http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8619329.stm

Granted the article is about them rightfully withdrawing the products from sale, but my point is this.

Which absolute berk in their Marketing/New Product development team decided that "ooohh yes, padded bras for 7 year olds, that's an acceptable product and will meet with great success"

It points to a worrying theme in advertising/clothing in general that seems to promote the - extremely - premature "adultisation" of young kids, especially girls.

Not saying these 2 are strongly empirically linked, but is it any surprise that we have a rising teenage pregancy rate with kids being exposed to this type of "grown up" (I'd go as far - in this instance - to say "sexualised") products?

It's a relatively recent phenomenem as well - why can't big business leave kids alone to be kids - play with dolls/football/the so called "simple things"??

I know toys/technology have advanced massively since even I was a bairn, but I think major companies have a corporate responsibilty to aim responsible products at kids.

Opinions anyone - I'm just been a reactionary prude??