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Primark under fire for selling padded bikinis for 7-year-olds

By Lucy Hutchings on Thursday 15 April 2010

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Primark Oxford Circus, London-

Conservative party leader David Cameron has branded Primark's decision to sell padded bikinis for 7-year-olds 'disgraceful', as the high street store has confirmed that it has removed the offending swimwear from its stores.

The bargain chain has now halted sales of the £4 two-pieces, after apologising for causing offence, and promising to donate all profits from the bikinis to children's charities.

A statement from the store confirmed: 'The company has stopped the sale of this product line with immediate effect. Primark will donate all the profits made from this product line to a children's charity, and apologises to customers for any offence caused.'

Primark was forced to act after facing a barrage of criticism. Cameron weighed in on the debate yesterday, commenting: 'There is a classic example today where Primark are apparently pushing padded bras on seven-year-olds, which I think is completely disgraceful.

'The sort of country I want is one where it is not just the Government that feels outraged about the early commercialisation and sexualisation of our children, but companies should stop doing it, they should take some responsibility,' he added.

Online forum Mumsnet also backed the removal of the product from Primark stores, with its founder Justine Roberts stating: 'It's very clear that parents just don't want to see this stuff on shelves.'

Mumsnet recently launched a campaign to end the production of products that will 'prematurely sexualise' children, entitled Let Girls Be Girls.

Supporting the campaign, Prime Minister Gordon Brown commented: 'All of us as parents can recognise there's something wrong when companies are pushing our kids into acting like little grown-ups when they should be enjoying being children.'

Do you think Primark was wrong to sell padded bikinis for children? Let us know your opinions in the comments box below.

MARIE CLAIRE MEETS DAVID CAMERON: READ THE INTERVIEW HERE

Thursday 15 April 2010

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Some Children as young as 8 can go through body changes and their chest can start developing and then they need some padded protection to stop it hurting and encourage proper growth but not too much padding, it is up to the parents to make a choice if to buy or not, also some girls aged 10 and above need smaller size bras and they should not have to look in the adult section.
Comment by Ruth Cook on April 15 12:53

Well its the first time I have ever agreed with David Cameron. It is an absolute disgrace to sell such an obviously sexualising product to children. Primark obviously wanted money more than caring about what they are selling or seeing the dangers of making a child appear as an adult way before their time. I am not a prude and am aware children like to dress up and often imitate adults but this is going to far in my opinion and primark should be ashamed of themselves.
Comment by Mavie on April 15 12:58

What the hell is happening in this world...children are growing up far too quickly, you only get one childhood and parents should encourage their children to have a decent one !!
Comment by Sarah on April 15 13:15

Wow, Ruth's post really made me laugh. Why defend Primark? It was a totally dumb move to sell those. I think there is no satisfactory justification: 8 year olds who are developing should stop consuming hormone induced foods; padding is not going to stop pain; older girls with small busts should get small sized bras and if AA is too small then wear nothing!
Comment by Helen on April 15 13:16

Totally agree with David Cameron - its disgraceful! why can't children be children they shouldn't even have bikini's it just encourages perverts. I disagree with the lady that said they need them to be padded for protection, what a load of rubbish we never even dreamt of wearing a bra at 7 back in my day - leave children alone and stop encouraging them to be grown ups then the pervs will leave our kids alone!! Primark is just looking at the money and don't care about the effect this has on children , just like the people who make their clothes they are paid pennies - they don't care!
Comment by GMc on April 15 13:29

If its such a disgrace to put a slight bit of padding in a bikini top which yes may be bought for children then shouldn't they be not wearing bikinis at all? So what if a child wants to wear one they also wear short skirts, is that encouraging a sexual image once again? Why don't people concentrate on where kids are really getting these sexual images from? On how children can feel so insecure about themselves? If primark didn't actually believe that people wouldn't buy them then they wouldn't put them on the shelves, its society that is forcing children to question how they should improve themselves. And at the end of the day it is up to the parent whether to buy them or not and if they choose not to then end of story, lets concentrate on the more real issues in the world.
Comment by Raquel Bywater on April 15 14:49

Totally agree with them withdrawing padded bras for such a young age. Only a few weeks ago I was horrified when I saw a T-shirt in the toddler section of Primark with the slogan "Trainee Wag" I want my daughter to have a childhood for as long as possible.
Comment by Angela on April 15 15:37

I agree with Helens comment 100%. That sums it up for me.
Comment by Rosemarie on April 15 21:13

Much as it pains to agree with David Cameron, this time I have to. So, so, so, SO wrong. And dangerous in a cultural sense to continue this trend of sexualising young girls.

(And Ruth, sweetie, growing breasts doesn't hurt. It just happens. If a girl's an early developer and needs support, that is different from 'padding' and can be achieved by getting an ordinary one-piece swimsuit.)
Comment by Vivi on April 15 23:52

I'm sorry i can understand completely where you are all coming from. Padded bikini's are a bad thing as they 'over sexualise' children. But im sorry buying your young child a bikini is just a bad. Putting a young girl in a bikini is encouraging perverts. Shops only sell bikinis for young girls because it's what the market wants. So i think parents should look at themsleves before pointing the finger.
Stop buying your young children bikinis and they will stop being made.
Comment by Frankie on April 16 17:11

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