Thu May 7 'Choices for Children' Committee Meeting - Action to Decommercialise Childhood

Do you have something to say about the wrong messages that kids are receiving from media, marketers & celebrity culture?

* Did you know that Chlamydia is the third most commonly reported notifiable disease in 5 to 15 year olds in New South Wales - more common in this age bracket than the flu? (NSW Health, 2008)
* Did you know that there is a children's beauty salon in Queensland that performs bikini waxing on 14-year-olds? (Martin, 2008)
* Did you know that in Australia you can now buy high heels for babies under 6 months old? (Daily Telegraph, 2008).

It's called the premature sexualisation of children.

Bankstown Women’s Health Centre is outraged at these issues and is conducting a long-term project to address the premature sexualisation of boys and girls in society. But we need your valuable ideas and input.

We're setting up a Sydney committee to address this crucial matter via grassroots community action. We want to hear from all female community members who wish to become a part of this committee (unfortunately, since we are a Women's Health Centre, the committee may only be attended by female participants). If you are a Sydney resident who is interested in attending our first committee meeting on Thursday May 7, please call (02) 9790 1378.

We also want to hear from men and women from any area of Australia (or the world) who wish to subscribe to our email list to receive regular updates on developments in our project. Ideas and feedback will also be welcomed - we need you to be our "eyes and ears" in the community, to tell us what issues you are seeing in society, what’s worrying you, and what makes you mad.

To subscribe to the mailing list email bwhc@sswahs.nsw.gov.au with the word "subscribe" in the Subject Header.

Any general or further enquiries about the project/committee can be directed to the above email address, to BWHC's MySpace page, or to Kristina Brenner at Bankstown Women's Health Centre on (02) 9790 1378.

*Bankstown Women's Health Centre is a safe space for women*

Action and change ARE possible!

Daily Telegraph (2008). ‘Heelarious high heel booties sexualise children claim’. Daily Telegraph. November 28, 2008. Access date 13 March 2009.
Martin, H (2008). ‘Beauty treats for girls aged five to 14’. Couriermail.com.au, May 3 2009. Access date 13 March 2009.
New South Wales Health (2008). Year in review: communicable disease surveillance, NSW, 2007. NSW Public Health Bulletin, 19(5-6): 85-95.

www.bwhc.websyte.org.au
www.myspace.com/bwhc
www.twitter.com/bwhc