Thu Jun 4 '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 has set up a Sydney committee to address this crucial matter via grassroots community action. We want to hear from all women who wish to become a part of this committee. Formal committee meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at Bankstown Women’s Health Centre from 12:30 to 2:30pm, with interim action meetings on the third Thursday of the month at the same time and location.

At our June 4 meeting we will be discussing the creation of a ‘Responsible Retailer Program’ to encourage retailers to engage in responsible advertising methods to prevent childrens’ exposure to overly sexualised imagery; exploring ideas for our upcoming funded Photovoice project; debriefing from the Generation Next conference; considering the possibility of starting a blog; and brainstorming grant options for Sexual Health Week 2009. Further project ideas are always welcomed.

We also want to hear from men and women who wish to join our email list to keep updated on developments in our project. Ideas and feedback are encouraged via this forum. We need you to be our "eyes and ears" in the community, telling us what issues you are seeing in society, what is 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 or Twitter 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*

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.

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