Report of The American Psychological Association Task Force of the Sexualization of Girls
Today I was reading a very interesting article published by catholic.org based on the 67 page report issues by The American Psychological Association about the dangers of sexualizing girls.
The report stated that Products such as Bratz dolls in mini skirts, Teen magazines and celebrities like Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears are teaching girls that they must look sexy in order to be popular. The article addressed how parents, teachers and peers also contribute to this sexualization.
An article written by Judith Warner published on Postbelletin.com offers the opinion that it is Moms , not the media who are sexualizing their girls. Judith states, “How can we expect our daughters to navigate the cultural rapids of becoming sexual beings when we ourselves are flying blind?”
While I agree with some of what Judith says in her article, I feel media plays a bigger part in sexualizing not just young girls, but women in general.
No wonder young teens are wanting breast implants and women feel that they have to be smaller than a size five to look good. It is magazines, music videos and TV shows that lead us to believe that thin is beautiful and sexy.
In 2002, a national clothing company was selling children’s thongs in sizes from 10 to 16 with the words “eye candy” and “wink wink” on the front of them. Designing thongs for kids is wrong!
In 2006, Tesco was forced to remove a pole-dancing kit from the toys and games section of it’s website. The site advertised the pole dancing kit with the words “Unleash the sex kitten inside……”Soon you’ll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo Dance Dollars”.
Is it just me or are young girls being sexualise everywhere they look?
Read the full Report of The American Psychological Association Task Force of the Sexualization of Girls.
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4 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Apr 9, 2007 at 11:13 pm
With technology not even at its peek, and the easy ways of making yourself look and feel better. It is not going to end here. Breast implants and diets for women are not different than steroids in men. Every where we go there is going to be people using artificial methods of making themselves look good, and sexual based marketing to make money. And until the adults in this world stop funding these organizations by buying their products themselves. Children are going to become more and more a target.
Always remember, little girls want to be like their mommy and boys want to be like their daddy.
Wrote: Apr 10, 2007 at 1:14 am
I think parents , in particular, and society in general, should be held responsible for all this.You have raised a valid issue.Best wishes.
Wrote: Apr 10, 2007 at 9:19 am
Rose,
This is a valid and important topic here. I agree that the media plays a huge role in this and the parents have a big job teaching their children a different way. Although, many parents fall into this same trap and thus they have set an example for their kids. As a comment on top says, children want to be like their Mommy and Daddy. What we value, our kids will value.
Wrote: Apr 10, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Thank you for writing about this very important topic. Some mom’s at my bible study were just discussing this with me the other day. I only have a 14 month old so I had no idea that it was so hard to just find decent clothing for kids nowadays. It’s just pitiful that these kids have to grow up thinking that way at such young ages. They have so much else to worry about in life, it’s sad to add something so unnecessary.