“MILF” is so 1999. Hollywood has been obsessed with “Cougars” for years now, and what once seemed like a fleeting cultural trend instead proved to have staying power.

No one knows exactly who coined the term “Cougar,” though its popularity took off when actress Demi Moore started dating Ashton Kutcher, 15 years her junior. It’s not the first time May-December relationships have been popularized by the media, but never before have they been so commercially exhausted for a profit.

The latest in the lineup is the new comedy series Cougar Town, starring Courtney Cox, which premiered last week on ABC.

In the show, recent divorcée Jules Cobb (Courteney Cox), “discovers that the only way to find yourself, is to let yourself go. After all, you only get one chance to experience your 20s. Even if it’s when you’re 40 something.” [1]

The show does have a point about it being more socially acceptable for older men to date younger women. But their version of turning the tables seems less like a source of empowerment, and more like a desperate anti-aging tactic.

In April of this year, TV Land created a Bachelorette-esque reality show, simply called The Cougar.

Hosted by Vivica Fox, The Cougar claims to be “a game changing, provocative new reality show that redefines the rules of dating.” [2]

In actuality, they’ve created a mundane and formulaic reality show, just like all the others. The only difference is a redundant link forged between age and felinity – a 40-something cougar and her 20-something cubs. The young men are even followed around with a “Cub-Cam,” for web exclusives.

Cougar dating isn’t just for cable, either. TheCougarConnection.com claims to be “the best place to find cougars, cubs and prey.” It also offers “active chat rooms,” like “The Play Room” and “The Wild Room,” to find potential hook-ups.

On UrbanCougar.com, you can not only find a date, but also discuss what Cougar culture means, read steamy success stories from former clients, and rate pictures of women competing for “Cougar of the Month”.

The lesser-known Canadian dating site, CougarDate.com offers a “Cougar Manifesto,” declaring “the most successful cougars are those that married well and got huge divorce settlements. Lesser Cougars were feminists who clawed their way to the top and made their own money.” [3]

2007 also brought us The Cougar Club, a gross-out comedy met with dismal sales.

To top it all off, the first national  Single Cougars Convention took place earlier this month in Palo Alto, California - not to be confused with Las Vegas’ 1st Annual Cougar Convention. Current.com reporter Ben Hoffman went to check it out:

There’s nothing wrong with age disparity in romantic relationships with consenting adults. But the sudden commercialization of this trend is more about exploitation than empowerment, and there’s nothing sexy about that.

Sources:

[1] Cougar Town: About the Show // ABC

[2] The Cougar: About the Show // TV Land

[3] CougarDate.com – Cougar Manifesto

The Huffington Post offers it’s suggestions for the worst kids’ products available right now.

Pole Dancing Doll

Because dancing on poles is adorable.

Shave The Baby

Is this really how they want kids to learn about pubic hair?

Kid’s Nipple Tassel T-Shirt

(for more inappropriate kids’ shirts, see Terrible T’s)

Breast-Feeding Doll

For the prepubescent girls who just can’t wait to breast feed.

Baby Stilettos

Because all girls should be obsessed with shoes, even if they can’t walk yet.

Stuffed STDs

Nothing quite like snuggling up to Chlamydia during nap time.

Toy Tattoo Gun

Because it’s a habit you need to develop early.

Source:

Thanks to Michelle from California for this article!

“The 7 Most Inappropriate Products For Children” (Alex Leo) The Huffington Post. September 14, 2009

On September 17, 2009, a couple from Kansas pled guilty to sex trafficking the woman’s daughter. When the charges were filed last year, it was the first parent/child human trafficking case in the United States.

Todd Barkau, 37, started training the daughter at age 12 to engage in acts of sexual bondage, domination, sadism and masochism with him and others. When she turned 14, he set up an online business, marketing her as Mistress Alisha in both online and in-person sexual encounters. The girl’s mother, who is not named to protect the identity of the victim, assisted in the business and received financial compensation, prosecutors said.

In the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Barkau and the victim’s mother pled guilty to commercial sex trafficking of a minor. He will be sentenced to 25 years in prison, and she will get 15. It’s likely he was hit with a longer sentence because he participated in the molestation.

The victim, who is now 22, attended the plea hearings and told the judge that she approved of the plea agreements. Barkau and the woman will be sentenced after pre-sentence investigations are completed.

Source:

Thanks to Tina from New Hampshire for this article.

“Former Blue Springs Pair Admit Guilt in Case of 12-Year-Old Dominatrix” (Tony Rizzo) The Kansas City Star. September 24, 2009