Family and friends came together last weekend to celebrate an American tradition: Super Bowl Sunday.

Parents dressed their children in little jerseys and chanted their team’s motto while watching the family –friendly spectacle.

So, why were kids watching half-naked women dance provocatively on

their screens rather than football?

As I grow up in a world that is always edifying femininity, I find it truly relieving that I can wear figure-revealing clothing and not worry about the number on the scale.

But what I find unbearable is the constant pressure to support seductiveness at the expense of innocence.

This year’s halftime show was performed by pop stars Shakira and Jennifer Lopez, each singing a set of their hit singles including “Hips Don’t Lie” and “Jenny from the Block” respectively.

The show started off relatively PG as Shakira took to the stage singing in an outfit reminiscent of her “Zootopia” character Gazelle.

The only alluring aspect that could have seemed immodest would have been her moan during the segment with reggaeton singer Bad Bunny.

Don’t get me wrong. As a young girl, you would have heard me straining my vocal cords in the shower as I belted her songs out and imagined scoring a goal to “Waka Waka,” a song created for the FIFA World Cup in 2010.

However, the true controversy really began when Lopez started performing. 

She seems to have gotten away with her raunchy performance because she brought her daughter on stage to sing with her toward the end of the show.

Apparently, this can overshadow the coquettish behavior she called a show.

I mean yes, I would love to know her workout regimen because Lopez looks stunning 50, but that does not give her a reason to grab her crotch, twerk or swing around a pole with a large amount of receptive children watching. 

About 103 million people tuned in to the halftime show, according to Billboard.

It has racked up another 88 million views on YouTube, as of Wednesday.

That number definitely includes children of all ages who are seeing what society deems beautiful and appropriate.  

As someone who has struggled with body insecurities and know people who have too, I understand a need to abolish body shaming.

But, how am I supposed to convince my 8-year-old cousins that what they see on–screen is not the standard

of beauty? 

Lopez substituted her dance sequences for carnal movements and with each step you could hear the cheers roaring from

the stadium.

This only enforced the theory that if people act as she did Sunday night, then they will be welcomed and applauded by society. 

Young kids who crave acceptance find Lopez to be influential and will strive to mimic her choices.

This should not be a double standard simply because of their fame. 

The NFL is also known for its cheerleaders who wear skimpy outfits.

Though these cheerleaders do not have the recognition of Hollywood celebrities, they are still on the front line during games for avid football fans to see.

When children look at their flat stomachs, hairless limbs, straight pearly whites and voluminous hair, they can veer off into a rabbit hole of body dysmorphia trying their best to imitate what they see.  

As college students, we have fought for a platform to raise our voices.

We should encourage the younger generation to emanate confidence in who they are, not in their body appearance.

There seems to be coerced acceptance of body image and fight against anyone that says otherwise.

But being the scholars that we are, we need to fight against physique norms. 

It is not that these talented performers should stop performing so expressively. 

They can choose to showcase themselves in any manner they choose at their own concerts, but a halftime show is not a filtered arena.

Parents have no warning about explicit material that their children may see. 

It’s an event that draws the eyes of many children who should instead grow up knowing that their talents don’t need to follow industry theatrics.