Friday, October 10, 2008

Babies and High Heels? Would you put them on your baby girl?

There is a shop where you can buy high heel shoes for your baby girl. But is it a good thing to put them on little girls?? The StyleWise's Clinical Hypnotherapist (Patrick Wanis PhD) says no way! And we agree!! What do you think? Would you put high heels on your baby girl? The StyleWise wants to know.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Here is Patrick's take -
Most people quickly associate stilettos and high heels with sexy women, promiscuity, strippers and prostitutes. Heelarious, a company created by two women, thought it would be funny to create high heel shoes for babies. And given that it is expected that the gift bags for celebs at the Emmys will have these shoes included, now the even bigger issue is: pop culture's impact on how we raise our children and how we show them to the world.

"Mothers are dangerously losing sight of their true role - to love, nurture and guide their daughters and to teach them to realize their full potential." says Patrick Wanis PhD, a Miami therapist, author and Human Behavior Expert. "Instead we now have examples of mothers who are trying to outdo each other because of peer pressure, social status, and are showing off their babies as sexualized objects rather than beautiful beings who should be recognized, appreciated and identified for their innocence, vulnerability and helplessness" says Wanis. "By buying these stiletto shoes for babies, women are selling themselves out, and adding to the exploitation of females."

Recently Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place featured an episode called "Quinceanera" which in the Latin culture is the celebration of coming of age, when a young girl is becoming a woman. This occurs at age 15. The "Quinceanera" in Disney's TV show is symbolized by a ceremonial "changing of the shoes" from a flat to high heel. The women who created these stiletto shoes for babies are not aware that they are sexualizing female babies and objectifying women. "When women endorse the sale of high heel shoes for babies, they become hypocrites of our own culture" says Wanis "Disney's definitely got this one right."

"Parents still need to monitor when and where their daughters where heels," Wanis cautions, "and parents, particularly mothers, need to be aware that children need guidance, perimeters, and boundaries. We must set our own lines and boundaries for what is right and wrong and beware what is psychologically dangerous to the emotional and sexual psyche of our babies." Keeping children aware and protected from sexual predators is at the forefront of America's minds, but the continued bombardment of sexualization of young children can potentially lead to pedophilia. The media and pop-culture are desensitizing new mothers into thinking that it is OK to view young children and babies as sexual objects. They forget that daughters (babies) are not there for the physical, visual or sexual pleasure of mothers or fathers or the general public."

Patrick Wanis PhD is not affiliated with Disney and has no financial interests in Disney. More talking points available upon request. Originally from Australia, Patrick Wanis PhD, is a Celebrity Life-Coach, Author and an Expert in Human Behavior and Relationships. He is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner and Clinical Hypnotherapist with a PhD in Health Psychology. Wanis is a regular contributor to major news outlets -FOX News, MSNBC and the Montel Williams Show, The StyleWise Reportage and is the weekly featured analyst on celebrity behavior for The New York Observer. Wanis is the first person ever to do Clinical Hypnotherapy on national television. Wanis coaches and works with various celebrities. WGN Chicago and Syndicated TV show, "The Daily Buzz" anointed him "The Woman Expert" and FOX News pronounced him "A voice for women." Over four and a half million people have read Wanis' books in English and Spanish.

No comments: