All of these links are broken. Which is quite unfortunate.

It seems to be putting an extra "thesocietypages.org/"after the http:// part on all the links. If you take that part out, the links go to the intended place (but still should be fixed).

How is puberty being defined? Menarche? I believe breast development typically begins well before menarche.

Look, I think the sexualization of young girls is creepy, and I don't think anyone -- at any age -- "should" enhance her cleavage.

But I also think posts like this can have a secondary effect of shaming girls who develop breasts at, say, 8 (which happens more and more).

For many of those girls, "little kid" styles are not going to fit properly.

Somehow we need to figure out clothes that help those girls feel happy about their developing body without feeling sexualized. I'm not sure exactly how to accomplish that -- I'm bad at clothes, generally, and there's a fine line between flattering a breasted shape (does that phrase even make sense?) and sexualizing. But just saying "OMG they make push-up bras for kids" isn't very helpful.

of all the reasons to dislike Abercrombie, this is pretty low on the outrage scale.

I had a bikini with an underwire bra in it when I was 11 because I needed the support and it was the only thing with it I could find. :\

A lot of links at the bottom do not exist!

that's just.. wow. Even if there are kids who need support, why do the bras have to look like that?

I don't know. I think a big part of the issue here is that there is an ENORMOUS gap between what is appropriate for a 7 year old and what is appropriate for a 14 year old. They're two wildly different stages of life. A seven year old is a little girl, but a fourteen year old isn't (now, she isn't a grown woman, but to lump high schoolers in with first graders when it comes to sexuality and manner of dress is idiotic and insulting). I really never want to defend Abercrombie at ALL, but, I always got the impression that the kids brand was aimed more heavily at middle schoolers and high schoolers who were smaller than average than it was at little kids. However, because of the size range, they make the same stuff that you'd never think twice about letting a 13 or 14 year old wear in sizes for girls who are 7. And it's aimed at an age group where two girls of the exact same age can be of totally different sizes. Honestly, I think that both clothing manufacturers and those criticizing them need to realize that just because theoretically you can call a 7 year old and a 14 year old 'young girls' doesn't mean that they are at the same point of life.

I'm sure 500 people are also going to tell blatant lies in response to this about how, when THEY were 12-14, instead of caring about boys or clothes, they wore pigtails and overalls and made mud pies!

I find push up bras to be sexy. I wear them when I go clubbing. My niece is 16 and I wouldn't want to see her in swim wear with push up bras. I am not prudish but geez let teens be teens don't fast track them to adult hood.

Ugh. While a 14-year-old (the *upper* end of the scale) my have a "budding" sexuality, I hope it is still that. Budding. (And an 11-year-old shouldn't even have that, in my opinion.) That's what PARENTS are for: to explain, guide, and channel that budding sexuality in an appropriate manner so that it doesn't end up with one becoming a grandparent before one's time. But I guess that's what makes me a prude, and will hopefully make my children happy, healthy, 14-year-olds with sexuality that is still budding.

I can safely say that at 14, I definitely needed a bikini top with a lot of support, kind of like this one. Ironically, the push-ups are more supportive than regular bikini tops, making girls with larger breasts (like myself, at that age) less likely to flash nipple or fall out of the top. They're also more supportive from the back than the shoulders (you try having 5lbs of boob supported by a tiny thread around your neck, it's not fun), and fuller coverage, even if that coverage creates more cleavage.

Bathing suits, if they're triangle top bikinis like this, are going to be "sexual" (in the culturally defined meaning of the word), regardless of whether or not they are "push-up" if you have larger boobs. Sexuality is culture-defined, which means that adults sexualizing girls that wear these tops are at fault more than the top itself or the manufacturer. If these are marketed to flatter girls wanting to create cleavage, yes, then they create a more "sexualized" image on young girls.

But I'll be honest here. At 14, when I was very thin (still growing) and disproportionately large breasted, I was "sexualized" even if I was wearing a potato sack. These tops are fairly ridiculous for girls without a large chest to support, but so is the idea that people are sexualizing them. Yes, I know it happens, but its wrong. Adults looking at 7 to 14 year-old girls and seeing a sexual object are wrong. I lived under that scrutiny once I went through puberty, and developed a deep shame about my body that manifested in over-the-top modesty. Even though I lived in a very hot state and swam all the time, I refused to wear anything but a one-piece under a shirt, and even then I would get harassed by adult men and older boys, and get disparaging glances from women if I dared to take my top off (I've heard, "I can't believe her mother let her wear that!" too many times to count).

Girls develop breasts much earlier than they are equipped to enter into a sexual relationship, much less navigate one with an adult who wrongly looks upon them as a sexual object. Adults that impose their sexuality on to young girls are wrong, regardless if that young girl is wearing a "push-up" bikini. Of course, young girls might be less willing to wear a "push-up" bikini if sexuality wasn't posited as the sole function of women and the only thing they should aspire to, but that's not going to happen any time soon.

Also, I manifestly don't understand how if it's inappropriate for a child to wear something, it's okay for an adult to. The meaning of a piece of clothing is culturally defined. The problem isn't the piece of clothing, it's the definition and the people who uphold it.

their are so many problems with abercrombie, this just adds to the list

For all those who argued these types of tops would be more supportive for a girl who developed early and has larger breasts, I would disagree. I am busty and have been, relatively, since I was in 4th grade. The structure of this bra doesn't look very supportive to me. The tie looks very thin and if a girl had larger breasts, the tie halter would pull on the back of her neck. A supportive two piece would have a top that was structured more like a typical bra.

The problem with this bikini top is that it's not being marketed as a supportive top anyway. It's being marketed as a push-up top. Push-up anythings are meant to enhance sex appeal. And Abercrombie Kids is marketed towards children, so it's telling kids they should try to enhance their sex appeal. And AK is meant to be for 7-14 year olds. The regular brand is marketed toward high schoolers and college aged kids. This is their "tween" market, just like many other retailers who have a separate identity for the tween segment.

I wouldn't want a 7-14 year old bent on enhancing her sex appeal, and that is the purpose of marketing these tops this way.

Where are the parents in all of this? It is about conversations with your kids and not only telling them what is appropriate but also showing them and modeling certain behaviors and or attitudes. We cannot change what is flashed or shoved in their faces by stores like AK or Forever 21 for example, but we can use that to teach our kids. Most importantly we have to teach them self respect and love for their bodies. This doesn't start at 12, it starts when they are 3 and 4 and we teach them how great they are, inside and out! In the end we are the ones paying the bill. If my daughters and I cannot agree on a piece of clothing, I do not buy it. I see parents who are afraid of their kids and can't say NO!! It is OUR job as parents. So stop complaining about the stores and educate yourself and your children!! Take all your personal drama out of the equation, it is their turn now, empower and teach, don't dwell on the past! Just because you were horrified by breasts or bras at certain age, doesn't mean your kid or any kid will have the same experience.

I understand the comments about preteen bodies being variable. Some little girls develop early and some don't, and none should be made to feel embarrassed by their bodies. HOWEVER, I think the point of this post about the marketing of "push up" tops for these young bodies. I happened to be one of those early developers and the notion that my 12 year old boobs needed to be pushed up in some way is crazy. Abercrombie is obviously not making a nuanced stance about the young female body with these products. They are trying to sell something by appealing to the adult female body. This is obvious and I don't think the post should be criticized for reacting to Abercrombie's non-nuanced marketing with a non-nuanced post.

Have any of you actually seen these tops IN PERSON...A) there is no wire in any piece of the top. B) it has padding VERY PAPER THIN PADDING so its not gonna push anything up no matter what size chest the girl has all its gonna do is protect the nipple from showing when the top is wet. and if you are so against the top just dont flipping shop at AnF.

Aww, isn't GET OVER IT so cute. This issue is so totally nothing that he had to comment to tell everyone to shut up it's no big deal. Aren't pointless posts from total cowards so adorable!

excuse me i am a she not a he. and i don't think im a coward. im just putting in my two cents if you don't agree or dont like it thats fine.. and if my post is so pointless then why respond back to it..im just saying.

I looked at the Abercrombie Kids website. Their size chart says the XL is a 32-33 bust size (US sizing). The small is a 27.5-28.5. Chests this size do not need support. But the bikini is not a support garment. It's a push-up, and it's hard to make an argument that a push-up has any other purpose than to enhance cleavage. It's even harder to make an argument that enhancing cleavage has any other purpose than to enhance sexual appeal. Fine if you're a woman, or maybe even, as some have said, a 14 year old. Not many 14 year olds have a size 27.5 inch chest. According to the size chart, clothing sized small is meant for someone 56-58 inches, which is about 4.5 feet tall. That is a child. And if you put this swimsuit on her, she will be a child playing grownup sexy.

How are push-up bras functional? Aren't they for sexualizing the body? Why does a 7 year old need this?

I am sorry but I find this very disturbing. There is enough pressure in society and the media for girls to portray a particular image and that also includes a focus on your breast size.

This as about pre-teens for goodness sakes. No girl in that age bracket needs a damn push-up bra or bathing suit.

And if any parent buys this for their daughter, they should be shot.

they've updated the description (but not changed the product; the tops still appear to be padded) to just "striped triangle," presumably from public pressure.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/BUSINESS/03/26/abercrombie.bikini.controversy/index.html?eref=mrss_igoogle_cnn

http://www.abercrombiekids.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10851&storeId=10101&langId=-1&categoryId=71459&parentCategoryId=12174&topCategoryId=12103&productId=752352

They may not "feature" push-up triangles but they still sell them, just under a different title now, "striped triangles". I assume the product is still the same.

people that get upset about this have an issue with sexuality in general. the nazi press campaign against Abercrombie is just another indication about the ongoing witch hunt against anything that might be interpreted as sexualization.
especially the anglo-american culture is obsessed with this issue, enough of you wanna-be crusaders, if you dont like it, dont buy it but shut up and leave others alone who have a more healthy approach to life.

Are u aware of the book "Cinderella Ate My Daughter"....essentially the same topic.
Hard to believe this stupidity and ignorance abounds when women worldwide are fighting for their very voice and existence, not big tits.

i wear them im only 12 but they make me feel sexy

well i am 13 years old and i wear them all the time i dnt care what pple tell me cuase i have boobs big but and i am skinny so i look sexy!!!!!!!!!kk yeah and i just wanted to say that some girls in 8th grade dnt have bt stuff and if you dnt have any dnt buy them and parents you guys are the ones who says yes or no so you buy them u did you didnt too bad ....................amanda thas your name i dink you just dnt have none!!!!ssry lol!!!!!!!!

Girls that are below the age of 15 don't need to feel 'sexy'. You all are kids, enjoy your childhood. People nowadays wonder why there is such a problem with adolescent pregnancies but they never stop to see who is promoting it. Parents need to fight this kind of influence on children. 

im 15 years old and i seriously dont see a problem with this. because im very short and skinny i still shop at abercrombie kids; however, i have a larger chest. I started wearing a padded bra at a young age not because i wanted to be "sexy", but because i needed to! Nowadays teenagers are growing up faster, but that doesn't mean 8 year olds who dont have a chest are trying to look like victoria secret models. Some teenagers, like me, want to buy this product because its fashionable and comfortable. If parents have a problem, they shouldnt buy the product and stop worrying about other girls. Stop taking it out on Ambercrombie, they are just trying to reach out to those older customers!

Girls that are 12 and under shouldn't even be thinking about push up bras or bikini tops. They're 12!? Think about it, really.....

Saddest thing Abercrombie has made yet.

some companies sell cute "eye catchy" bra, but often it's not appropriate for tween age (padded wire, push up etc). so thats why my friend has a website that sells cute appropriate tween bras, just for this reason, she ended up making them herself as she coudln't get any nice ones. sorry for the plug but it's http://zinkyzoo.com it has kids appropriate prints and very cute. your kids will like it I think.

if you people  think so bad about this stuff then dont come on the website its none of your guyses bisness of wat they make and it will never be so and if you guys dont like it,it shouldnt be bothering you cuzz if you dont want your kids to get it then dont get it  then dont get it dont go on oter companies web site if all you are going to do is critisize them make your own website  and critisize your self before you do it to oters and just because you guys are posting crap like this does no meaning for them to stop makeing their product dont want it dont buy it easy as that but if someone wants something you arent going to stop it so you  buy what you bye and we buy what we wanna buy tell them how you think this is wrong and we will tell you how we think it wrong how you guys are posteing rude stuff like that same thing exept for ours is right and ithe nextntime you wanna post some thing rude wrte it on a piece of paper and hang it on the refridgerator and read it every day then think about getting abot 10 of thse a day and emmagine about how they feel.
         

                   ps if you wanna send rude stuff to me remember in twelve and i hope this make something out of who you are and to let people know that what they are doing is NOT right but send good coments and not bad and for this you will get rewrded in anotehr way :)and dont send crap that i dont need to read

I am a 13 year old girl, I am being judged here and there about my cup size. Yes, if they were selling this right now, I would be first in line to buy it. I wish this was discontinued because I would love it. I don't fit anything else in other stores. It kinda gets me mad that someone took the first thing that would make my body look flawless. I say you guys should totally bring it back.

ok if she is "biologically" an adult (ie if her having sex would result in pregnancy) and that she had something to push up (the age this begins to apply to varies)

Solution: Create size 0, 00, 000 in the Adult version of this swimsuit that can fit both extremely thin adults and adolescent girls (result problem solved)

Unless you are going to make children's Tankinis to replace the swimsuits (ie the size dementions) that this topic is discussing SHUT THE F**KING HELL UP !!!!!!

i find these "kids" push up bikinis is exactly what i need, i am 22 and i have very small boobs i am desperatley trying to find bikinis that enhance my body not make me look very flat.

All of the fake outrage on these pages - it's almost as if no woman on here ever pushed a pair of tennis balls up her top when she was 7 or 8, or ever pranced around in her mom's high heel shoes, or "borrowed" her big sister's lipstick.
I smell the foul and rank odor of hypocrisy leaking out of my laptop as i scroll down these pages.