Beyoncé isn't your child's parent so stop being outraged
The internet has been abuzz since Beyoncé released her latest album, "Beyoncé", directly to iTunes on Thursday at midnight. The secret release coupled with the surprisingly risqué material are being called a media coup because of the amount of attention the album's garnered but some parent groups are outraged.
In an article about possible backlash against "Beyoncé", Vivienne Pattison of the parent watchdog group, Mediawatch-UK, voiced her displeasure that Beyoncé can no longer be seen as a role model and that children will be able to watch the videos on Youtube. Well, I'm outraged at the outrage! Beyoncé only released an album, she didn't become our kids' parents. That's still our job. I certainly understand being concerned about the creeping sexualization of children but I am concerned that we are becoming a nation of passive parents who whine instead of policing our children's media consumption.
For instance, I recently went to a social media workshop for parents and I was amazed at how many parents felt they had no control over what their kids did online! I had planned to just observe the workshop because I wanted to do similar workshop for my mommy group but I felt compelled to say something and in our breakout group I let the parents know how I felt. I told them that I feel the internet is like a car and no self-respecting parent would leave a young child alone in a car much less to drive one yet every day we allow our children unrestricted access to the internet and television. That should be Ms. Pattison's concern -- that she's not monitoring what her children watch on youtube and iTunes.
Beyoncé is an adult who produces entertainment geared towards other adults so Ms. Pattison and others who are worried her music is "raunchy" should realize that their concern is misplaced. Beyoncé's albums and videos were never intended for the Disney crowd. As parents, what we should be concerned about are the movies, music, and videos that are marketed to our young children but are filled with sex and violence. Let's stop being passive parents and put the blame where it should be -- on us for not monitoring our children.
To Ms. Pattison and others: let your children know what they are allowed to watch, listen, and read; talk to your children about the messages that might have escaped your watchful eye; and for crying out loud, load your children's music on to their iPods.
Yardyspice