Sexualisation 'harms' young girls

[akulion]

An interesting read, especially since I am against the whole concept of using women as sexual objects to sell stuff on TV/media etc. That goes for men too

Sexualisation 'harms' young girls

The media's portrayal of young women as sex objects harms girls' mental and physical health, US experts warn. Magazines, television, video games and music videos all have a detrimental effect, a task force from the American Psychological Association reported. Sexualisation can lead to a lack of confidence with their bodies as well as depression and eating disorders.

Such images also have a negative effect on healthy sexual development in girls, the researchers said.

The task force was set up after mounting "public concern" about the sexualisation of young girls.

   
EXAMPLES OF SEXUALISATION

Young pop stars dressed as sex objects
Dolls aimed at young girls with sexual clothing such as fishnet tights
Clothing, such as thongs, for seven to 10-year-olds
Adult models dressed as young girls

Research on the content and effects of television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, films, video games and the internet was analysed.

Recent advertising campaigns and merchandising of products aimed at girls was also scrutinised.

Sexualisation was defined as occurring when a person's value comes only from her or his sexual appeal or behaviour, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is portrayed purely as a sex object.

They gave examples of a trainer advert that featured pop star Christina Aguilera dressed as a schoolgirl with her shirt unbuttoned, licking a lollipop.

According to the research identified by the task force, such images and promotion of girls as sexual objects negatively affects young girls in many ways.

   
We need to replace all of these sexualised images with ones showing girls in positive settings - ones that show the uniqueness and competence of girls
Dr Eileen Zurbriggen
Task force chair

"The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real," said Dr Eileen Zurbriggen, chair of the group and associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

"We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualisation has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development."

The task force called on parents, school officials, and health professionals to be alert for the potential impact on girls and young women.

And it advised that schools should teach pupils media literacy skills and should include information on the negative effects of images portraying girls as sex objects in sex education programmes.

Governments also had a responsibility to reduce the use of sexualised images in the media and advertising, they said.

Teenage magazines

Dr Zurbriggen added: "As a society, we need to replace all of these sexualised images with ones showing girls in positive settings - ones that show the uniqueness and competence of girls.

"The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents - boys and girls - that lead to healthy sexual development."

Professor Andrew Hill, professor of medical psychology at the University of Leeds, said it was hard to disagree with any of the reports conclusions.

"If you look at teenage magazines, it's all about sex.

"We are a visually absorbed society - our views of people are dominated by how they look."

He added that the use of women as sex objects in the media and advertising was a difficult issue to deal with.

"Only 18% of children's television viewing is in their designated viewing time and legislation can't be the answer for everything.

"One of the key things here is social responsibility - advertisers and other media need to be aware that the products they produce and images associated with them have an impact and it's not always a good impact," he said.

Source: BBC

[alan s]

Just have to say that i agree with some parts of this and dissagree with others.

One thing i strongly dissagree on is the making of thongs for 7 to 10 yr olds , In all fairness like , Why would a 7 yr old be wearing a thong? Most 7 year olds dont know what a thong is!

One thing i've always wondered is why do "Adult Actors" dress up as schoolchildren , Specifically young schoolchildren? I mean what type of person who is {no offence ment here} right in the head would want to imagine a schoolchild doing.......er stuff?

From experience ( I know from the discos i go to , and just generaly hanging out with Teens ) Girls dress the way they want , it doesnt matter what a magazine or what some professor said , they do and will wear what they want.

This might be going slightly off topic but it is still in regard to Sexualisation ,

Over here in Ireland , We do a exam called a Junior Cert , This exam takes place in June when your 14 -> 15 ( Im doing mine this June ), On the night you get the results for the Junior Cert , Most teenagers go out to Discos to celebrate , The Guys usualy wear shirts and Jeans , the girls wear mini skirts ( and im talking mini , maybe about 3" material at the most ) tube tops and some dont even bother wearing tops and just go out in there Bra's , On that night its very dangerous to be a girl and to be alone , Men wander the street looking for girls to have sex with and to take advantage of , Its fairly disgusting.

Now as a 14 yr old boy , i wont be complaining about what teenage girls wear. But as a person i can see what other people might think.

Also "We are a visually absorbed society" , That is very very very very true , Have you ever seen a ugly model? No.........Have you ever seen a unattractive Movie Star? No.......I wonder why?

In Fact  ,Im after digging up some audio clips that a local radio station did of the Junior Cert Celebration Night 2 years ago

http://www.redfm.ie/audio/JuniorCertNight2005Part1.mp3
http://www.redfm.ie/audio/JuniorCertNight2005Part2.mp3

Just my 2 cents!

- Alan S

[nite0859]

The disharmony between Adam and Eve plays itself out, even to this day.

[akulion]

Yea sociological studies show that basically we are all, each and every one a product of what we see, hear and learn from our surroundings.

So if we teach our young'uns that you have to act sexy to get guys and that being a virgin is a bad thing etc etc then what else can we expect really.

I mean I remember growing up and how much peer pressure there was from the basic attitude that was prevalent amongst my circles that u have to sleep with a girl and score with her etc etc. But obiviously since everyone was young, they did not understand the importance of love and how 'sex vs love' are 2 completely different worlds.

In comparison we have societies like in Hong Kong where there is not as much sexualization on media / magazines (from what I know) I had a friend in college called jackie (a gal) and u know the maximum she had ever done with a guy was hold his hand. She was not just beautiful but so sweet and innocent and very intellegent. And mind you Hong Kong is a hell of a modern city, even more so that most US cities! (in terms of tech / law and order)

So it just goes to show how greatly different practices in different societies can effect peoples behavior.

So that really brings it down to us as individual parents (if we have kids), and how we can or can not protect our children. But thats a whole debate on its own I guess.

Interesting topic for a parenting forum, I saw a few in the showcase here..so maybe u guys could pick it up

[Porky]

I don't think parents today teach morales anymore to there kids. Most parents try to be the childs best friend insteed of parenting them in a very morale person.

[URPG]

It's not "sexualisation" that causes eating disorders and depression, it's or view of what's healthy and how you have to look in general. Most clothing models, both male and female are 20% underweight from whats considered to be healthy, and even 100% may not be that natural to some body types, because it's derived from the human average, and who want's to be average, hu?

I'm not talking about "fat is beutiful", but the point that we all got our individual body and that we have to look the way we feel good and feel healthy and *not* the way the media implants us with by showing some underweight models, pretending to be "the healthy human". Look at comercials on TV... if there is a fat guy (god befware a girl not being underweight) it's always the dumb one being outwitted by a slim guy wearing the right dress. Being underweight won't make you intelligent or loved by others, but a lot of young children (not only girls) try to follow those ideals and become sick.

I thank the gods for giving me a gene defect (must be something like this i guess?) that made me completely ressistant to this social pressures from very young age on and made me grow a brain instead. 

P.S.: Someone who dresses a 7 year old in string panties is a pervert and those producing this underwear are even bigger....

P.P.S.: Most parents don't teach at all, kids are something you have for status and that you give away to child care and TV as soon as possible to go back to your career. It's sad but that's how it is.

[akulion]

well I think we are also missing out on something that is a major contributor to all these type of things and that is pornography

And not to mention those steamy sex scenes on TV in slow motion...im sure many of the kids must accidently stumble upon one or two while watching TV and form the wrong ideas about sex that its always that 'steamy and sexy in slow motion' only to later on in life find out its actually pretty fast in majority cases

oh well the rate at which the world is moving who knows where we will end up

[Porky]

well I think we are also missing out on something that is a major contributor to all these type of things and that is pornography

And not to mention those steamy sex scenes on TV in slow motion...im sure many of the kids must accidently stumble upon one or two while watching TV and form the wrong ideas about sex that its always that 'steamy and sexy in slow motion' only to later on in life find out its actually pretty fast in majority cases

oh well the rate at which the world is moving who knows where we will end up

I agree with you there.

[akulion]

and dont forget the smoke afterwards

[URPG]

Yeah, smoke is evil, porn featuring a cigarette after sex should be banned, no matter if it's normal or "with a goat"... can you imagine a goat smoking? I can't and I don't want to see this sick stuff.

But at least i know why my little brother (23 years) is a heavy smoker, it's all the porn he watches at night...