Comments on: The effect of media images of sexed-up girls and women posing as adolescents http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:20:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-18695 Erich Vieth Tue, 20 May 2008 21:29:38 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-18695 I<a href="http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/05/20/lolita_effect/" rel="nofollow">n a May 20, 2008 interview published by Salon.com</a>, Katharine Mieszkowski interviewed Gigi Durham, who has written a book entitled: "The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do About It." <blockquote>Q: What do you think is the relationship between the sexualization of young girls in pop culture, and the actual sexual exploitation of children? A: I think it's quite troubling that many of the highly sexualized images we see in fashion and beauty magazines use bodies of 12-, 13-, 14-year-old girls. Maddison Gabriel and a lot of the models are very, very young. . . . I think in a way this mainstreaming of very young girls as sexually desirable objects is one side of the more illegitimate child pornography industry. I almost think that it tacitly condones it. Children are now being trafficked in large numbers for sexual purposes. I do think that there is a connection there, and I think we ought to be disturbed by this. Q: Are you advocating censorship of sexually provocative media images of young girls? A: I am absolutely opposed to any form of censorship . . . [W]hat I call for is the opposite of censorship: I'd like to see more discussion, more public debate, and more discourse around issues of sexuality. What I'm trying to do is increase consumer consciousness so that people -- including kids -- can better understand and control their media environments.</blockquote> In a May 20, 2008 interview published by Salon.com, Katharine Mieszkowski interviewed Gigi Durham, who has written a book entitled: “The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do About It.”

Q: What do you think is the relationship between the sexualization of young girls in pop culture, and the actual sexual exploitation of children?

A: I think it’s quite troubling that many of the highly sexualized images we see in fashion and beauty magazines use bodies of 12-, 13-, 14-year-old girls. Maddison Gabriel and a lot of the models are very, very young. . . .

I think in a way this mainstreaming of very young girls as sexually desirable objects is one side of the more illegitimate child pornography industry. I almost think that it tacitly condones it. Children are now being trafficked in large numbers for sexual purposes. I do think that there is a connection there, and I think we ought to be disturbed by this.

Q: Are you advocating censorship of sexually provocative media images of young girls?

A: I am absolutely opposed to any form of censorship . . . [W]hat I call for is the opposite of censorship: I’d like to see more discussion, more public debate, and more discourse around issues of sexuality. What I’m trying to do is increase consumer consciousness so that people — including kids — can better understand and control their media environments.

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-15793 projektleiterin Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:50:46 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-15793 Some people shouldn't have kids. I also include parents who think their kids are not fat, but just a tiny bit chubby. Britney Spears is just an example what can happen if you have rotten parents. She is crazy, no doubt, but also a quite sad product of her parents. Some people shouldn’t have kids. I also include parents who think their kids are not fat, but just a tiny bit chubby. Britney Spears is just an example what can happen if you have rotten parents. She is crazy, no doubt, but also a quite sad product of her parents.

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-15787 Erich Vieth Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:19:37 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-15787 Projektleiterin: These videos are incredible and disturbing. Almost unbelievable. Makes you want to somehow rescue these children from their screwed-up parents. Projektleiterin: These videos are incredible and disturbing. Almost unbelievable. Makes you want to somehow rescue these children from their screwed-up parents.

]]> By: projektleiterin http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-15774 projektleiterin Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:12:41 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-15774 There are some quite disturbing videos that I saw a while ago: http://jezebel.com/337184/swan-brooner-child-beauty-queen-not+so+merry-holiday-barbie http://jezebel.com/gossip/clips/mothers-who-enter-their-daughters-in-beauty-pageants-are-a-special-breed-329803.php http://jezebel.com/340941/the-best-child-beauty-pageant-coaches-are-queens There are some quite disturbing videos that I saw a while ago:

http://jezebel.com/337184/swan-brooner-child-beauty-queen-not+so+merry-holiday-barbie
http://jezebel.com/gossip/clips/mothers-who-enter-their-daughters-in-beauty-pageants-are-a-special-breed-329803.php
http://jezebel.com/340941/the-best-child-beauty-pageant-coaches-are-queens

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10257 Erich Vieth Fri, 23 Feb 2007 04:21:39 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10257 China Blog: Pipher and Ross recommend exactly what you suggest (as one solid strategy). They specifically recommend serious involvement in sports. Other options they suggest are music performance skills, academics or serious involvement in other activities where one's daughter is working hard to achieve something rather than dressing up and seeking approval of others. China Blog: Pipher and Ross recommend exactly what you suggest (as one solid strategy). They specifically recommend serious involvement in sports. Other options they suggest are music performance skills, academics or serious involvement in other activities where one’s daughter is working hard to achieve something rather than dressing up and seeking approval of others.

]]> By: China Law Blog http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10255 China Law Blog Fri, 23 Feb 2007 00:28:02 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10255 I am also the father of two daughters, ages 16 and 9, both of whom play serious basketball (the eldest plays for the top high school team in the state). Basketball has been fantastic because the ideal body image it creates is one of someone who is fast, strong, and in shape. The focus is on what the body can do, not on what it looks like. Avoid sports like gymnastics where are particular type of body is required. I know this is an oversimplification of a very difficult issue, but I do see sports as a potential solution. I am also the father of two daughters, ages 16 and 9, both of whom play serious basketball (the eldest plays for the top high school team in the state). Basketball has been fantastic because the ideal body image it creates is one of someone who is fast, strong, and in shape. The focus is on what the body can do, not on what it looks like. Avoid sports like gymnastics where are particular type of body is required. I know this is an oversimplification of a very difficult issue, but I do see sports as a potential solution.

]]> By: Erich Vieth http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10244 Erich Vieth Thu, 22 Feb 2007 03:19:49 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10244 I received this email from a friend who teaches psychology at the university level: <blockquote>Thanks for the post about APA's report on the sexualization of girls. As you may or may not be aware, I'm teaching Psych of Gender this semester. I will pass the APA link along to my students. Incidentally, we covered a few chapters of Reviving Ophelia last Wednesday, and on Friday we talked about Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, by Kindlon and Thompson. The timing of this task force report couldn't be much better.</blockquote> I received this email from a friend who teaches psychology at the university level:

Thanks for the post about APA’s report on the sexualization of girls. As you may or may not be aware, I’m teaching Psych of Gender this semester. I will pass the APA link along to my students.

Incidentally, we covered a few chapters of Reviving Ophelia last Wednesday, and on Friday we talked about Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, by Kindlon and Thompson. The timing of this task force report couldn’t be much better.

]]> By: Arch Stanton http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10243 Arch Stanton Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:47:17 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10243 Your kids don't watch TV or go to school? Chances are they will wind up being socially abnormal anyway. Your kids don’t watch TV or go to school? Chances are they will wind up being socially abnormal anyway.

]]> By: Phillip Winn http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10241 Phillip Winn Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:13:30 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10241 Boys and girls *are* different. I work hard to ensure my children have every opportunity and are aware that nothing should be off-limits to them solely due to their gender. And yet my girls still prefer traditionally girly things and my boy still prefers traditionally boyish thing, and they have from day one. It's more pronounced with the girls than the boy, though. I still ensure that they're all involved in activities normally aimed at one or the other, but I'm not sure where my kids picked up these ideas. They don't watch TV, they don't go to school, etc. It really does seem innate somehow. Of course, I can't convince anyone of this unless it happens to them. Devi's grandaughter's desire for a princess makeover may or may not have been prompted my cultural cues. I'm pretty sure a good portion of mine aren't. Boys and girls *are* different. I work hard to ensure my children have every opportunity and are aware that nothing should be off-limits to them solely due to their gender.

And yet my girls still prefer traditionally girly things and my boy still prefers traditionally boyish thing, and they have from day one. It’s more pronounced with the girls than the boy, though.

I still ensure that they’re all involved in activities normally aimed at one or the other, but I’m not sure where my kids picked up these ideas. They don’t watch TV, they don’t go to school, etc. It really does seem innate somehow.

Of course, I can’t convince anyone of this unless it happens to them. Devi’s grandaughter’s desire for a princess makeover may or may not have been prompted my cultural cues. I’m pretty sure a good portion of mine aren’t.

]]> By: Devi http://dangerousintersection.org/2007/02/21/the-effect-of-media-images-of-sexed-up-girls-and-women-posing-as-adolescents/#comment-10233 Devi Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:19:01 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=1087#comment-10233 My daughter is a strong, independent woman and thinks for herself (some things parents teach do actually take), and she is teaching her daughter to do the same. When my granddaughter was 4, she and her mom were in a home improvement store and the child saw a display for a princess-style room makeover, and thought she just had to have that. My daughter refused, and the child insisted that my daughter explain why. After a fairly lengthy tirade/commentary about the image of a woman/girl being the passive figure that waits in some ivory tower for a prince to rescue her rather than taking charge of her own fate (picture this discussion in the middle of the large home improvement store, child in the shopping cart and mom getting rather animated), after my daughter stopped talking, my granddaughter said quietly. "Mom, not everything is about feminism." Pretty funny, but in reality, from a woman's perspective, most things are about feminism, whether we realize it or not. My daughter is a strong, independent woman and thinks for herself (some things parents teach do actually take), and she is teaching her daughter to do the same. When my granddaughter was 4, she and her mom were in a home improvement store and the child saw a display for a princess-style room makeover, and thought she just had to have that. My daughter refused, and the child insisted that my daughter explain why. After a fairly lengthy tirade/commentary about the image of a woman/girl being the passive figure that waits in some ivory tower for a prince to rescue her rather than taking charge of her own fate (picture this discussion in the middle of the large home improvement store, child in the shopping cart and mom getting rather animated), after my daughter stopped talking, my granddaughter said quietly. “Mom, not everything is about feminism.”

Pretty funny, but in reality, from a woman’s perspective, most things are about feminism, whether we realize it or not.

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