'Sexy' is bad for your image
Most little girls have a favorite princess. I had an un-favorite: Snow White.
I just couldn't stand her. Part of that was entirely superficial: that squeaky little voice, her physical frailty (and apparent delight in it), and that nearly translucent white skin wasn't exactly easy for me to indentify with my darker, olive tone. Mostly it was her attitude. She doesn't exactly exude independence, good judgment, or intelligence.
At least Belle reads.
Role models are important to children of both sexes and all ages. More importantly for parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults to be aware, role models good and bad are in images everywhere. Fairy tales and bedtime stories, store displays and magazine ads, textbook covers, wanted and unwanted Internet sites, commercials and TV shows, even restaurant table tents convey imagery of what it means to be female, or male.
Do 5-year-old girls really need padded bra and bikini tops their size? You can buy them.
Should 8-year-olds wear make up? Marketers target them specifically, and sell eyeliner for pre-teens.
Think all that imagery doesn't matter if your child isn't allowed to partake? It does. A University of Central Florida study found that 50 percent of 3- to 6-year-old girls think they're too fat. Other studies showed girls hesitate to speak out in class because they think they're too ugly, or drop out of sports at six times the rate of boys because they believe it isn't "hot" to be a female athlete.
A 2010 report by the American Psychological Association found the increasing prevalence of sexualization in magazines, by marketers, in music lyrics, and on television causes "harm to the sexualized individuals themselves, to their interpersonal relationships, and to society." It's a fallacy that full-body makeovers make females more confident. The same study found that sexualization of girls leads to lower cognitive performance and greater body dissatisfaction.
Focusing primarily on looks doesn't help societal relations. The APA says this phenomenon also contributes to society's tolerance of violence against women. Many violent crimes rates have gone down in the U.S., but sexual assaults remain high by comparison.
Is my value centered on my body, or my mind? Increasingly, despite advances in opportunity and other strides in gender roles, the message is: your body. You can do anything you want, male or female, but if you're female, you'd better look sexy doing it.
The hypersexualization of young girls (and these days, just about everything) affects boys, too. It isn't just about how girls see themselves, but also how boys see girls and how both see their relationships with each other. Sure, there's a natural physical element, but balance is important. According to an article in a September issue of Christian Science Monitor, the most popular faux "reality" shows on TV for both genders involve two basic plot lines: either a "harem" of women competing for one man, or shows focused on physical improvement.
So what can we do about all this? Limit, and be aware, especially kids. We can't lock kids away and shelter them forever, but we can open their eyes by pointing out the real aim of sexualized marketing: money. We can discuss both the virtues and flaws in all imagery in TV show plots, clothing ads, and even Barbie dolls - the effects and messages they send. That takes away the power of that imagery, renders it ineffective, and returns it where power belongs: in the mind.
Sholeh Patrick is an attorney and a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Email sholehjo@hotmail.com