Updated: June 1, 2023
Originally Published: June 1, 2023
Last week, singer and actress Sarah James shared a delightful snapshot of her little girl, Lily, on Instagram, only to face some unexpected criticism. It seems that whenever a celebrity makes a parenting choice, no matter how innocent, there’s bound to be backlash. This time, the focus was on Sarah allowing her young daughter to wear a bikini, with some claiming it was a “provocative” decision. Let’s get real—toddlers cannot be provocative. So, when I came across the headline: “Cute or Cautionary? Sarah James Posts Photo of 3-Year-Old in Bathing Suit,” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Seriously, children in swimsuits are not “sexy.” Ever.
Sarah had previously been criticized for sharing a photo of Lily in a bikini when she was just four months old. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a baby in a bikini. But, there’s something very wrong with labeling a parent as irresponsible for sharing such a photo. Among the comments criticizing her were gems like:
- “People don’t understand how sick individuals may react to little girls posing suggestively. Can’t anyone just take adorable family photos?”
- “Great job, Sarah. You’re sexualizing your daughter from a young age!”
- “This is way too young to be posting photos of your daughter in swimsuits for everyone to see. With so many predators out there, it’s concerning.”
While it’s completely valid for parents to worry about their children’s safety, the notion that a simple photo of a child in a swimsuit could lead to potential abuse is misguided. As Tracy Moore from Jezebel points out, suggesting that how a child appears in photos makes them responsible for being victimized is a dangerous path.
I can’t help but think of my own childhood. My mom loves to recount the time I was so protective of my favorite swimsuit that I would fold it neatly on the shore before jumping into the water—completely nude. I wasn’t being “provocative”; I was just a kid being a kid.
Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have essentially become our modern family photo albums. Many people share their lives publicly, and child predators existed long before the internet was a thing. It’s also important to remember that a staggering 90% of child abuse victims know their abuser, so assuming that sharing an innocuous image online increases risk is simply mistaken.
It’s disheartening how early we teach girls that their bodies are somehow “shameful” and at risk of abuse. If the photo featured a boy in swim trunks flexing his muscles, there would be no outcry, yet the same dangers exist for boys as well. Instead of criticizing parents for harmless choices, we should focus our efforts on supporting organizations that educate families and help protect children.
In short, pictures of kids in bikinis are not “sexy.” That’s a fact.
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Summary: Criticism of parents for posting images of their toddlers in swimsuits often misses the mark. Social media has become a modern-day family album, and labeling innocent pictures as ‘provocative’ only serves to perpetuate harmful narratives about childhood and safety. Instead of shaming parents, we should direct our energy towards educating and protecting children.