The sexualisation and objectification of young women and girls
A recent report by the American Psychological Association has highlighted the reality that the increasing exposure of young girls to content which objectifies women and girls is having a serious effect on their physical and mental health, including an increase in low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, anxiety about appearance and depression.
This finding only reinforces what most people already accept as the logical connection between the increased exposure of our youth to content that objectifies women and the growth in mental health issues related to self-esteem and body image. It also presents an opportunity to discuss the need for a cultural shift which is based on health concerns as opposed to moral objection.
At the heart of the issue is the reality that sex sells. This cardinal rule of advertising can be seen on the earliest tobacco advertising which featured stylised drawings of starlets inserted in cigarette packs. Today, sexy images of women are being used to sell everything, from cars to spring water and internet access. Many such ads are targeted at men, but ads for products aimed at women are often similar.
In our increasingly commercial society where the costs of media services and social networking sites are being footed by advertisers, providing sexualised content is a convenient way to attract hits, increase user traffic and earn money.
This change in the way we access media as well as the growth in online social networking, explains why sexually provocative images of women are consistently featuring on television, music video clips, movies and online media sites. While adults are better equipped to deal with the bombardment of sexualised content, we need to seriously consider the impact it has on children.
Of particular concern is the trend that increasingly younger children are being targeted by advertisers who are convincing them they need to be sexy. Pre-teen magazines are instructing girls on how to wear make-up, an age bracket which is also having lingerie marketed at them. Bratz dolls which are marketed to four to eight year olds wear fish nets and bras. This objectification and sexualisation of children has gone too far.
While it is easy to focus on the most objectionable examples, we need to think about the net effect of children consuming sexualised images of women and girls on a daily basis. One common point of friction comes from parents who are often alarmed when they see the sort of music video clips screened on Saturday morning TV during programs clearly aimed at children and teenagers.
There seems to be a developing genre of music video clip which shows scantily clad woman gyrating and being provocative while often the male artist is fully clothed. The popularity of web sites like YouTube and the growth of mobiles and iPods for teenagers have dramatically increased easy and regular access to concerning content.
We know that the age and developmental stage of a child will determine how they react to the stream of sexualised material they are exposed to. We also know that this exposure affects how both girls and boys develop their identity and view gender roles.
A study conduced by two Adelaide based researchers shows that it only takes 15 minutes of watching music video clips that objectify women for the participants to start feeling more conscious about their body and more depressed. Girls and teenagers who have high exposure to mass media that sexually objectify girls and women are more likely to view themselves as sexual objects. Likewise boys’ attitudes to how they see girls and women are also adversely affected by such content.
I recognise that tackling this issue of the sexualisation of women and girls, and the associated negative effects will be difficult, but it must be addressed. Some suggested approaches by advocates include the demand that the relevant industries become more responsible in where and when they show sexual content while others have called for government regulation.
What is clear to me is that we need to counter the pervasive messages being given to children through our mass media if the next generation of women are to grow up confident, self assured and fulfilled.
BTW David725 I think you are
BTW David725 I think you are on the money almost. But how about taking it a step further and teaching children/young people that advertising is another form of fantasy NOT reality. Expose them to the truth of all the BS they ate fed-if you permit the feeding of it in your home. It's a process. Allow them to be contemporary but aware. Govt should not legislate but perhaps the people will through ratings-if the ads shown during childrens shows are not acceptable, switch it off and play cricket or plant some vegies. There are alternatives people can choose within their own domain...
Sounds like censorship to me.
Sounds like censorship to me. How does anyone define what is even slight objectification? For example why is this discussion and the one regarding int womens day lead by women only? If you don't want to see images that you interpret as sexual (objectifying women or not) don't watch. And if you have kids, educate them by discussion and family example. I am a mother-I can't blame the big bad media for everything. If I felt that strongly about it, I could chuck out my TV and computer. Take some responsibility people! Engage with the younger people! They are turning to TV because everyone else is switched off. Get real.
Fed and state govts should
Fed and state govts should curb the media treating women as sexual objects in advertising etc. guesse what a male thinks firstly when seeing an attractive female?
I think Australia needs to
I think Australia needs to have a good hard look at it self when talking about sexualization it should be that of children full stop.
When you can turn on the Telly any time of the day and see nude bodies on the news.
Or walk by any news stand and children can get an eyefull.
Now you have so called artist getting thousands of Aussies to take it off in public places in the name of art!!!!!!!
When you have complete strangers made to embrace each other kiss each other with no clothes on I'm sorry it;s not art. it's the pervertion enmass.
If adults want to embrace in the nude or look at thier porn then it should be done in private. Out of site of children.
As far as females being exploited most of the time I see females exploiting the wallets of men. They are posing for these pictures and get paid top dollar for it. They are as much of the problem as the person clicking the carmera.
A few obvious problems with
A few obvious problems with this study.
1."Much of the research reviewed in this report concerns
the sexualization of women (college age and older) rather
than girls"
That is, it reviews data on women and then shoehorns that data onto girls.
2."For the purposes of this report, culture and cultural generally refer to this dominant culture.
“dominant” U.S. culture (White, middle-to-upper-class, young-to-middle-aged, heterosexual). ... One especially salient dimension of this dominant culture is “pop” (or popular) culture."
That is, its cultural focus is limited to a populist, white, anglo-saxon, protestant viewpoint. It is written by WASPs for WASPs.
3.It aims to "evaluate the evidence suggesting that sexualization
has negative consequences for girls and for the rest of society"
That is, it only looks at negative consequences. Any positive consequences are ignored and will not be discussed here.
4."Imagine a 5-year-old girl walking through a mall
wearing a short T-shirt that says “Flirt.” "
Will u criminalise this little girl or her parents for such an outrageous example of sexualisation? Remember all it requires is ur imagination.
Need I continue?
How can u take this crap seriously, let alone consider implimenting legislation from it?
It appears that the lessons of the sexual revolution can not be retained.
Human beings are sexual creatures and interfering to repress or direct that sexuality is detrimental.
Calming down now. Yes, remove sexualised advertisements from children's TV.
Better still, remove all (or most) advertisements from children's TV. U know its a deadend road so why should they have the consumerist culture thrust into their heads?
Teaching critical thinking in kindergarten not university is the only way "to counter the pervasive messages being given to children through our mass media".
.In order that "the next generation of women ... grow up confident, self assured and fulfilled" I suggest that u leave that to their parents. Concentrate on empowering the children and the parents and stand back and let the parents parent their children.
its a fine line, empowering
its a fine line, empowering my 9 year old about how special it is to be a female but not glorifying sexualisation. being female is powerful, no doubt about it, but a female must behave responsibly,with dignity, and know that she is owed respect. its a learning curve for girls, handling this power, and sometimes teens will overstep the mark. thats what being a teenager is for, i guess!
i find it helpful to not buy womens magazines like new idea etc, and i've asked my school to not have them lying around for cutting out. i point out different looking women to my daughter and we'll admire something unusual about them. sexualisation of girls is market driven, i think its crucial to arm girls with 'common sense' voices inside their heads to over-ride the crap.
"The sexualisation and
"The sexualisation and objectification of young women and girls"
Can we do things on both sides please.
"The sexualisation and objectification of young men and boys"
Men have many problems also...
Its about time you's removed those pesty sex advertisements on TV,
Doesn't matter what any one says, all kids get to see these, all the time.
Its not safe to watch TV now, anytime of the day...
You're on the right track,
You're on the right track, Amanda. This is indeed a serious issue. Our girls and young women throughout Australia have been tormented with this "image styling" scheme for too long. The affects on them and their families are far too great to stand by and do nothing. It's up to each and every one of us to make a change.
Cheers!
T. J.
This is an important issue,
This is an important issue, however it is not a government issue. There are so many layers to this complex issue that the government couldnt possibly tackle it with any measure of success. Awareness leads to change, and people are willing to educate themselves so long as the message isnt coming from the government or a moral/religious pressure group. Politicians have almost zero credability with young people, and for good reason. Mental health foundations, parents, peers, GP's etc.. THEY are the ones that are best suited for the task, not the government with its "If its possibly harmful, lets ban it" approach.
Keeping our children
Keeping our children developing at the speed they should be issomething we should
be trying to achieve. By this i dont mean development of skills socially or scholastically
i mean letting them be children, play and make beleive, and just being out side in the fresh air. I think there is too many things in the media that make little ones grow up far to quickly. In stead of buying my grandchildren pop music type c.d.s at a young age i buy them nursery rhyme c.d.s and simple music such as heard on abc play school i have noticed how they just love nursery rhymes and clap their little hands in delight
to the same nursery rhymes we grow up with. Remember they are hearing these for the first time so its not necessary to purchase c.ds that may have music and words that is far beyond their years.
Power to Amanda :). I am glad
Power to Amanda :). I am glad this issue is being looked at. I have been very concerned for a long time about girls being sexualised so young and being forced to comply with silly standards that make no sense. The modelling industry has got to change as well as the whole culture in the general community. I agree with the person that said politicans really should have photos with homeless and disadvanged and everyday people rather than famous people. A lot of the mindset in the community has got to change! People, please stop judging others on how they wear clothes or how they look! If they don't want to wear sexual clothes then let them wear what they are comfortable in! This need for men to see girls in sexual clothes is just way over the top and unsafe!
Perhaps if politicians
Perhaps if politicians stopped posing for photographs with rock and sports stars, and started being photographed with ordinary Australians, perhaps homeless ones, young people would get a different message about celebrity.
Thank you for bringing this
Thank you for bringing this issue to the attention of the Australian people.
I have suffered from bulimia, anorexia and depression (and to an extent, still do) and I believe that came from me seeing men's magazines at the newsagency. To this day, I cannot even think about a men's magazine without almost crying from how bad they make me feel and I know I'm not alone in that.
It is also seen as acceptable and even a right of passage for young men to read and watch such things, as well as the many obligatory trips to strip clubs once they turn 18. I have noticed a surge in the amount of M rated (meaning they are recommended for people as young as 15) or even PG rated television shows using scantily clad (if that) 'exotic dancers' either as a common or intermittant theme (for example, Underworld). Young men and women are seeing this and thinking that being and looking like that is all that is to be found attractive and desirable. People are still very impressionable at the age of 15, or even 18, so this issue needs to be addressed.
Hoorah for Amanda
Hoorah for Amanda Rishworth!
Thank you for bringing this insidious invasion of childhood and teenage years to the table at the Federal government level. The issue of the sexualisation of women and girls and the associated negative effects must be addressed and if that means government regulation is needed for relevant industries to become more responsible regarding sexual content I say 'go for it'!!
We protect our children in so many ways and yet turn a blind eye to advertising that is everywhere and contains sexualised images of women of all ages.
Let's work together to change our culture and stop objectifing females.
Heather, Margaret River WA
I glorify my mum even though
I glorify my mum even though she died nearly 34 years ago. She was slim, beautiful but had depression from the use of cocaine and subsequently killed herself, so there are other situations that add to ' basic depression '. My wife suffers with depression because she has many physical and mental conditions (overweight; recent loss of her mum) and she told me last night "All I wish for is to have my health back."
Judy Brisbane Qld We have
Judy Brisbane Qld
We have sick culture which judges many aspects of life through a very narrow prism That prism seems to be governed by advertising, immaturity in many of our male couterparts and an aceptance by many women that these attitudes are acceptable.
Our young women are conditioned to believe that a sexy image is important both by their fathers and young men.....society expects young women to look sexy......most things in their universe promote this image and the results in women who dont rise to that expectation are devastating.........depression, anorexia, bulimia.
I am surprised by the get-ups they wear to formals at their school yet visit an art exhibition in the same school and the girls dress with a sense of fun and difference ............ without the need to look so sexy.
Young women who have a different view about their bodies are often marginalised by their peers and it becomes a vicious cycle....there is nowhere to fit
I suspect we have a long row to go if we are to make a difference as the concept of a woman as sexy and available is deeply entrenched.
This is such an important
This is such an important issue and a really disturbing development in our culture.
Its really good to hear that the government is beginning to recognise this as a problem.
There should be very strict guidelines for advertising and commercial material aimed at children and young people.
Another aspect of
Another aspect of sexualisation and marginilasition of females is happening in sport and especially via the IOC position on what exactly a Girl/Woman is.
Look at the issues currently being debated over the body of Ms Caster Semenya and think of how exactly current paradigms about what constitutes a female and what expectations flow from those ideas.
Sexualisation is more than the advertising industries depictions of sexual availability. Sexualisation includes exactly what body parts are acceptable and even what standards those parts should achieve.
There is a long way to go.
Gina
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