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Summary: Sexualization of Girls Has Many Negative
Consequences
The sexualization of girls, which
occurs in a variety of manners, including through media and toys,
has negative cognitive, emotional, physical, sexual, and social
consequences.
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A report of the
American Psychological Association taskforce defines the variety of
ways that girls are sexualized by the media, merchandise, and
interpersonal relationships. The report identifies several
components to sexualization, including: (1) a person's value comes
only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, (2) a person is held
to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy,
(3) 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 (4)
sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person. Every media form
studied has shown ample proof of sexualization of women, including
television, music videos, music lyrics, movies, magazines, sports
media, video games, internet, and advertising. Such sexualization
has many negative effects on girls and society, including impaired
performance of mental activities, self-disgust, eating disorders,
diminished sexual health, and increased rates of sexual violence.
The American Psychological Association suggests the development and
implementation of school-based media literacy training programs as a
key in combating the influence of sexualization. Additionally, it is
suggested that parents and other caregivers learn about the impact
of sexualization of girls and co-viewing media with their children
in order to influence the way in which media messages are
interpreted.1
1Report
of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls: Executive
Summary, American Psychological Association, 2007, pp. 1-9.
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