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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