Helping Girls Resist Media Sexualization

Imagine a 5-year-old girl walking through a mall wearing a short T-shirt that says "Flirt."

Consider the instructions given in magazines to preadolescent girls on how to look sexy and get a boyfriend by losing 10 pounds and straightening their hair.

Envision a soccer team of adolescent girls whose sex appeal is emphasized by their coach or a local journalist to attract fans.

Think of print advertisements that portray women as little girls, with pigtails and ruffles, in adult sexual poses.

These are just a few examples of the increasing sexualization (defined as "occurring when a person's value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, e.g., made into a thing for another's sexual use") of girls highlighted in a new report released by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Illustrating how extensive the problem is in a slew of atrocious statistics and media analyses both eyebrow-raising (sports commentary often objectifies not only female players but also female fans in the audience) and not (women's magazines portray life as incomplete without a man) and describing research which shows these messages to be directly linked to a variety of mental problems including anxiety, eating disorders, depression and low self-esteem, Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls paints a picture of a bleak climate for the healthy development of girls.

Fortunately, the report does also suggests strategies for combatting and helping girls resist sexualization. In the schools, media literacy programs, athletics and comprehensive sexual education programs which address media and peer pressures and promote healthy, consensual relationships can help.

For parents, the APA offers the following advice in their section, What parents can do:

Tune in and Talk. Watch TV and movies with your daughters and sons. Read their magazines. Surf their Web sites. Ask questions. "Why is there so much pressure on girls to look a certain way?" "What do you like most about the girls you want to spend time with?" "Do these qualities matter more than how they look?" Really listen to what your kids tell you.

Question Choices. Girls who are overly concerned about their appearance often have difficulty focusing on other things. Clothes can be part of the distraction. If your daughter wants to wear something you consider too sexy, ask what she likes about the outfit. Ask if there's anything she doesn't like about it. Explain how clothes that require lots of checking and adjusting might keep her from focusing on school work, friends, and other activities.

Speak up. If you don't like a TV show, CD, video, pair of jeans, or doll, say why. A conversation with her will be more effective than simply saying, "No, you can't buy it or watch it." Support campaigns, companies, and products that promote positive images of girls. Complain to manufacturers, advertisers, television and movie producers, and retail stores when products sexualize girls.

Understand. Young people often feel pressure to watch popular TV shows, listen to music their friends like, and conform to certain styles of dress. Help your daughter make wise choices among the trendy alternatives. Remind her often that who she is and what she can accomplish are far more important than how she looks.

Encourage. Athletics and other extracurricular activities emphasize talents, skills, and abilities over physical appearance. Encourage your daughter to follow her interests and get involved in a sport or other activity.

Educate. You may feel uncomfortable discussing sexuality with your kids, but it's important. Talk about when you think sex is OK as part of a healthy, intimate, mature relationship. Ask why girls often try so hard to look and act sexy. Effective sex education programs discuss media, peer, and cultural influences on sexual behaviors and decisions, how to make safe choices, and what makes healthy relationships. Find out what your school teaches.

Be real. Help your kids focus on what's really important: what they think, feel, and value. Help them build strengths that will allow them to achieve their goals and develop into healthy adults. Remind your children that everyone's unique and that it's wrong to judge people by their appearance.

Model. Marketing and the media also influence adults. When you think about what you buy and watch, you teach your sons and daughters to do so, too.

Press Release: Sexualization of girls is linked to common mental health problems in girls and women
REPORT: Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (PDF).