Last night marked the 11th anniversary of the Teen Choice Awards, and every year it seems to unnerve parents more and more. Where do we draw the line between harmless fun and age-inappropriate behavior?

The award show was hosted by pop group The Jonas Brothers, above.

COUNTDOWN TO THE TOP 5 WORST MOMENTS:

5. Britney’s Lifetime Achievement Award, at age 27

While Britney Spears has certainly had a long career full of highs and lows, giving the 27 year old a lifetime achievement award does seem a bit premature. Has she already accomplished everything she ever could? Is her life over, now that she’s approaching 30? [1]

4. Robert Pattinson: It’s Ok When He Says It

The Twilight star, and winner of Choice Male Hottie award, took time in his acceptance speech to hit on his young fans. “The hottest hotties, the hottest teens, are the Twilight fans,” said the 23 year old actor. It’s hard to imagine any other man, in any other context, making that comment without being considered creepy. [1]

3. Nude Photo Scandals

She wasn’t too amused by Dane Cook’s joke, but he deserves some credit for just coming out and saying it. There were at least 3 female nominees this year with nude photos online.

Vanessa Hudgens, nominated for Choice Female Hottie, has been hit with nude photo scandals twice. Actress for Choice Reality TV show The Hills, Audrina Patridge, had topless photos leaked online last year. And the most recent addition was winner of the Fresh Face Female award, Ashley Greene, of Twilight success, whose full frontal photos reached the internet just this week. [2] [3] [4]

2. Miley Cyrus Pole Dancing on Stage

Why was there a stripper pole on stage at the Teen Choice Awards? Young people can make poor choices (see #3), but this was clearly the work of someone older, who knew much better. Even Britney wasn’t doing this at 16. [5]

1. Miley Cyrus’ Little Sister Pole Dancing Backstage

Why was there a stripper pole backstage at the Teen Choice Awards? Hopefully, it was for structural purposes, and not intended for dancing – it’s hard to imagine the show’s producers could make such a big mistake, twice. Nevertheless, a photo of 9 year old Noah Cyrus (far left) pole dancing with her friends was leaked this morning, and with it, we have collectively reached a new low. [5]

Sources:

[1] “Best and Worst Moments of the Teen Choice Awards” (Leah Collins) Canwest News Service. August 11, 2009

[2] “Vanessa Hudgens Embarrassed by Joke at Teen Choice Awards.” Splash News//LimeLife. August 11, 2009

[3] “Topless Photos of Audrina Patridge Hit the Web.” Us Magazine. March 19, 2008

[4] “Ashley Greene Wins: Nude Photos Scandal and a Teen Choice Award” Associated Content News. August 11, 2009

[5] “Miley and Noah Cyrus Work the Pole” CelebJihad.com August 11, 2009

Meriah, 12 years old, speaks candidly with us about life as
a millenial middle schooler.

A signed release was obtained by the parent of this child for
use of her interview in investigative journalism reports, as well
as film documentary segments.

We are in compliance with UN Economic and Social Counsel
Official “Rights of the Child” Decision, E/CN.4/1993/NGO/1,
January 15, 1993, p. 2

Sources:

Mower, Alfred Glenn. “The Convention on the Rights of the Child:
International Law Support for Children.” (p.36-37) Greenwood
Publishing Group, 1997.

“PLANTATION BELLE BARBIE”, 1959

As schools desegregated during the American Civil Rights movement, Mattel fashioned their doll as a slave-owning southerner.

“SLEEPYTIME GAL BARBIE”, 1965

During the surge of feminism in the 1960’s, Mattel released this doll with a pink bathroom scale that read 110lbs, and a book entitled How To Lose Weight. The book only had one page, advising “Don’t eat.”

“COLORED FRANCIE”, 1967

Even though “colored” was the politically correct term during the Civil Rights movement, people questioned whether specifying the doll’s race within her name was counter-productive for equality.

Similarly, her blonde hair and very Caucasian features came under fire, until Mattel admitted that Francie dolls were actually “regular” Barbies dyed brown. With so much negative attention, the company quickly regrouped and released a second edition Francie with modified facial features and hair color.

“GROWING UP SKIPPER”, 1975

Barbie’s little sister “grows up” by rotating a dial that pops out plastic breasts. Critics feared this over-simplified the maturation process and equated female “adulthood” with breast size.

“ORIENTAL BARBIE”, 1981

Asian American girls felt what African American girls did in 1967 with “Colored Francie”. Even though Mattel and Barbie finally acknowledged diversity, the doll’s ethnicity was her only defining quality.

“HEART FAMILY MIDGE”, 1985

Barbie’s pregnant best friend came with a removable stomach containing a fully formed fetus. Parents were upset because it misinformed children of the childbirth process, and in such a graphic manner.

“NATIVE AMERICAN BARBIE”, 1993

As with “Colored Francie” and “Oriental Barbie”, here was another non-Caucasian doll whose persona was based entirely on a racial stereotype.

“TEEN TALK BARBIE”, 1994

Shouting “Math is hard!”, Teen Talk Barbie sparked a national discussion about girls’ education, and critics accused Mattel of predisposing girls to act ditzy.

“OREO FUN BARBIE”, 1997

With this odd cross-promotion of products, critics wondered if Mattel implied African American girls should be “black on the outside, white on the inside.”

“COOL SHOPPIN’ BARBIE”, 1997

This Barbie loved to shop, but had no career and never paid bills. She came equipped with name-brand credit cards, the same ones children see their parents use. People speculated this doll promoted an irresponsible and unrealistic perception of money and consumerism.

“HAPPY FAMILY MIDGE”, 2002

This recreation of the 1985 doll was now a teenage version of Barbie’s pregnant friend. Parents said this glamorized and trivialized teen pregnancy. Many stores pulled it from their shelves.

VEGAS “SHOWGIRL BARBIE”, 2008

With a career based entirely upon her appearance and sex appeal, some say that Showgirl Barbie is only a step away from having Stripper Barbie or Playboy Bunny Barbie.

“BLACK CANARY BARBIE”, 2008

Giving Barbie a makeover as the DC Comics heroine “Black Canary” was Mattel’s attempt to cash in on the growing comic book craze. She was unofficially deemed “Dominatrix Barbie”.

“TOTALLY STYLIN’ TATTOOS BARBIE”, 2009

While some parents objected to Barbie having any kind of tattoo, others were simply mad it was a lower back tattoo (a.k.a. the “tramp stamp”) with her boyfriend’s name on it. In fact, Mattel announced in 2004 that Barbie and Ken were “no longer dating but remained friends,” so to be more specific, it’s a tramp stamp with her ex-boyfriend’s name on it.

Sources:

Mattel’s “Barbie Collector Official Site” / Barbie’s History

Fashion Doll Guide (Suzanne Prochaska) 2006-2009

“Barbie and Ken: It’s Over” (Catherine Donaldson-Evans) FOX News, 2004