When I was still in my 5th grade, I was obsessed with the color pink. I loved anything that has a Barbie or a Sanrio tag with it. I loved everything furry and frilly. I had more skirts than jeans. And I have every shirt in a pastel hue. When I was in 6th grade, I experimented with nail polish. Then I started wearing it everyday during my first year in high school. Yes, I was one of them. I was “kikay”—and I still am.
For so long, the word “kikay” has negative connotations that haunt it. And since I’ve already admitted to be not just jumping in the bandwagon but driving it, I will defend my kind in this article. Brace yourself.
Oh We Are So Keen
Yes we are. The kikay is the one who is never caught dead wearing an outfit that doesn’t look very much “together”. And even when we overdress, we still tend to make our outfits look like something fresh from a fashion magazine-- visually overwhelming but not a disaster. We have our eyes set on the best accessories and when we put on make-up, we make sure that every square millimeter is covered. This keenness is something that we developed only because every day, we cater to every square millimeter of our favorite thing—our bodies. Our eyes can easily dart from one space to another, and we are also fast thinkers. (Imagine putting on a full outfit on hasty days!)
Our-tistry
Most of us are also good with at least one form of art. Notice that most women poets have a casual flair for long, beaded necklaces and character-screaming bangles. Because of our love for details, art comes naturally to us. We are ready-made experts in color (Would this go with a green fedora?), shapes (Which haircut is best for my face?) and texture (Silk or satin?).
We are Not Dumb!
Of course. How else would we know the meaning of the words “exfoliate”, “rejuvenate” and “epidermis” if we never spent a lot of time in the toiletry section, watching the facial creams battle each other out? How else would we always remember how “follicle” is spelled if we didn’t spend time holding mental debates about hot and cold wax? See, we are not dumb. We are very industrious readers.
Before I choose a shampoo or a new facial wash, I read whatever is at its back and I reread it everytime I use that product. Moreover, we study a body system which all of you might deem negligible—the integumentary system. (Have you even heard about it?) For your benefit, it is the body system (just like the nervous and digestive systems) which covers our skin, follicles, glands, hair and nails. This system is our own holy land.
Squeaky-clean
Lastly, the best thing about being kikay is our penchant for anything clean. We are the ones who usually couldn’t sleep at night if we don’t take a half-bath. We carry a sanitizer with us everywhere we go. We clean up our brushes, change the sheets and update our toiletry sets regularly. Our nails are always pristine. Our hair is always where it’s supposed to be. Don’t you just love us? Haha.
See? I doesn’t hurt to be kikay. So, are you one of us? Tell me about it—live_out_loud@ymail.com
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Hurrying Childhood
Another alarming observation about young people: they’re growing up too fast.
I noticed the fashion themes that are usually worn by teenagers and young adults are also worn by kids as early as 3 years old! When skinny jeans were officially declared hot, there were also mini versions of it for kids. When frilly blouses flooded the market, it flooded the kids section as well. And now, plaid. I could actually not walk in a mall corridor without seeing someone wear plaid. (It’s nauseating, believe me.)
The effect that this does to kids is that they actually start to think they think like grownups. Or they’re one of them. Because they already dress like them! See, for kids, dresses are the simplest form of role association. Note that they identify certain societal figures (policepersons, priests, doctors) because of how they dress. Now that they dress just like their ates and mommies, they will begin to think they’re like them. It’s a like a costume party where nobody was invited to yet everybody came.
I remember the time when grown-up clothes are for grown-ups only and kids wore matching (read: Terno) outfits and sunny dresses. I remember the time when kids wore closed shoes with laced socks and not peep-toe sandals or worse, pointed shoes. Sure, they look cute in the clothes that their sisters wear, but couldn’t we delineate the kids and grown-up clothes properly?
Also, the kids are given too much purchasing power. Toys don’t mean trucks and Barbie dolls anymore, but PSPs. Kids as early as those in Senior kinder carry camera phones already. Even the magazine industry is promoting the materialism in kids heavily! Because of this flood in you-need-to-have-this-or-else-you’re-outdated-and-unwanted attitude, kids want unnecessary things more and more incessantly…like the newest shoes, a mani-pedi, hair rebonding. And the peer pressure is biting too hard. So a lot of parents save up for these whims just so their little emperors stop stomping their feet or frowning like a bulldog. Kids have become financial torture personified!
Because of the overwhelming openness of media nowadays, the kids are also getting a lot of sexualized images that they are unaware of. For example, the US preteen series showcase the Western culture of okay-kissing at 10. Remember, this is dangerous because a lot of kids idolize the boys and girls in these preteen shows (e.g. Hannah Montana, Unfabulous, Wizards of Waverly Place). The latest dolls are made with more robust breasts and behinds. A lot of makeup lines offer products which are kid-friendly and hypo-allergenic. (Isn’t makeup for mommy only?) And lastly, the “standards” for beauty are etched in minds that get younger and younger.
My 10-year- old sister used to hate her morena skin because she always read about pretty white girls in magazines. I also remember one of her then-playmates actually went on a “diet” because she thought she was too fat. (Note: She was just eight and weighed around 95 lbs.) Then, one time, while I was at the mall, kids at around 6-9 gathered at a beautiful blouse and adored it because it makes them look “sexy”.
Sigh. To the parents, please PLEASE PLEASE connect with your kids more intimately. There is a frightening possibility that you’ll lose them to gadgets or worse, their peers.
Do you also think the kids are growing up too fast? Or am I just outdated? Tell me what you think. Email me at live_out_loud@ymail.com. And no, I’m not in a hurry.
I noticed the fashion themes that are usually worn by teenagers and young adults are also worn by kids as early as 3 years old! When skinny jeans were officially declared hot, there were also mini versions of it for kids. When frilly blouses flooded the market, it flooded the kids section as well. And now, plaid. I could actually not walk in a mall corridor without seeing someone wear plaid. (It’s nauseating, believe me.)
The effect that this does to kids is that they actually start to think they think like grownups. Or they’re one of them. Because they already dress like them! See, for kids, dresses are the simplest form of role association. Note that they identify certain societal figures (policepersons, priests, doctors) because of how they dress. Now that they dress just like their ates and mommies, they will begin to think they’re like them. It’s a like a costume party where nobody was invited to yet everybody came.
I remember the time when grown-up clothes are for grown-ups only and kids wore matching (read: Terno) outfits and sunny dresses. I remember the time when kids wore closed shoes with laced socks and not peep-toe sandals or worse, pointed shoes. Sure, they look cute in the clothes that their sisters wear, but couldn’t we delineate the kids and grown-up clothes properly?
Also, the kids are given too much purchasing power. Toys don’t mean trucks and Barbie dolls anymore, but PSPs. Kids as early as those in Senior kinder carry camera phones already. Even the magazine industry is promoting the materialism in kids heavily! Because of this flood in you-need-to-have-this-or-else-you’re-outdated-and-unwanted attitude, kids want unnecessary things more and more incessantly…like the newest shoes, a mani-pedi, hair rebonding. And the peer pressure is biting too hard. So a lot of parents save up for these whims just so their little emperors stop stomping their feet or frowning like a bulldog. Kids have become financial torture personified!
Because of the overwhelming openness of media nowadays, the kids are also getting a lot of sexualized images that they are unaware of. For example, the US preteen series showcase the Western culture of okay-kissing at 10. Remember, this is dangerous because a lot of kids idolize the boys and girls in these preteen shows (e.g. Hannah Montana, Unfabulous, Wizards of Waverly Place). The latest dolls are made with more robust breasts and behinds. A lot of makeup lines offer products which are kid-friendly and hypo-allergenic. (Isn’t makeup for mommy only?) And lastly, the “standards” for beauty are etched in minds that get younger and younger.
My 10-year- old sister used to hate her morena skin because she always read about pretty white girls in magazines. I also remember one of her then-playmates actually went on a “diet” because she thought she was too fat. (Note: She was just eight and weighed around 95 lbs.) Then, one time, while I was at the mall, kids at around 6-9 gathered at a beautiful blouse and adored it because it makes them look “sexy”.
Sigh. To the parents, please PLEASE PLEASE connect with your kids more intimately. There is a frightening possibility that you’ll lose them to gadgets or worse, their peers.
Do you also think the kids are growing up too fast? Or am I just outdated? Tell me what you think. Email me at live_out_loud@ymail.com. And no, I’m not in a hurry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
