The American Psychological Association (APA) recently formed a task force which produced a report on the sexualisation of girls through the media and other cultural messages.

The report also included information for parents, carers and teachers on how they can help young women become aware of the sexualised imagery and messages that are presented by the media.

According to the APA, sexualisation occurs when any of these factors are present:

  • a person’s value comes only from their sexual appeal or behaviour, to the exclusion of other characteristics;
  • a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy;
  • a person is sexually objectified – made into a thing for others’ sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making; and
  • sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a (young) person.

The last point (the inappropriate imposition of sexuality) is especially relevant to children, when children are imbued with adult sexuality; it is often imposed upon them rather than chosen by them.

Sexualisation of girls
The report found that nearly every type of mass media had examples of the sexualisation of women, including television, music videos, music lyrics, movies, magazines, sports media, video games, the Internet and advertising.

Research found that generally women were more often portrayed in a sexual manner than men (e.g., dressed in revealing clothing, with bodily postures or facial expressions that imply sexual readiness) and objectified (e.g., used as a decorative object, or as body parts rather than a whole person).

The report also documented the sexualisation of girls in advertisements (e.g. the Skechers “naughty and nice” ad that featured Christina Aguilera dressed as a schoolgirl in pigtails, with her shirt unbuttoned, licking a lollipop), dolls (e.g. Bratz dolls dressed in sexualized clothing such as miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas), clothing (thongs sized for 7– to 10-year-olds, some printed with slogans such as “wink wink”), and television programs (e.g. a televised fashion show in which adult models in lingerie were presented as young girls).

It also found that many young girls were unintentionally sexualising themselves by thinking of themselves in objectified terms. Many girls modelled themselves on the celebrities portrayed by the media; wanting to look sexy and physically appealing, often by wearing inappropriate clothing.

Consequences of the sexualisation of girls
The report found that emotionally the sexualisation and objectification of young girls undermined their confidence in and comfort with their own body, leading to many negative emotions including shame, anxiety, and even self-disgust.

Research also linked sexualisation to the 3 most common mental health problems suffered by girls: eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.

It noted that for young men, the sexualisation of girls could make it difficult for some men to find an “acceptable” partner or to fully enjoy intimacy with a female partner (e.g., Schooler & Ward, 2006). This in turn could lead to increased rates of sexual harassment and sexual violence; and an increased demand for child pornography.

Positive alternatives to the sexualisation of girls
The report recommended the introduction of school-based media literacy training programs to combat the influence of sexualisation.  It also indicated that organized religious and other ethical instructions could offer girls important practical and psychological alternatives to the values conveyed by popular culture.

What can parents do?
The report encouraged parents to:

  • teach girls to value themselves for who they are, rather than how they looked
  • teach boys to value girls as friends, sisters, and girlfriends, rather than as sexual objects, and
  • advocate for change with manufacturers and media producers.

How can parents help?:
Tune in – Watch TV and movies together. Get to know their world. Ask questions. “Why is there so much pressure on girls to look a certain way?” “What do you like most about the girls you want to spend time with?” “Do these qualities matter more than how they look?” Really listen to what your kids tell you.
Speak up – support campaigns, companies, and products that promote positive images of girls. Complain to manufacturers, advertisers, television and movie producers and retail stores when products sexualize girls.
Understand – young people often feel peer pressure. Help them make wise choices among the trendy alternatives. Remind girls that who they are and what they can accomplish is more important than how they look.
Encourage – highlight talents, skills and abilities over physical appearance. Encourage them to develop interests and get involved in a sport or other activity.
Educate – discuss media, peer and cultural influences on sexual behaviours and decisions, talk about how to make safe choices and what makes healthy relationships. Find out what their school teaches.
Be real – help them focus on what’s really important: what they think, feel, and value. Help them build strengths that will allow them to achieve their goals and develop into healthy adults.

Finally the report recommended that schools, parents and other caregivers, community-based youth and parenting organisations, and local business and service organisations encourage positive activities that help adolescents build nurturing connections with peers and enhance self-esteem based on their abilities and character rather than on their appearance.

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha
Source: American Psychological Association