Sexualized Images in Media Harmful to Girls

Ivanhoe Newswire
Friday, February 23, 2007; 12:00 AM

By Rebekah Addy, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A report from the American Psychological Association (APA) claims the proliferation of the media's sexualized images of girls and young women is dangerous to girls' self-image and development.

APA researchers studied television, music lyrics, magazines, movies, music videos, the Internet and video games, as well as advertising and the merchandising of girl's products. On average, children will view six hours and 32 minutes of media a day.

Researchers report sexualized images negatively affected girls in three main areas of their lives. The first is cognitive and emotional consequences, which resulted in self-image problems, like shame and anxiety. Secondly, researchers found the sexualized images caused mental and physical health problems, which sometimes lead to depression and eating disorders. Third, researchers report sexualized imagery in the media has a negative effect on sexual development, causing an inability to create a healthy sexual self-image.

Sexualized images seem to affect other areas of girls' lives as well. Eileen Zurbriggen, Ph.D., chair of the APA Task Force told Ivanhoe, "Studies have shown that when girls and young women think about themselves as objects to be looked at rather than as whole people who do things in the world, they don't do as well on math and logic problems."

So what can parents do to help their children? Dr. Zurbriggen gives some suggestions:

• Talk to your children -- Help them interpret and critique the media they see
• Provide alternative images and activities -- Sports, arts and music, community service or religious education can give girls the message that they are valued for who they are, not how sexy they look and act
• Speak to manufactures and media producers -- Let them know you do not appreciate this onslaught of sexualizing imaging and demand alternatives

"What we were struck by is how pervasive the sexualization of young women and girls is and the wide variety of negative effects that it apparently causes," said Dr. Zurbriggen. "It's important that we as individuals, and as a society, take action to reduce sexualization and provide positive alternatives instead."

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Ivanhoe interview with Eileen Zurbriggen, Ph.D.; Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls, published online Feb. 18, 2007