The Sexualization of Girls

There are some alarming trends which our culture and media is doing to young women and girls according to The Report of the Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (2007). The American Psychological Association (APA) takes charge in being involved in issues related to the impact of media and content on children. They strive to restrict advertising directed at young children that include sexualization to girls in any form. They state that 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" (p. 1).

We see in media how they target young girls by celebrities and models being dressed in revealing clothing or showing facial expressions which infer sexual readiness. The pictures below and above illustrates this. A Skechers advertisement with Christina Aguilera in schoolgirl attire with her hair in pigtails, licking a lollipop with her shirt unbuttoned. 

Or dolls, such as Bratz that are sold in stores are also sexualized (mini skirts, fishnet stockings with feather boas). Even thongs are sold as clothing for 7-10 year old girls with the slogan, "wink wink." APA states, "Research documenting the pervasiveness and influence of such products and portrayals is sorely needed" (p. 2). Carl's Jr. is also notorious for their commercials which objectify women (I won't bother posting one because they are awful).  

Bratz

Not only does the media play a part in this but relationships with peers and parents has an impact on girls as well. We often see girls "policing each other to ensure conformance with standards of thinness and sexiness" (p. 2). 

And sadly, "girls can also sexualize themselves." If they try to buy things to make them "sexy" and pattern their identity after celebrities, they can begin to "think of themselves in objectified terms." Studies show that this is very harmful because girls begin to value others opinions over their own and think of themselves as objects rather than independent human beings. Among other things, this can cause depression, eating disorders, and lack of focus and attention in logical reasoning (p. 2-3). 

The APA suggest several strategies to help with this issue:

• Teach critical skills in viewing and consuming media, focusing specifically on the sexualization of women and girls. 
• Parents and caregivers should learn about the impact of sexualization of girls and co-view media with their children in order to influence the way in which media messages are interpreted.
•  Advocate for funding to support the development and implementation by public agencies and private organizations of media literacy programs, including interactive media, in schools that combat sexualization and objectification (p. 4).

References

The American Psychological Association. (2007). Report of the apa task force on the sexualization of girls. Retrieved on July 17, 2014, from: file: 
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx