PRIMARK IN the UK has withdrawn padded bikini tops aimed at pre-pubescent girls from the shelves of its stores after children’s rights groups condemned the retailer for promoting the early sexualisation of children.
The company, which trades in the Republic under the Penneys name, apologised for any offence caused by the product and said all profits from the bikinis already sold would go to a children’s charity.
“Primark has taken note of the concern regarding the sale of certain bikini tops for girls, a product line that sells in relatively small quantities,” a spokesman said.
“The company has stopped the sale of this product line with immediate effect.”
The British-based Phoenix Chief Advocates, which helps victims of paedophiles, had yesterday called for a boycott of Primark until the bikini top was withdrawn.
“As victims advocates, we know why you should never sexualise children or help to normalise the sexualisation of children,” a spokeswoman said.
“They may be learning how to look sexy in an adult way, but no one is teaching them what to do if they receive robust unwelcome adult attention.”
Primark has 138 UK stores and 38 in the Republic. A Penneys spokeswoman told The Irish Timesthat the product line had never been sold here, however Irish child protection groups have also condemned the practice.
Lloyd Byrne, the Childline manager with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, said such products were totally unsuitable for children.
Mr Byrne said if the padded pre-teen bikini had been popular in the UK, then “the next logical step would have been to introduce it in the Republic”.
Norah Gibbons, Barnardos director of advocacy and central services, said Primark was correct to withdraw the product line but castigated the retailer for its decision to sell it in the first place.
She described the early sexualisation of children as a significant problem. “It is adding to the early sexualisation of children and denying them the right just to be children.”
It is not the first time a major retailer has been embroiled in controversy over the sale of inappropriate products to young children.
Asda faced fierce criticism for selling lace lingerie, including push-up bras to pre-teens and Tesco was forced to withdraw a pole-dancing kit which it was selling in the toy departments of its British stores following widespread condemnation in 2006.
