The Sexualizaton of Girls

An important new report was released this week by the American Psychological Association Task for on the Sexualization of Girls.  The report compiles the latest research on the topic and includes ideas on what parents can do, how to teach girls media literacy, and important resources.  The report reaches the conclusion that "the proliferation of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harming girls' self-image and healthy development." The report explores the cognitive and emotional consequences, consequences for mental and physical health, and impact on development of a healthy sexual self-image.

The report notes that they are several components to sexualization, and these set it apart from healthy sexuality.

Sexualization occurs when

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

All four conditions need not be present; any one is an indication of sexualization.  The fourth condition (the inappropriate imposition of sexuality) is especially relevant to children.  Anyone (girls, boys, men, women) can be sexualized.