Download Sexualisation in Our Society

Sexualisation in Our Society –
What it Really Means for Young
People Today
Julia Worms – Respect YPS
Definition
Sexualisation
To make sexual – to attribute sexual significance to
(Chambers Dictionary)
‘Is the imposition of adult sexuality on to children and
young people before they are capable of dealing with it,
mentally emotionally or physically’
(Papadopoulos 2010)
Sexualisation – Broader Definitions
• Person’s value comes from their sexual appearance or behaviour to
the exclusion of other characteristics
• Person held to a standard – equates physical attractiveness (narrow
definition) to being sexy
• Person is sexually objectified
• Sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person
Anyone one of these can be an indication of sexualisation
Model of Sexualisation
• Societal Influences – culture, media, television, film, music, internet
• Inter-personal Influences – impact of family, peers
• Self-sexualisation – internalisation of messages based on approval,
rewards and response
‘The sexualisation of girls may not only reflect sexist attitudes, a social
tolerance of sexual violence and the exploitation of girls and women
but may also contribute to these phenomena.’
Zurbriggen 2007
‘Diversity among ‘tweenage’ girls - have a
sophisticated ability to criticise and deconstruct
‘sexualised’ images, but this sits alongside painful
accounts of how bad the images can make them feel
and the kind of pressure they feel subject to – being
able to critique an image does not mean it has no
impact’
Rosalind Gill, Kings College London (NSPCC)
Sexualisation -Interpersonal
• Individuals influenced by sexualisation & may influence
others
• Consumer culture – seek social advantage & fear rejection
• Self-improvement now equated with attractiveness
• Parental/Teacher direction of activities
• Parental permission – e.g. plastic surgery
• Peers may reinforce society messages – e.g. thin ideal
• Peers can reinforce stereotypical behaviours
• Popularity can be equated with sexual activity or sexiness
• Banter, criticism, comments, put downs – sexual connotation
• Girls pubertal development peer sexual harassment –
increases shame & guilt
• Prostitution
• Sexual coercion or abuse
Self - Sexualisation
• Exercise choice about personal identity
• Consumer culture – seek social advantage & fear rejection
• Definition of attractiveness has changed over time
• Social success now equated with attractiveness
• Self-improvement now equated with sexiness
• Self-objectification – internalise a standard of appearance and
engage in activity to increase sexual attractiveness
• Acting out – sexual precocious behaviour
‘Pre-adolescents and adolescents are like
actors as they experiment with different
features of their newly forming identities
and try on different social masks. This
plasticity may make them especially
susceptible to the messages society
conveys’
Strasburg & Wilson (2002) – Zurbriggen (2007)
Processes
•
Modelling – developmental process (Social learning theory)
•
Socialisation – rewards & punishments associated with social behaviour
•
Cultivation – exposure to consistent themes changes perspectives (social
construction theory) – cultural spill over theory
•
Parental Gender Schemas – impacts children’s gender self-concepts &
gender related attitudes, particularly fathers
•
Psychoanalytic – early experiences are formative in the development of self
– boundary crossing can cause guilt & conflict
•
Trauma Theory – problems with sexual development & intimate
relationships (development is interrupted & enactment/repetition)
•
Objectification – internalisation of sexual messaging
Bussey & Bandura (1999)
‘Once they understand what society expects of
them with regard to gender roles and
standards of behaviour, children start to
internalise these expectations and create their
own rules. They then in effect start to ‘police’
themselves in line with these self-imposed
standards, adapting and monitoring their own
behaviour without the need for reassurance
and reinforcement from outside’
Socialisation & Cognitive Processes
Consequences - Individual
•
Cognitive Functioning – disrupts mental capacity, lack of belief in ability
•
Physical & Mental Health – restraint on physical activity, anxiety, self
disgust, shame, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, low self-esteem,
depression, smoking etc
•
Sexuality – diminished sexual health, higher levels sexual risk taking,
problems with intimacy, dissatisfaction with sexual experiences, unable to
express their sexual needs, dissatisfaction with partners, difficulty in setting
boundaries, negative attitudes to breast feeding etc
•
Attitudes & Beliefs – limit free thinking & motivation, more accepting of
gender stereotyping, more accepting of teen dating violence, belief that
dating is a game and partners are adversaries, obsession with appearance,
desire to maintain youthfulness
Consequences - Society
• Sexualisation leads to de-humanisation
• Pornography industry pushes the boundaries – mainstream
culture follows
• Normalises violence and abuse against women
• Social problems maintained or increased e.g. violence against
women, sexual exploitation, prostitution, types of pornography
• Reinforces sexist attitudes
• Acceptance of rape myths, sexual harassment, IPV
• Women under valued for contribution to society
• Reduction in aspirations for young people
• Increase in sexual harassment & coercion
• Normalises young people as sexually mature – impact on
child abuse, child prostitution and the sexual trafficking of
children
• Reduces expectations - healthy, respectful family relationships
Considerations
• Developing ones sense of self as a sexual being is an important task
for adolescents – sexualisation can influence and make this more
difficult
• Young encouraged to look sexy before knowledge of what it means
to be sexual and have sexual desires or make responsible decisions
about intimate relationships
• Young imbued with adult sexuality – may seem to be sexually
appealing, suggest they are sexually available and that they are
appropriate sexual objects
• Blurring lines between who is and is not sexually mature
• Developmental age, social experience, cognitive ability, physical
development all influence the impact of sexualising experiences
Sexting
‘Exchange of sexual messages or images’
‘Creating, sharing or forwarding of sexually
suggestive images through mobile phones
and/or the internet’
‘The use of technology to share personal
sexual content’
Sexting
Britain is suffering from a sexting crisis with tens
of thousands of schoolchildren caught sharing
sexual imagery online in the past three years, an
investigation by The Times has found.
Politicians and child-protection groups called for
mandatory sex-education classes after data from
50 of Britain’s biggest secondary schools showed
that more than a third of all sexting cases
involved children aged 12 and 13.
Consent
• Legal definition does not apply below age 10 years (criminal
responsibility)
• ‘True’ consent not the same as legal consent
• Child below 13 cannot give consent to sexual activity
‘Consent is based on choice. Consent is active not passive.
Consent is only possible where there is equal power. …..
Going along with someone because of wanting to fit in with
the group is not consent.. If you can’t say ‘no’ comfortably
then ‘yes’ has no meaning. If you are unwilling to accept ‘no’
then ‘yes’ has no meaning’
Adams 1984 - NSPCC