It was fascinating when rifling through the family archive air tight chest recently where I came across a 1973 Women's Weekly magazine that my mother had kept, with a full page spread of models in pjs.
One of the three in the photograph is a young girl, maybe 13, possibly 14, with her (mum) on a chair and a (sister) standing to one side, all in their pj's and this young girl's legs in full view, uncovered all the way up to her pj panties.
This was 1973 – this was forty three years (43) ago.
No one would have blinked an eye at this in 1973. I pointed out this page to my wife Delma of 39 years, who looked at this and said it was advertising pj's.
When I alerted her to the current furore over young girls modelling precisely this sort of attire, she at once recognised the debate and was a little taken aback, at what was once understood as simply modelling pj's, now might carry a completely different dimension.
It was like lights coming on ....... the debate today is alive and well.
Exploitation issues
There has been a spate of criticism in recent years of showing young girls in modelling poses for marketing day wear, beach attire and bed time pj's, all claiming it is sexual exploitation of children.
In this context of criticism, the term 'young children' could be young girls from the ages of eight or nine through to fourteen, fifteen or even sixteen. The criticism is based on the following concerns.
Young girls are too young to understand what they are getting themselves into when modelling in this manner, regardless of whether they have parental consent.
Young girls are being sent the wrong messages, that their value and worth is being based on their appearance of an alluring nature.
Young girls appearing in such attire are sending the wrong messages to those males who have the propensity to offend in a sexual deviant manner.
Moreover, its sending conflicting messages to young teenage males who are faced with such magazine images by those girls, who are in their class rooms at schools, girls of similar age and shape and appearance. They have been given the 'tick of approval'.
Finally, the criticism is that it's a very short step from such images to soft porn and then on to more worrying situations. The statistics on very young people young watching pornography is horrific.
The debate
This debate will continue as we live in a climate of heightened awareness of anything that might be deemed 'inappropriate'. Every minor detail is analysed.
Many feel today that their unarticulated freedom's are being restricted by such 'carry-on' over modelling girl's pj's. Others hold their hands up in horror.
As a Christian family having raised Generation Y and X children who are now all adults, having raised them in a climate of such modelling, we're aware of the "restrictions and limitations" issues.
I'm of the view that we're in danger of allowing ourselves to become overwhelmed by those who call restraint in all things. The Proverbs are full of common sense, and here's some – Proverbs chapter 3 verse 1 "But let your heart keep my commands" and verse 3 "Let not mercy and truth forsake you" - and verse 4 - "Find favour and high esteem in the sight of God and man".
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html