In its report on the sexualisation of girls the American Psychological Association defined sexualisation this way:
There are several components to sexualization, and these set it apart from healthy sexuality. Sexualization occurs when
1) a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics;
2) a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness (narrowly defined) 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.
All four conditions need not be present; any one is an indication of sexualization. The fourth condition (the inappropriate imposition of sexuality) is especially relevant to children. Anyone (girls, boys, men, women) can be sexualized. But when children are imbued with adult sexuality, it is often imposed upon them rather than chosen by them. Self-motivated sexual exploration, on the other hand, is not sexualization by our definition, nor is age-appropriate exposure to information about sexuality.
Opposing sexualisation is not the same as opposing sex or sexuality. Collective Shout is for a culture in which people can develop and express healthy sexuality in their own time. To achieve this we must resist a culture that tells people their sexual value is all they are.
Click here for more links to research on sexualisation.
See below for articles tagged 'sexualisation.'
Mar 19, 2013
Article from The Daily Telegraph Parents believe childhood ends at 12 and blame pressure from friends, celebrity culture and social media for rushing kids into...
Mar 05, 2013
Health professionals speak out about the increasing sexualisation of children in this article from the Sydney Morning Herald. Includes mention of Collective Shout campaigns and...
Feb 04, 2013
From Melinda Tankard Reist's blog. After writing the multi-million best-selling Raising Boys in 2003, psychologist Steve Biddulph thought his life work was done. But the...
Feb 01, 2013
Collett Smart is both a registered psychologist and a qualified teacher, as well a PhD candidate at Macquarie University. She regularly provides comment on national...
Sep 27, 2012
The Ad Standards Board has upheld complaints against Loveables 'Selfies with Besties' ad campaign.The Facebook ad campaign encouraged participants, including girls aged over 13 years,...
Sep 20, 2012
‘A safe haven from the commercialisation and sexualisation of girlhood, a place full of gifts that inspire and enable girls to reach for the stars....
Aug 22, 2012
Collective Shout co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist was recently a guest on ABC Local radio discussing the sexualisation of childhood.
Aug 20, 2012
Melinda Tankard Reist in the Sunday Herald Sun Aug 19 2012 Also published at www.melindatankardreist.comLast Friday, Ana Amini, a Port Macquarie mother and primary school...
Aug 15, 2012
[UPDATED] Mum who targeted Target part of larger backlash against corporate sexploitation
Jul 24, 2012
The petition calling on ZOO magazine to apologise and scrap its 'hottest asylum seeker competition' accumulated over 6000 signatures.
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