Question

The post is on the bottom

Answer 1

The Sexualization of Girls in Media and How to Approach Change
Advertising is a 100 billion dollar industry. Every day we are exposed to over 2000 ads (Kilborne ). These advertisements are powerful, influential, and a source of education in our society. The media is sending messages, and the message they send to women is loud and clear: women are valued for their sexuality, the most important thing about a woman is how hot she is. The media teaches women and girls to objectify themselves. In an important article about advertising Kilbourne explains that, "Women are conditioned to view their faces as masks and their bodies as objects, through the mass media women discover that their bodies and faces are in need of alteration, augmentation, and disguise." (Kilborne ). They learn that they are sexual objects and that their value lies in how sexually attractive they are to men. The media message is not without serious implications for society. Media's sexualization and objectification of women is harmful for teenage girls, it leads to depression, eating disorders, self-esteem problems and educational setbacks. We should protect young adolescents and address these concerns through media literacy programs and media honesty programs.
According to the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls there are several components to sexualizing a person. "Sexualization occurs when a person's value comes only from his or her sexual behavior at the exclusion of other characteristics; when a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness narrowly defined with being sexy; when a person is sexually objectified--that is made into a thing for others sexual use, rather than seen as a person, or when sexuality is inappropriately imposed on a person." (APA Task Force 1)
It is clear that the sexualization of women happens in every form of media.
Even a casual observer of media programs can clearly see each of these components of sexualization in relation to the portrayal of girls. Popular stores sell shirts to young girls that say "I don't need to be smart I'm cute" while simultaneously broadcasting advertisement after advertisement in which women are shown in little clothing, compromising sexual positions while the male counterpart is fully clothed. The message being sent clearly says that women and girls are valued for how sexually attractive they are to men, while men are valued for more than their bodies. According to media representations a women's power and value lie in their sexuality. The images of females in advertisements and television shows also aren't portraying a realistic view of what women look like. Physical attractiveness is narrowly defined with being sexy, unrealistically thin but with curves at the same time, with long hair and long legs, large eyes, and according to the media--white. Advertisements show women clothed in only bra's and underwear posing provocatively while the caption reads "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels", the message clearly saying that being thin and hot is more important than eating. This is coupled with the fact that the narrow beauty standards are not even attainable. A recent research report discovered that 94% of female characters in television programs are thinner than the average American woman (Yuko 2). While advertisers broadcast the message that if a consumer uses their product or works hard they can look just like the models depicted. This is deceptive, media is lying and adolescent girls are believing it. (Durham 49). In reality not even the models look like that. So much editing and airbrushing happen on ads that even Cindy Crawford said in People Magazine: "Even I don't look like Cindy Crawford in the morning." (People Magazine 1993).
Advertisements dehumanize women in ads where female body parts are turned into objects, faces are removed, but their legs, breasts and bodies are used to sell everything from shoes to cars. The images are used to evoke a sexual response from men, and women are made into objects. Perhaps one of the more alarming aspect of these media exposure come in the form of making little girls sexy. Wal-mart sells junior girls panties that read "Who need's credit cards?" across private parts (Durham 23). Push-up bra's are being marketed to seven year olds and pink plastic strip tease poles (complete with money belts) to five year old girls (Campbell 1). Small toddlers are being sexualized in pageants where they tout spray tans and Madonna outfits and sing the words "don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me". Halloween costumes for little girls are revealing, tight and "sexy" (SOURCE). Our society norms and laws outlaw child pornography and yet our media sexualizes little girls and tells adults to look at children as sexual beings. (Durham 57).
While advertising companies and social media take no responsibility for touting these images, the reality is that the message it sends to girls is harmful to them. Teens are bombarded by media. Research shows that teenagers watch eleven hours of television, listen to ten hours of the radio, play three hours of video games and spend nearly seventeen hours online every single week (Durham 31). While watching those eleven hours of television over 77 % of shows include sexual material (Weiner 2). Not only does the media play background noise in their lives, teenagers turn to media for sexual information over parents, peers, and other sources (Durham 31). Several studies suggest that teenage girls are more susceptible to the messages of the media than any other group (Weiner 2).
It is important to note that not all people in media or all media depictions fuel this problem. There are positive role models and ads that are respectful to media. In fact, after fashion guru Karl Lagerfeld, commented that singer Adelle had a divine voice but was a little too fat, Adelle responded by stating "I represent the majority of women and I am very proud of that." (SOURCE) She wants to be known for her talent not her body. The problem is, we need many more women like Adelle insisting on being known for their abilities.
So how do all of these media messages effect teenage girls? Recent studies have found that sexualization of women in the media leads to depression, self-esteem issues, and eating disorders ( APA Task Force), as well as influencing career interest, mental processing, and sexual harassment (Choate ). Several new studies are emerging to discuss the correlation between the media and the fact that the US has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy, teenage birth, abortion and STD's in the world (Dunham 52).
Experts say that pre-adolescents' desire to try on different identities while they define themselves makes them particularly susceptible. During adolescence, children need to find a sense of identity and develop who they are in context of their family and society (Curry 7). They begin seeking out what it means to be a woman or a man. Unfortunately, the media is responding to those questions with disturbing ideas of womanhood and sexuality.
In fact, media messages are contributing to an increase in eating disorders in teenagers at younger ages than ever before. Stacy Weiner of the Washington Post reports that a decade ago eating disorder patients at Children's National Medical Center tended to be around age fifteen, but now kids come in as young as five or six (Weiner 2). As some girls compare their bodies against tv ads, commercials, and depictions it may lead to depression. Experts say that beauty is depicted in such a very narrow way that it is impossible to replicate, yet teenagers still try by starving themselves or becoming disconnected when they are unable to achieve success (Weiner 3).
These issues impact adolescent girls ability to be successful in school. An important study by Chaote and Curry on the oversexualization of middle schoolers explains that "The more a girl worries about how her appearance and body measure up to cultural standards of beauty and sexiness, and the more she ruminates about the ways that others may be judging her, the less mental energy she will have to meet academic challenges." (Choate 8). Not only does it affect them in their immediate schoolwork but it also influences their future career choices. Middle school ages are an extremely important time for youth to develop self-concept, and it is during this time that they begin to develop their understanding of their place in society. There are positive role models to emulate, but the majority of messages suggest to them that a woman is not valued for intellectual skills or talents but instead their sexuality (Choate 8).
Something needs to happen in our society to counter these very serious problems. The answer is found in responsibility for media. Some argue that the media is only representing what is currently happening in our society, but this is not true. Psychologist Gigi Durham explains in her book The Lolita Effect that : "The growing research area of Media studies show us that television and film shape culture and society rather than reflecting existing social patterns." (Durham 32) Wielding that much influence and power over our society should require responsibility and accountability.
What can be done to combat this issue? There are many possible ways to handle this problem. Two popular ideas are media literacy programs and censorship/media reform. Media literacy programs are excellent resources and currently are increasing in schools around the country due to the APA Task force on the Sexualization of Girls. However, more must be done. Media Literacy programs teach young girls how to handle whats happening to them in society. Other actions must be taken to stop these things from happening. Young girls do not need to remain victims when there are good solutions for changing the system harming them.
When discussing change, censorship and media reform are frequently discussed as a solution to the media problem. However, little progress is made because proponents of outright censorship find that their views violate the first amendment freedom of press and speech rights of other Americans. However, a little known solution may prove to be the most effective solution. The UK has handled the media problem in a unique way, it is called the Honesty In Media Program.
A major component of the Honesty in Media Program is a program run by ASA. They are independent of the government and advertising industry but are recognized by the government and court systems. According to their website: "The organization works to investigate complaints and proactively monitor and take action against misleading harmful or offensive advertisements, sales promotions and direct marketing." (asa.org) The organization is funded by a levy placed on advertisers, tax payers pay nothing. The levy allows them the resources to handle more than 26,000 complaints every year and independently check ads. Their strength lies in their independence from both government and advertising agencies. They are free to fully evaluate and give responsibility to advertisers as well as provide an equal playing field for advertisers. The ASA is beneficial to the public and advertisers, because it gives advertisers more trustworthiness and this open honesty keeps customers coming back ( asa.org).
The ASA bases decisions on a list of codes. One example of their codes is the advertising rules pertaining to children. Their website explains that "Children deserve special protection, by virtue of their age and inexperience children are more credulous and vulnerable than grown-ups. They don't necessarily have the understanding of the ways of the commercial world possessed by most adults. No ad should contain anything likely to result in children's physical, mental or moral harm. There are also rules about the advertising of products like gambling and alcohol, to make sure that they are not advertised inappropriately at children." (asa.org ) Ads featuring children under the age of 18 can't display those children in provocative or inappropriate poses and attire or being undressed (asa.org). Broadcasters that continually air ads that break the codes are fined, or can potentially even lose their advertising license (asa.org). This is a system that brings accountability to advertising and simultaneously protects children and teenagers.
Without a doubt, mass media is in need of regulations. The depictions of women and small girls have devastating consequences to our society. Media continues to be an important and continuous influence in our society, its message to young girls takes away their value, sexualizes them and objectifies them. It is time for a change, and honesty in media programs provide an excellent opportunity to protect and encourage the young girls in our society.

Answer 2

Just tell me what you think about it...if I could add some thing or remove some thing..and what your thoughts about it are

Answer 3

see emily its kinda big so you gotta have some patience....

Answer 4

NO its perfect...

Answer 5

Awww..thanks! :D....well can you tell me what you thought about it..what are your thoughts about this issue?

Answer 6

see i love the way you higlighted the modern male chauvenism..that the plight of ladies in the advertisment world
i liked the fact that you are able to perceive the viewpoint of a suffering person..but you gotta oversgadow the facts withg more emotional arguements

Answer 7

hmm yes interesting..thanks I will!..anything else?

Answer 8

only that you should give more examples like the model dying from depression,starving themselves and other acts women commit to make their way in modelling and glam world

Answer 9

yes yes okay good point...thanks soo Yashasvi! you have been really helpful today :D

Answer 10

*soo much

Answer 11

my pleasure miss

Answer 12

and call me yash

Answer 13

oh sorry..okay will do

Answer 14

You have a lot of areas where you have (SOURCE). Might want to fill those sources in?

Answer 15

Teens are bombarded by media. Passive voice?

This is a really powerful essay. There are lots of evidence about women to back your claims.