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.'
May 06, 2011
We say get rid of it altogether
May 06, 2011
Sexualisation, violence, commercialisation, commodification: Right to Childhood conference hears evidence of harm to children From Melinda Tankard Reist's blog.The Right to Childhood conference last Friday...
Apr 19, 2011
The Easter Bunny described as 'sexy' by Hugh Hefner Collective Shout supporter Emily has alerted us to Playboy's latest product placement, kids Easter Film 'Hop.'...
Apr 07, 2011
Collective Shout is proud to co-sponsor the Right 2 Childhood Conference in Sydney April 29.The conference will examine the convergence of sex, violence, the media,...
Apr 01, 2011
Calling on Federal Minister Peter Garrett and Victoria counterpart Wendy Lovell to intervene Collective Shout has initiated a petition in response to the news that...
Mar 08, 2011
Child development professionals challenge Witchery, call for boycott We have written about Witchery Kids advertising before. Witchery has ignored child development professionals concerns and persists...
Mar 04, 2011
New video game encourages players to strip and spank each other Collett Smart, child/adolescent psychotherapist and member of Collective Shout discusses the new game, 'We...
Mar 01, 2011
"All of these images are straight from the porn industry" From the Fremantle Herald (26/02/2011, page 2): Sexually explicit t-shirts on display at a Fremantle...
Feb 01, 2011
Guest post from Collett Smart, as published on The Tween Factor. Students and school staff really enjoy the vibe that a fresh school year provides....
Jan 26, 2011
Today a special guest post by Collective Shout supporter Ryl Harrison. Ryl writes about her correspondence with Zhik regarding their depiction of women in sailing...
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