Strollerderby

www.youtube.com/watch

She's a very cute little girl; but the booty slapping and grinding is sooooo not appropriate! It's pretty disturbing that this is what a 4 year old girl is learning and obviously idolizing. There is something incredibly wrong with girl culture right now, it is way over-sexualized, and completely lacking anything solid or inspiring. I think it's pretty sad that her mother thought this was age appropriate behavior and felt like it was totally acceptable to post this video on youtube.

oh please, she is just having fun!  It's a SONG that is FUN to DANCE to!  

Sure the song is fun to dance to, fun is one thing, but a 4 year old booty slapping and grinding is another. It's not okay. She has no clue what she is doing, and that is what makes it a problem. Beyonce is sexual, she is an adult woman, an entertainer; she has every right to be sexual and dance like an adult woman. But it is not okay for a 4 year old girl to be overtly sexual, and it is not okay to have that sexual behavior broadcast on youtube. It is just not okay. Little girls can have fun and dance, but there is a limit and I think this crosses that limit. I think it's sad that so many don't see this as inappropriate, or even see a problem with the over sexualization and objectification of women in the media and of little girls. Toys and dolls for little girls that are sexy are not okay. We don't do this to our boys, why is okay to do this to our little girls and to teach them that being sexy is the only to be famous or get attention? There is nothing okay with encouraging a little girl to dance and act like Beyonce.

I find it disturbing as well...

I agree with Sam. Like Chris Rock said... your job as a parent is to keep your daughter off the pole. This is just as bad as the little girls in beauty pagents being taught how to be sexy.

An 8 year old girl at my daughter's school did this - in heels -  for their talent show. I felt like a party pooper for really, really not liking it.

Normally I am actually pretty prudish about things like this, but this did not really bother me. She is cute, in her little ballet leotard, and it is a good dance routine. And she is in her living room, not on a pageant stage. We slap butts at our house all the time in a playful way, not a sexual way- I know how Beyonce meant it, but Arianna doesn't. If there were guys in the video, it would be different, but it is female dancers doing a catchy routine. And Beyonce is not a terrible role model, either- she is a standard of beauty not achievable by many, but she has a fit and healthy figure, stays out of scandals pretty well, and has a successful career. I do find it creepy to think of how a pedophile would view this, but that would be the case no matter what- they are creeps!

Hannah, you wrote: "Not to mention that the sassy, hair-tossing message, “If you like it, then you should have put a ring on it,” is hardly a lesson I would like to impart to my daughters. I know pop culture is a bit behind the times on this point, but some women actually don’t just want to snag a man who will buy them expensive things."

It's funny, I took it very differently.  I took that line to mean that the woman had enough respect for herself not to "give the milk away for free" so to speak- and was demanding a commitment from the man, rather than letting him play around.  To me, it was clear that the ring referred to is a wedding ring, not just some expensive bauble.  I think the way it was expressed was a little crass, but I really didn't think it was as whorish a sentiment as you seemed to.  

Also, a quick google of the rest of the lyrics shows they include these lines:  "Don't treat me to the things of the world/ I'm not that kind of girl/ Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve."

As the mom of two little girls, I'm uncomfortable with the sexual nature of the dance done by the little girl, though, even though I think the message of the song isn't as bad as you thought it was.

Whether this is"fun" or not,its still VERY inapropriate.

Do people,THIS GIRL'S PARENTS,not know that there are perverts out there watching this video getting all excited?Its disgusting.

No little girl should be copying beyonce's dance moves or style.

I agree with Emma. I thought she was absolutely adorable, and actually a very good dancer for her age.. I used to teach children's dance. And to the author, I don't mind the lesson if you like it than you should've put a ring on it.. She got rid of a man she thought wasn't serious and moved on. Eh. I think too much is being made. She's cute, she's dancing.. .say aww.. move on.

"If you like it, put a ring on it..." heh.  I guess I completely misread what the "it" in that lyric is supposed to be.

My kids still listen to a lot of "kid" type music.  My middle kid is in first grade and you'd be shocked at some of the stuff his classmates listen to  "Lollipop"--ever hear those lyrics.  This song is tame.  And I agree that what Beyonce is saying is "I'm single.  If you loved me, we'd be married." or something along those lines.  Most of the songs she sings she tells men she has her own money and doesn't need theirs.  

While I agree that this kid could have a pedophile watching her video, wouldn't most sexual predator types just watch any child and get aroused???  They are sick.  And truthfully, I don't think her parents even gave that scenerio a thought.  I try to keep my children safe, but if I spent my days wondering which sexual predator will eventually get to my kid, I'd drive myself nuts.

I agree with Patricia on the lyrics. I think the blogger goes overboard on reading into the lyrics. The song doesn't say every woman needs to leave that commitment-a-phobe. The song is not that broad. I actually find it to be a bit more encouraging of women than presented here.

As far as the dancing kid, this is not okay. This video is not a child doing a random dance to a questionable song. She has obviously seen the video enough times to have the dance memorized. We were recording our daughter dancing to KidSongs the other night but it will not make it onto youtube.

Even if it's okay for little girls to dance around in a sexual way - wouldn't it protect her privacy and safety more to make that video only available to family & friends?