 michellezm says: "Early puberty has even been linked to watching too much television. A few years ago, Italian scientists found that children who watched three hours a day produced less of the sleep hormone melatonin - low levels of the hormone play an important role in the timing of puberty. But perhaps more worrying is the theory that it's exposure to environmental chemicals which is causing the drop in the age of puberty. These chemicals mimic the effect of hormones, disrupting the normal timing of sexual maturing. Whatever the cause, growing numbers of children are being deprived of childhood and are turning, physically, into mini-adults at an increasingly young age. But without the emotional maturity to deal with these changes, they are vulnerable to exploitation. In Britain, it is now estimated that up to at least one in six children under ten is affected. Indeed, there is a belief that schoolgirls as young as six are entering puberty". Having a young daughter, I am really alarmed by this trend. I have noticed more and more warnings that certain things could affect hormones in young children. It feels like pushing a big rock up a hill trying to stay ahead of our man-made environment. Has anyone heard of the oestrogen like chemicals they put in products like shampoo and conditioner ? There are also similar chemicals in many other household products. There have been examples of early puberty, and even development of female characteristics in men. The subject became an issue when there was talk of using recycled water, from which the chemicals were not removed. Broken homes, and stress ? That suggests that once children were trouble free, in a Nuclear Family. They are offering a solution which protects the cause with a diversion, and gives an opening for a pharmaceutical companies. The metabolism of children, is being screwed by a thousand things that did not exist 50 years ago. They are then becoming screwed up adults. Wow, I thought I was ahead of the curve by hitting puberty at age 8. I did have a father in the home, so his chemical inhibitors couldn't counteract my big size. The worse thing about children starting puberty early is that they'll be able to become pregnant way before they have the social skills or financial resources to deal with it. The truth is, i believe anyway, that everything we consume whether by air, ingestion or visuals even, have an effect on us. Kids are exposed to more drugs, chemicals, toxins, pollutants, synthetic hormones, witness more violence and aggressive behaviour on TV as news or masked as entertainment than ever before. It has an effect, not sure it is one thing than a synnergy of things. Everyone is looking for a single cause, but chances are, its is how things work TOGETHER that have caused the problem. Try the 52 different hormones meant for calves in milk. There you go. Go vegan and it wont happen. I agree that environmental factors (such as the examples mentioned above) outside of the girls' control plays a part in the early onset of puberty. It's interesting that the article only zeroed in on the one factor that could be interpreted as "all the girl's fault", obesity. I'd like to see if that is in fact the case or if the writer's biases are creeping into the article. Maybe they are looking for simple answers. It's easier to say, if that girl would put down the bag of Cheetos, she wouldn't start early puberty. Rather than examine all the environmental factors that come into play. Definitely a synergistic response to the chemicals in our environment. Most research is too reductionist in trying to link it to one element as absolutely provable - but money and profits are a factor and govt tries to protect businesses and not the people. However just becasue a child enters puberty at a young age does not mean that their childhood has gone. I find that attitude very disturbing. I am aware that in some cultures girls can marry and have sex from the time they start their periods but that doesnt mean we have to take on those values! Adulthood is not about menstruation for girls or the ability to have an erection in a boy --- its actually about finishing development and that... I agree with you, llyn52, that humans should be given enough time and guidance to develop to their full potential in the best possible conditions. Reality is a little different. If a young lady looks like a teenager, she'll be treated accordingly by some boys and men. That means, she'll be put in situations like being asked for dates, kisses, etc. before she's emotionally or socially advanced enough to deal with it. I'm concerned about the girls who don't have the support system to make the right decisions or get out of sticky situations. They may be preyed upon and become pregnant out of ignorance. If they didn't go through puberty as pre-teens and still looked like little girls, thes... My mum used to fukk around and to be honest it was normal "Childhood" and "Adolecence" are rather modern constructs that you won't find outside of western culture. As for puberty, my take is this: that which happens to most people tends to end up being "normal," be it early puberty or widespread systemic lead poisoning. "Normal" is neither bad nor good, per se, it's merely common, and changes in what is common tends to panic people regardless of the ultimate cost or benefit of the change. However, to the extent that early puberty may mitigate against our confusion of ignorance with innocence, perhaps it will motivate people to re-consider the necessity for early, comprehensive, factual sex ed. |
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