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Resonate your identity with Naseeb journals. Express your opinions, share your thoughts, post your writings and connect with like minded people through the power of expression.
Does childhood still exist?
Young girls are being psychologically damaged by the sexualisation of toys, clothes and even cartoons, a new report warns. We look at the products - such as Bratz dolls - singled out for criticism, and ask the experts how such sexualisation can damage children.
Parents of young girls know that plenty of products and media aimed at them feature 'sexy' content - dolls wearing fishnet stockings or mini-skirts, or b..b tubes and high-heeled shoes marketed at children as young as 6.
As if that weren't enough, a new report now warns that such sexualised images may be harming girls' self-image and healthy development.
The report by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that sexualisation - when a person's value comes only from her/his sexual appeal - "abounds" in visual media and song lyrics, as well as in certain toys such as the top-selling Bratz dolls, which come dressed in mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and feather boas.
Even the epitome of childhood innocence, Disney cartoons, are singled out for criticism in the report, which points out that characters such as the Little Mermaid and Pocahontas "have more cleavage, fewer clothes and are depicted as sexier than characters of yesteryear".
It claims such sexualisation can have a variety of negative effects on young girls, ranging from emotional, self-image and sexual development problems to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
"The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls' healthy development," says Dr Eileen Zurbriggen, chairperson of the APA's task force.
"As a society, we need to replace all of these sexualised images with ones showing girls in positive settings -- ones that show the uniqueness and competence of girls.
"The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents - boys and girls - that lead to healthy sexual development."
Parents have a major role to play in achieving this goal, the APA says. It has produced a series of tips to help parents lessen the effects of sexualisation on their kids.
health.uk.msn.com
Parents of young girls know that plenty of products and media aimed at them feature 'sexy' content - dolls wearing fishnet stockings or mini-skirts, or b..b tubes and high-heeled shoes marketed at children as young as 6.
As if that weren't enough, a new report now warns that such sexualised images may be harming girls' self-image and healthy development.
The report by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that sexualisation - when a person's value comes only from her/his sexual appeal - "abounds" in visual media and song lyrics, as well as in certain toys such as the top-selling Bratz dolls, which come dressed in mini-skirts, fishnet stockings and feather boas.
Even the epitome of childhood innocence, Disney cartoons, are singled out for criticism in the report, which points out that characters such as the Little Mermaid and Pocahontas "have more cleavage, fewer clothes and are depicted as sexier than characters of yesteryear".
It claims such sexualisation can have a variety of negative effects on young girls, ranging from emotional, self-image and sexual development problems to eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression.
"The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls' healthy development," says Dr Eileen Zurbriggen, chairperson of the APA's task force.
"As a society, we need to replace all of these sexualised images with ones showing girls in positive settings -- ones that show the uniqueness and competence of girls.
"The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents - boys and girls - that lead to healthy sexual development."
Parents have a major role to play in achieving this goal, the APA says. It has produced a series of tips to help parents lessen the effects of sexualisation on their kids.
health.uk.msn.com
Comments on this journal
...thanks for sharing this story...
...I found the Herbal Essence shampoo commercials just offensive...called them up on it! :(