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Are the Pussycat Dolls suitable for young teens?

Saturday, 31 January 2009

The Pussycat Dolls who are due to play Belfast's King's Hall on 3rd Feb 09.

More pictures

In Pictures: Pussycat Dolls, Kings Hall, Belfast

Are the Pussycat Dolls, who perform at the King's Hall next week, really suitable for an audience likely to be be packed with 12-year-old girls?

NO

I could probably tolerate the Pussycat Dolls had they stayed true to their beginnings: an adult-only burlesque troupe designed to titillate punters with raunchy striptease routines.

Dressed in bustiers, hot pants and suspenders, the girls would wiggle their way through a two-hour set of simulated sex for a mostly male clientele.

Legs were stretched akimbo, hips gyrated and bottoms slapped. When they weren't shimmying seductively around poles they were wrapped around each other in acts of faux-lesbianism. Still, all the adults had a good night. Men got a cheap thrill, the women got paid -- everyone was happy

What I find intolerable is that the troupe, who have since transformed themselves into a best-selling girl band, are now intent on bringing their own particular brand of strip-club chic to our under-12s.

The overly sexualised stage routines and explicit outfits are still there, only the audience is now little girls as young as four. It's a market the women (the lead singer is 31) have been groomed for since the very beginning.

They are meant to look doll-like, with their pneumatic frames, bee-stung lips and tumbling locks (which one's your favourite?).

The thigh-high boots and bra tops are now accessorised with little-girl cropped tees, denim minis and low-rider jeans, then there's the textese-inspired song titles such as Sticwitu.

Anyone in doubt that this band's target market is the tweenies age group need only visit Belfast’s Odyssey next Tuesday where they'll be greeted by throngs of pre-teens. The official merchandise provides more clues: tiny shorts, tawdry anklet bracelets and trucker caps.

It was evidenced further in 2006 when toy manufacturer Hasbro unveiled plans to create a set of dolls modelled on the group. Thankfully plans were scrapped when two American protest groups successfully lobbied the company.

The Pussycat Dolls are irrefutably being marketed towards the under-12s, but are taking no responsibility for the message they're sending them.

We all know impressionable pre-teens don't just admire girl bands, they idolise them.

They want to look like them, sound like them and act like them.

That's why we can't have role models who perform simulated sex routines, wear hooker-inspired outfits and sing innuendo-riven lyrics.

It can only serve to hyper-sexulise pre-teens and make them falsely equate brazen sexual theatrics with female empowerment.

Little girls should be at home playing with the Sylvanian Families, not standing in a concert hall singing along to songs like, "When I grow up, I wanna see the world, drive nice cars, I wanna have boobies" and "I'm a do my thing while you're playing with your. . ." (Transformers figure?)

As for those who reckon "it's only a bit of fun" -- consult the studies.

The sexualisation of pre-teens has been proven to affect cognitive functioning, physical and mental health and healthy sexual development, and has been linked to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.

Shame on the Pussycat Dolls, shame on the record company and to the parents taking their little girls to the Odyssey next week — shame on you.

Katie Byrne is an entertainment columnist based in Dublin.

YES

As a little girl I used to dance around the house singing Madonna's Like a Virgin.

I had no idea what the words meant but I thought the pop singer was beautiful and I had posters of her in her underwear and fingerless lace gloves plastered all over my bedroom walls.

By the time Britney was in her school uniform telling the world to 'Hit me, baby one more time', and the Spice Girls were prancing around in their bras on stage shouting about girl power, I had moved on.

As a youngster, my mother ignored me when I was singing about an unplanned pregnancy in Madonna's number one hit, Papa don't Preach, and quite rightly so.

Just because I liked the song didn't mean that I wanted to be a teenage mother myself. Madonna never toured Ireland, sadly, but if she had I'd have saved all my pocket money to see my heroine perform her raunchy onstage routines.

If I had a daughter, and she wanted to see the Pussy Cat Dolls in action next week, I'd gladly take her along.

Would I be worried that she would start looking like a slut because she had witnessed a polished, manufactured American girlband dressed in skimpy outfits singing songs with dodgy lyrics for an hour and a half? Not at all.

Because the Pussycat Dolls, who were initially an LA burlesque group, are basically a group of well-managed copycats who are cleverly milking it, just like Posh Spice and Co did a decade ago. And why not?

These girls are not talented songwriters and will never ever become icons like Madonna or Christina Aguilera, but if they're going to be performing dancers and make that their profession, isn't it better for them that they're making lots of money on stage dancing for teenagers rather than swinging around poles for sleazy customers in dark basement clubs?

If the Pussycat Dolls weren't driving onto concert stages on motorbikes wearing skimpy leather, some other opportunistic girl band would be.

Better that than being background dancers in some rapper's video — while he smokes a cigar they bend over in gold bikinis pretending to wash his car.

I'd rather see the Pussycat Dolls make their own money than just be accessories to Snoop Dog.

There will always be people outraged at women like the Pussycat Dolls and they'll worry that their kids will be influenced by their music. But this isn't realistic.

My mother didn't like my obsession with Madonna but she knew I'd grow out of it, and I did. And now when I see the ageing songstress dancing around in her Godawful electric blue leotard, I wonder what I ever saw in her.

One day, the Pussycat Doll fans will do the same.

Mother-to-be Marisa Mackle is an author and columnist

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23 Comments

Learn the word of the song before you start giving out..."when i grow up i wanna see the world, drive nice cars, i wann ahvae GROUPIES".If you actually watched PCD interviews or met them (like i did) you would see that they are really sweet and yes,they are role models,they are definetly my role models anyways.You shouldnt really judge people before you get to know them,a lot of things have happened in some of the members lives and they said that the only way they could escape was through music,dancing and singing and i admire them for that.They stuck with what they loved and it paid off.That inspires me to pursue my dreams and to never give up.
Ever hear of entertainment?
I love their stage outfits.Their performances are so much more exciting than other artists who walk around the stage in jeans and a tshirt.
I have seen them live 3 times,met them 1 time and danced on stage with them 1 time!I LOVE PCD WITH ALL MY HEART <3

Posted by Taylor | 28.03.09, 14:51 GMT

Im 15 And Lurv Pcd
I Wouldnt Wear What They Wear
They Are Perfect Role Models And I
Lurv Them I Lurved Watchin Them Perform
In January They Are Amazing And Talented
Dancers They Dont Choose What They Wear
So Theres No Need To Make Snide Remarks About
Them If You Dont Like Watching Them Dont
Watch Them Its Simple Just Dont Comment
And Annoying Pcd Fans Such As Myself
I LOVE YOU PCD <3

Posted by hayley | 17.03.09, 17:58 GMT

I went and im only 13 it was amazing and lady gaga opening it AMAZING!! i would go again if i got thr chance

Posted by Michael | 28.02.09, 13:47 GMT

i would like to become the next pussycat dolls with a few of my friends , because i think me have the style and fasion and pootential to become the next pcd at a very young age of 13
wow ....
thank you very much and reply asap
bye

Posted by chika | 27.02.09, 13:36 GMT

The Pussycat Dolls are an amazingg girl group!
It's 'When i grow up i wanna see the world, drive nice cars, i wanna have GROUPIES'
I'm 14 now and I have loved PCD ever since their first single, back in 2005!
They have worked hard to get where they are now. They are really talented!
People always bash them, and I guess I understand why. But they are really not bad role models for girls.
Some people just judge them straight away on how they are dressed.
Just because they dress like that, doesn't mean whoever listens to thier music and likes them is gonna dress like that!
I absolutely love them, but I wouldn't wear what they wear. They are so confident to dress like that, and they have loads of people bashing them all the time. They are strong women, and they really do inspire people. They have inspired me soo much. They inspire loads of girls, that dreams can come true.
I wish people would stop bashing them, but I know thats not gonna happen.
they are amazing!
PCD 4EVER <33

Posted by Katrina | 19.02.09, 22:18 GMT

I was there as well
I am a 14 year old male and I do not see a fault.
It was amazing, and that is what you expect from PCD,
So only if you are stupid enough to believe they will show no skin, will there be any unplanned circumstances when you arrived.

Posted by Paul Devlin | 12.02.09, 12:28 GMT

Both sides presented reasonable and realistic arguments, but the pro side has a flaw. Time. Her time period is at an age where sexuality exposure only appears on TVs (barely), and porn magazines. Now in the 21st century, we have it everywhere. While it can be considered that the chances of influencing girls to become the next gen sluts are still slim; the numbers are significantly increased from what you have experienced. I don't mean to shut anyone down, but one's obsession varies and with this many exposure, I simply do not see the pro side happening in almost 12 years of my life.

In other words; Pussy Cat Dolls is bad news, and so are other groups pursuing the same path. They should stop.

Before anyone else makes a counter remark; I would like to remind you that my former-elementary school is under siege of grade 3's dressing and singing like Pussy Cat Dolls. Disgusting and despicable.

Posted by Kevin Chan | 12.02.09, 06:21 GMT

having been present at tonights concert (in a working capacity) i feel that this should have been a restricted age event. Those parents who did take their young daughters along in the freezing cold dressed in hot pants, crop tops, play boy bunny ears and full faced makeup (some who were only primary school age) need a serious reality check. It was disgusting and depressing.

Posted by anon | 04.02.09, 01:39 GMT

Pussycat dolls are a great girlband ! You need to get the song words right for when i grow up - when i grow up i wanna see the world drive nice cars and i wanna have groupies. I have loved pcd since 2005 and have seen them 3 times and the girls have inspired me to persue my dream as a professional dancer. I loved there concert in birmingham 2009 2006 x Go pcd xx

Posted by Holly | 03.02.09, 16:13 GMT

i think they are great!

Posted by alex | 03.02.09, 14:32 GMT

Nicoles 30
its called 'stickwitu'
its 'when i grow up, i wanna see the world, drive nice cars, i wanna have groupies' not boobies
katie bryne should get her facts right haha
they do great dongs they are AMAZING dancers and inspire loads of young girls that dreams can come true and all that
ive met them and they are so lovelyyy
i went to the concert i loved every minute great songs a great vibe

Posted by CJ | 02.02.09, 17:26 GMT

Gerry- R u a man???????????????????

Posted by Flim | 02.02.09, 15:07 GMT

If there are any tickets left, I am off out to get some.....along with some earplugs and binoculars.

Posted by Richard | 02.02.09, 12:47 GMT

Gerry I dont know what soft porn you have seen mate but I would get your money back. You see more flesh in The Sun.

Posted by soarer | 02.02.09, 11:23 GMT

this just in: no one is being forced to go to the gig at the Kings Hall so if you think they are unsuitable then don't take your kids!

Posted by No1 Fan | 02.02.09, 10:24 GMT

DJ - sorry, Girls aloud are NOT like that - they are mildly titillating and their "music", it is, for the best part, suited to its target age group; the Pussycat Dolls have made the transition from burlesque to mainstream pop without toning the 18+ nature of their act down one iota and are, visually and lyrically, verging on soft porn. Marisa Mackle says in her opening lines that she used to dance around to "Like A Virgin" without knowing what the words meant; the thing is Marisa, the young girls of today know EXACTLY what the words - and images - are meant to portray when they see the Pussycat Dolls perform. My sister - no prude herself, I would point out - has a 13 year old daughter whom she accompanied to the last Pussycat Dolls concert here and was so shocked by the average age of the audience watching the explicit stage show that she left after about half an hour. If male role models (eg Wayne Rooney) can come in for criticism, then it must apply for this bunch of hussies as well

Posted by Gerry | 02.02.09, 10:09 GMT

All the groups are the same, eg. girls aloud are like that. so what the difference.

Posted by d.j | 02.02.09, 06:49 GMT

THe lyrics that Katie mentions are NOT in fact "I wanna have boobies" but instead "I wanna have GROUPIES" .... freudian slip Katie?

Posted by mo | 01.02.09, 20:09 GMT

To the person who said no, get of your high horse. So what if their listening to them? Its their choice, and they don't have to follow exactly what they do. I have a 10 year old daughter who listens to them and watches their videois, and she stays exactly the same as she always had. Their not brainwashing kids.

Posted by Sean | 01.02.09, 18:22 GMT