Viewers torn over controversial discussion on Parental Guidance

This week's episode of Parental Guidance has turned heads, thanks to a now-viral conversation around consent and peer pressure.

Viewers have been left shocked following a controversial conversation in this week’s episode of Parental Guidance.

The episode was intended to help the focus parents - representing Traditional, Up Front, Active, and Pro Tech parenting styles - talk through scenarios around peer pressure, and avoiding toxic influences.

However, what resulted was a different conversation entirely, with one line in particular causing an uproar online.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

Mark and Tammy, Up Front Parents. Image: Nine.

RELATED: This mum is about to give birth… Dad’s got other plans

‘Don’t come home with the girls with the short shorts’

In episode two of Parental Guidance, eight sets of parents came together to tackle one of the biggest struggles of parenting - peer pressure.

One of the major topics within this was consent, particularly in relation to sexting and sexual relationships more generally as kids grow up.

Mark and Tammy, who represent an upfront parenting style, were seen talking to their four sons - Archer, Lenny, Murphy and Eddy - about girls, and how they would respond if sent a nude image.

But, one thing Tammy said had all the parents' jaws drop.

“The thing at the moment that we’re noticing is that girls' shorts have gotten shorter and shorter and shorter,” she says.

“I’m saying to our boys, ‘Don’t come home with the girls with the short shorts’. I don’t want to be friends with the mother-in-law.”

Nick and Sofia, coined the positivity parents, were quick to pounce on the comment.

“What was the ‘short shorts’ thing?” Sofia asked.

“You were very judgemental there, and because you have all boys as well, you know how men judge women, and go ‘Well she wore that, so it was okay for me to then do such-and-such’.”

Nick and Sofia, Positivity Parents. Image: Nine.

Tammy responded saying she’d be more critical of the parents than the girl, adding that if she were in that position, she wouldn’t let her 12-year-old go out in a ‘Brazilian butt bikini’, leading to a now-viral comment made by ‘traditional parent’ Joanne, on behalf of her husband, Nathan.

“I think girls should be able to wear whatever they want, I really do, but I do think there’s an age where it’s appropriate. A 12-year-old in a g-string on the beach makes it very difficult for my husband to walk down comfortably.”

@

♬ -

RELATED: Fans are calling this the worst part of Squid Game 3

“That’s disgusting to say”

This mindset around the early sexualisation of girls was shot down by both the show’s hosts, Ally Langdon and Dr Justin Coulson, as well as consent educator Daniel Principe, who pointed out the ongoing struggles for young women being judged not for their academic achievements, kindness or other skills, but rather solely for their appearance.

And, it very quickly became clear that social media agrees.

The last comment, made by Joanne, was posted to TikTok by @tiffstargirl, garnering thousands of views and hundreds of comments against her stance.

Nathan and Joanne, Traditional Parents. Image: Nine.

Many were critical of her comment specifically, and of their ‘conservative’ parenting style.

“Wrong moment to use your hubby as the scapegoat goat hun,” said one commenter.

“Did anyone ask him to explain why he was uncomfortable? The answer would have been… interesting to hear,” said another.

“What makes this worse is that they were talking about teaching kids consent and this is her response to getting called out for victim blaming, like WHAT,” a third pointed out.

“That’s disgusting to say. If it was a matter of feeling like it’s inappropriate for a 12 year old to be wearing that she would’ve said that. Straight up pinning it on her husband and being so confident is WILD,” said another.

Others made commentary on what the statement really said about the mistreatment of young girls, and how we should be teaching our boys otherwise.

“Disgusting. Stop sexualising girls, women and honestly people in general. A bikini is not sexual. Clothes are not sexual. The naked human body is not inherently sexual. Full stop just stop,” said one commenter.

Some people agreed with her

However, that’s not to say no one was on Joanne’s side, with some commenters - though disagreeing with the specific statement - agreeing with the sentiment that 12 is too young to be wearing clothing like this.

“I mean, it's uncomfortable and unnecessary. Children shouldn't be wearing that type of bathing suit. But that wife definitely said that in the worst possible way,” one person said.

“I mean not that I agree with what she is saying, I do not agree with letting your 12yr old wear a strong bikini period. The world is a sick place, keep our kids safe and covered,” another agreed.

“I think she has worded that incredibly poorly however the point stands. Why are kids dressing up as if they are 20 or 25,” a third said.

Originally published as Viewers torn over controversial discussion on Parental Guidance