Young Girls Dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”
May 17, 2010
Last week a video began circulating around the internet. It features a dance group of 7-9 year old girls dancing to Beyonce’s, “Single Ladies.” Check it out, if you haven’t seen it already. Clearly the costume and dance moves were highly inappropriate. What shocks me more than the dance, and the fact that the parents and teachers condone this, is the MASSIVE number of supportive comments I’ve read. I have posted the most common supportive arguments I’ve read, followed by my counter-arguments for each.
Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir8BO4-7DkM
1.)They Argue: One can’t be critical of this dance, without also simultaneously withdrawing support for girls doing ballet, gymnastics, swimming, etc. They will also argue that if one is afraid that this dance will attract pedophiles, we should go so far as to put our daughters in burqas until they turn 18.
It is important not to enter a slippery slope when analyzing this video. Pedophiles will always exist. We shouldn’t feel a need to cover up our children with burqas in order to protect them. Neither should we feel that it is wrong to enroll our kids in “normal” activities such as ballet, figure skating, and gymnastics. We can’t live our lives in fear. However, there is a point when dance moves and the costumes worn cross a line. In this video, the girls are wearing costumes and doing moves that are fully reminiscent of adult women performing at a strip club or for their significant others, in the privacy of a bedroom…no, it is not necessary for these girls to take off all of their clothes in order for this comparison to be made. What they have been coached to do is an example of taking something as far as one can go without actually doing it. One can say yes to ballet, etc. and not fear the body hugging leotards that are worn, without also saying yes to stripper-style costumes and dancing.
2.) People are also arguing that the girls are having fun, don’t understand the sexual overtones, and are talented, and that because of these reasons, the dance is wonderful and appropriate. They will go so far as to accuse the naysayers of being mean to children, by cruelly criticizing them, or denying them from pursuing an activity that they love.
This is the same argument that one would use when attempting to defend a young boy whose parents have enrolled him in a Nazi youth marching band. He surely doesn’t understand what Naziism is truly about, is having fun, and is very talented. However, this is clearly an inappropriate outlet for showcasing his talent. The same goes for the little girl dancers. There is nothing wrong with them pursuing their love and talent-dancing, but it should be pursued in an age-appropriate and respectful way. Dancing and marching are fine pursuits, however Nazi marching bands, and stripper-style dance routines are not. It’s analogous to any technology having both noble and evil applications. And, of course, it is the adults involved who are at fault…NOT THE CHILDREN!
3.)Some of the posters accuse those of us who are critical of this particular routine of being pedophiles/sick-minded.
Criticizing a sexually-charged dance routine done by little girls does not suggest that the criticizer is a pedophile any more than criticizing a Nazi marching band routine makes a person a Nazi. This type of accusation is merely an attempt to scare and shame those of us who take issue with the situation from speaking up.
