Reports show damage
An unhealthy sexualization is putting in danger the girls increasingly concludes a report published on 19 February by the American Psychological Association.
Entitled "Report of the APA Task Force on the sexualization of Girls" (Report of the Task Force of the APA on the Sexualization of Girls), the study is the result of research on the content and media effects media: television, music videos, music, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet.
The team also examined the industry's advertising campaigns for products aimed at girls.
"We have an extensive range of evidence to conclude that sexualization has negative effects in various fields, including cognitive, physical and mental health and healthy sexual development, "said Dr. Eileen Zurbriggen, head of the team and professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in a note press release accompanying the report.
Sexualization causes difficulties at any age, the report says, but adds that is especially problematic when it occurs at a younger age. Achieve sexual maturity in adolescents is not an easy process, the study acknowledges, but encouraged observed that when a young girl or teen to be sexy, without them even knowing what this means, the process is complicated further.
media saturation
The report cited a number of studies detailing the large amount of time spent in contact with the media. According to the data, the child or adolescent is an average of three hours of television per day. However, when calculating the total number of hours to all types of media, is that children are exposed to some type of media - television, video games, music, et ... - six hours a day.
A study conducted in 2003 reported that 68% of children have a television in their room, and that 51% of girls play interactive games on their computers and video game consoles. Both girls and boys spend half an hour a day at the computer, visiting websites, listening to music, frequenting chat rooms, playing games or sending messages to their friends.
The report of the American Psychological Association noted: "On television, young viewers encounter a world that is disproportionately male, especially in youth-oriented programs, and in which female figures are more likely to wear so more attractive and provocative than male. "
A large percentage of music videos contain sexual imagery, and women are often dressed provocatively presented. The report also noted that female artists are presented in a way that its main focus is not his talent or his music, but rather your body and sexuality. Thus, the report concludes, viewers receive the message that success comes from being an attractive sexual object.
As for the songs themselves, the APA researchers lamented that there are no recent analysis of sexual content. In his report, however, cited some examples of how the words of some recent hit songs sexualize women, or refer to them in highly degrading ways.
As the great screen, the report commented on the lack of female characters in general films, and films of series G. A study of 101 movies G series from 1990 to 2004, revealed that more than 4,000 characters in these films, 75% were male, 83% of secondary characters were men, 83% of the narrators also were, and 72% of the characters with dialogue were also men. "This clear lack of representation of women and girls in films with familiar content reflects a missed opportunity to present a wider range of girls and women in roles that are not sexualized," noted the report of the APA.
Doubtful
influences
Teen magazines are another important influence on girls. The report cited some studies about the content of the magazines, and revealed that one of the central messages of the publications is that "present oneself as sexually desirable, and thus obtain the attention of men, is, and should be, focal goal for women. "
is difficult to determine the enormously varied content that is available via the Internet, but the APA researchers cited one study on websites that generally appeal to women - the websites of fans of male and female celebrities. An analysis of the content found that female celebrities were overwhelmingly over-represented in the male sexual images, whether it was the official website or one created by their fans.
Advertising is another important area where women often sexualized. The study also notes that research has shown the tendency to portray women in a decorative or operator continues to grow. You have reached the point, he added, the girls used in seductive poses to attract adult audiences.
Recently, some commentators have highlighted the fact that even the toy market is being affected by the trend sexualization. APA researchers said they were concerned about sexually provocative dresses usually wear the most popular dolls for girls between 4 and 8 years.
The same goes for clothes. Girls are invited to increasingly younger ages to wear clothing designed to highlight female sexuality. The cosmetics are also heading to younger girls.
All these influences combine to cause a series of problems for girls. The APA report stated that sexualization is linked with three of the mental health problems more common in girls and women: eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
The researchers added that there is also evidence showing that the sexualization of girls, and negative feelings by the body it causes, can lead to sexual problems in adulthood. Indicated that the problem is related to the idealization of youth as the only good and beautiful old life. The current boom in anti-aging and cosmetic surgery is a result of this beauty imposed.
The victory of the mobile
Resist the tendency to hyper-sexualization is not easy, but in Canada, two weeks ago, won a battle of decency.
In January, the second Canadian phone company, Telus, started offering pornographic photos and videos to its users. The Vancouver-based company was heavily critical of Archbishop Raymond Roussin. "The decision by Telus is disappointing and cause for discomfort," he declared on 12 February.
In another statement released four days later, the archbishop of Vancouver accused the company of damage to society in their quest for a share of the lucrative profits from the pornography industry.
The archbishop called for a mobile phone service free of pornography. Also stated that it was getting in touch with churches and Catholic schools to not renew their mobile phone contracts with Telus. Also, calling on all Catholics and other Canadians concerned about the fact that contact with the mobile phone companies to express concern about the proliferation of pornography through mobile phones.
February 21, Telus announced it was canceling the service of "adult content." According to a report in the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail, the company said it had received hundreds of complaints from users. Archbishop Roussin
held
As in a statement the same day: "We are just beginning to realize how serious it is in fact the subject of sex addiction and pornography," he commented.
Concern about the effect of culture fashion was also expressed recently by Benedict XVI. In his message for World Day of Social Communications, which will take place on 20 May, the Pope noted the tendency toward the exaltation of violence and the trivialization of sexuality.
The Pope wrote: "The beauty is like a mirror of the divine, inspires and enlivens the hearts and minds, while ugliness and coarseness have a depressing impact in attitudes and behavior "(No. 2).
champions of modern culture have frequently and falsely accused the Church of being obsessed with sex. Indeed, contemporary society is suffering from this obsession, as the Church continues to uphold the dignity and beauty of the human person.
By Father John Flynn
ZS07030907
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