A British women's magazine came under fire recently after it encouraged young teenagers to flirt with their friends’ parents to get ahead.
The teenage version of Tatler Magazine, a high society publication, told girls as young as 13 to “hone your social-seduction techniques,” and, when at a friend’s house, “flirt (gently) with the parent of the opposite sex and then write a witty thank-you letter.”
“You'll be invited everywhere — dinners, more country weekends, swanky holidays and so on, and so on.”
The advice earned critics across the spectrum, from feminists to a member of the British Parliament.
“Being nice and polite is one thing, trying to create a sexual frisson between your friend's parents and your teenage self is at the very least ill-advised,” said John Hemming, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament. “We are in a world where children aged 12 and 13 are from time to time exploited and concern is expressed about that. I'm surprised that Tatler wish to encourage it.”
The British non-profit National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children estimates that “one in 20 children [aged 11 to 17] have experienced contact sexual abuse.” Likewise, “over 90% of children [aged 11 to 17] who experienced sexual abuse, were abused by someone they knew.”
Some have also expressed concern that the advice could put fathers at risk. A clinical psychologist told the Telegraph that the average father could be confused by the flirting, and an op-ed in the same paper noted that “men who work around teenage girls – and particularly teachers – live in constant terror of paedophilic allegations.”
Tatler's advice concludes by telling teens, “Don't be a creep,” and that “there is a fine line.”
Tatler has since apologized. “If the Tatler feature is read in its entirety it is clear that we intended it to be light-hearted,” a spokesman told the Daily Mail. “We're sorry if the content has been taken out of context and apologise for any offence caused.”