Sexy Too Soon:
The Media’s Sexualization of Our Daughters
English 101-B13

Abstract
This paper explores the ways media productions have become the main culprit in the sexualization of children. The Bratz Doll itself is a device of the media and all the media images posted on her demonstrates the extent of influence that media hype has on children. Kids are inundated with marketing to sell sex products, including but not limited to provocative clothing which interferes with the healthy development of kids. Harmful images embedded with media misconceptions objectify girls and woman. Children are being transformed into miniature adults with the Media assuming the role of guidance counselor. With both parent’s working in the majority of households, the Media also serves as a substitute parent. A lost childhood is a formula for disaster and long-term issues on all levels of functioning in society. Education, communication, and setting boundaries are essential in creating a reality mindset regarding media ploys. Teaching girls and women that they are not mere vessels of sexual pleasure; rather daughters of God designed to project intelligence and virtue (Proverbs 31:10). Understanding technology, including social media is imperative; however, it is a matter of discernment and balance.

Sexy Too Soon: The Medias’ Sexualization of Our Daughters

One of the epidemics in the world is the Medias ’sexualization of children. Women and teenage girls are sexualized and objectified more than men or boys. Female children are molded at an early age that their goal is to emulate the image of Barbie, a Bratz, or a Monster High doll. Additionally video games, for example, The Legend of Zelda, portray women as savvy, super sexy sirens who can protect the world from all forms of adversity. Advertisers develop campaigns which frequently employ celebrities who are youthful or “barely legal” portraying them in highly sexual ways to appeal to teen girls. The sexualization and objectification of women in the media teach girls that as women life is vanity; all they have to offer is their body and a pretty face, so all efforts should focus on achieving and maintaining superficial beauty.

The APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls (2008) report describes several components of how the media interferes with the healthy development of our children and these set it apart from healthy sexuality (p.1). Four components of when Sexualization occurs are: * “A persons’ value comes only from her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics” (APA, 2008, p.1). The Media may be educating our tweens and teens that the reward of attaining male attention overshadows the rewards of academic achievement; thus limiting future educational and vocational opportunities. * “A person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy” (APA, 2008, p. 1). The intelligence of females is being marginalized when the focus is primarily on body image and sexy attire. * “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” (APA, 2008, p. 1). The free-love movement, rather than empowering females, has contributed to the objectification of women; with women even objectifying themselves. Sex has been devalued, with girls and women being treated as expendable commodities. * “Sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person [this component is especially relevant to young children] (APA, 2008, p.1). How are girls ages five through tweens that are being bombarded with images that coerce them to act and dress in sexually outrageous ways, expected to cope with this type of stress?
Advertisers and the mass-media are undoubtedly stating to girls, tweens, and teens (as inevitable women) that being subjective and readily available for sex at all times will make males gaze upon them as a sexy siren, a goddess.

Is it any surprise that sex, unwanted pregnancies, venereal diseases, eating disorders, juvenile delinquency, and a plethora of other issues have infected the teen population? Girls, tweens, and teens are inundated constantly with commercials, television, movies, music videos, music lyrics, and magazines leading them to believe that they need to look and act out in a specific way. Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social media have been instrumental in assisting teens in engaging in the role playing that the media has mapped out.

Fortunately there are positive alternatives to counteracting the influence of sexualization as outlined by the American Psychological Association (2008): 1. Working through Schools and Formal Education; Schools can contribute in a multitude of ways to create awareness of the sexualization of girls in the media. For example, academic, extracurricular activities and athletics encourage girls to focus on competence as opposed to aesthetics. (APA, 2008). 2. Working through the family; parents, and other immediate family members can help girls interpret sexualizing cultural messages in ways that assuage harm (APA, 2008). For example parents mediating and co-viewing television with their daughters, sharing dialogue while altering the influence of the messages. 3. Working Directly with Girls and Girls’ Groups; resisting sexualization by creating literature, blogs, and websites that encourage competence as opposed to the beauty queen mentality (APA, 2008). Developing focal groups and engaging in speaking engagements can additionally create awareness on the dangers of media sexualization.

Spirituality, Religion, and Meditation can offer healthy practical and psychological alternatives to values communicated by popular culture (APA, 2008). Religiosity can buffer the effects of media use on self-esteem among adolescents. Prayer and Spirituality can be used as a coping mechanism protecting women and girls from some of the effects of sexualization and objectification. Spirituality teaches girls and women that they are not mere vessels of sexual pleasure and eye candy. As daughters of God, embracing chastity, intelligence, and virtue contributes to noble character, thus an exceptional reputation (Proverbs 31:10 – 31; Ruth 3:11). According to the studies of Walsh and Shapiro (2006) meditative practices prevalent in many spiritual heritages’; including mind, body, and spirit-centered practices such as yoga, tai chi, or qigong have been shown to have mental, emotional, and physical health advantages including heightened self-acceptance and happiness (pp. 227-239).

It is the responsibility of parents and society to guide children and avert influences that could ultimately create harm long term. Women and girls should not be reduced to eye candy or sex toys. Cultivating a reputation of excellence contributes to positive self-esteem. God is the Supreme Psychologist and His words provide the wisdom needed to avert and counteract the influence of the media. “Counseling needs Christian DNA if it is to call people out of the death spiral of self-preoccupation” (Powlison, 2012, p. 19).

For centuries, Spiritual and Religious leaders have conceded that our vessel [body] can be codified by the actions of language, words, and thought forms; “Scientific evidence now supports this and has proven that our DNA can be reprogrammed by words and frequencies” (Fosar & Bludorf, 2001, p. 50). Sexualization can be averted and counteracted by receiving the right messages through the power of sound and what better sound than that of the Lord (John 1:1, 10:27). God has given us His DNA, transferring His divine power, which gives us the privilege of participating in His divine nature. God desires His daughters to be of noble character; effective and productive in the world we live in. Being a woman of excellence is an entitlement, for it is a testament to the world of the nature of our Heavenly Father (Proverbs 11:16, 11:22, 31:26-30, 1 Peter 3: 3-4).

References

American Psychological Association, Task Force Report (Washington, DC: Women’s Programs, 2010). http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report-full.pdf

Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, (Boston, MA: Sexualizing Childhood [Image of Bratz Doll], 2013). http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/issue/sexualizingchildhood
Fosar, G. & Bludorf, F., Vernetzte Intelligenz (Germany, Imprint Unknown, March 1, 2001), p. 50.

Powlison, D. (2012). How does Scripture teach us to Redeem Psychology: The Journal of Biblical Counseling, volume 26, number 3, p. 19.

Walsh R. & Shapiro S.L. (2006). The Meeting of Meditative Disciplines and Western Psychology: A Mutually Enriching Dialogue. American Psychologist, pp. 227 – 239.