90s and as of now..Now it again depends upon the interpreation of 'downshift' and 'preferences'..

And it is the sole job of 'foresighted' parents to guard their prone progenies against the invasion of 'this virus' to the 'best of their ability' ; deluded ones may continue to expose them ..

Though I prefigure that in the pernicious swamp of sensuality and materialism , Mankind is & will be irreversibly sinking and sinking and sinking and ...

* The end *

Quote

AllBlacks1

@AllBlacks1

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

#30

Just give ur teenage kids anti hormones jabs.. and dont let them grow untill the suhaag-raat.

What a load of rubbish! If they wont dance on BW item numbers, then let dance lady gaga's numbers. Or take that village girl in farm and do it.. it's gonna happen.

Puberty, hormones are natural. Its upto parents to let them know its natural, attractions towards opp. sex (or same sex in some cases) is natural. Just take precautions.

Smaller kids r not at risk by themselves at these item numbers.. its the older guys who r to be watch out for.