A review has been published today with serious implications for the kinds of identity our young people develop. Click on the link below for the full press release: for full version click this link. For The Daily Telegraph coverage see link.
An independent review into the sexualisation of young people, conducted by psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, was welcomed by Home Secretary Alan Johnson today.
Commissioned by the Home Office, the review forms part of the government’s strategy to tackle ‘Violence Against Women and Girls’ (VAWG) and looks at how sexualised images and messages may be affecting the development of children and young people and influencing cultural norms. It also examines the evidence of a link between sexualisation and violence.
Key recommendations include:
• the government to launch an online ‘one-stop-shop’ to allow the public to voice their concerns regarding irresponsible marketing which sexualises children, with an onus on regulatory authorities to take action. The website could help inform future government policy by giving parents a forum to raise issues of concern regarding the sexualisation of young people;
• the government should support the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) to take steps to extend the existing regulatory standards to include commercial websites;
• broadcasters are required to ensure that music videos featuring sexual posing or sexually suggestive lyrics are broadcast only after the ‘watershed’;
• the government to support the NSPCC in its work with manufacturers and retailers to encourage corporate responsibility with regard to sexualised merchandise. Guidelines should be issued for retailers following consultation with major clothing retailers and parents’ groups; and
• games consoles should be sold with parental controls already switched on. Purchasers can choose to ‘unlock’ the console if they wish to allow access to ad and online content.
Dr Papadopoulos has worked closely with the Home Office in developing the current national awareness campaign targeting violence within teenagers’ relationships. A pack for teachers and pupils to accompany the campaign will shortly be made available to all schools. The government is also committed to introducing the subject of violence against women and girls and gender equality into the national curriculum, both of which are recommendations outlined in t review. The full list of recommendations will now be considered in more detail.
Psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos said:
“As a psychologist and as a parent, I welcomed the opportunity to take a critical look at the sexualisation of young people.
“Over the past few months I have spoken to many people including young people, parents, teachers and professionals and it is clear to me that this is a very emotive issue.
“I wanted to ensure that this was not an opinion piece, but a review based on real data and academic research which will help generate further debate and inform decisions about how to address these issues going forward.”
Dr Linda Papadopoulos is a well-known psychologist and media expert in the field of women and girls’ self-image. Her academic credentials include a PhD in psychology (City University), an MSc in Health Psychology (University of Surrey) and she has been a reader in psychology since 2001. Dr Papadopoulos is a practising clinician who has worked in various treatment settings both privately and in the National Health Service.
Her clinical interests focus on body image and self-esteem, eating disorders and facial disfigurement. The intention of the review is to contribute to a wider debate with the public about the risk to children’s developmental well-being, and the risk posed by others to children, through the sexualisation process.
I am so happy that someone has stood up and contested against these issues. I am also happy that it is a successful, intelligent, attractive, married woman who has said these things as many men and some women feel as if the view points expressed are those of a unmarried feminist who prefers women.
I have felt these things for many years now and I actually got into a state of depression and mental health problems because in my early twenties I felt as if my only purpose in life was sex and to be adored by men.
I am now successful in my career and I feel a lot more empowered than I did when I was younger.
I was sexually abused as a young teenager by a older boy and there was a great deal of pressure on girls to give up their virginity and to be sexual. The media and magazines at the time accelerated this.
I thank her for getting the government’s backing and I wish her all the success with this. I support her all the way.
Thanks
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I disagree as this kind of stuff kids depend on as they feel alone most of the time. I am not saying that Dr Papadopulos is wrong and I think she has a good point but children like to feel free otherwise they feel trapped.
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While in a fast food restaurant for lunch recently with my 6 year old niece I was shocked to look up and see on the large flat screen TV an MTV video showing a young women being soaked in alcohol, in skimpy clothing and dancing provocatively. My niece was watching this with interest. This is not something she would normally be allowed to watch as my sister keeps close tabs on what her children watch on TV and MTV is not on the list. In my opinion this was an instance of negative sexual imagery which my niece was exposed to unnecessarily. It is this kind of imagery that has become so prevalent in our culture to the point where we hardly even give it a second thought as adults. But what is it doing to the young developing minds of our children. Of course it would be silly to suggest it all be removed this would not be practical or normal. However children’s exposure to this type of thing has reached epidemic proportions and I am glad something is finally being done to reduce it.
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I myself have become increasingly concerned about the media potrayal of women. It saddens me to see images of women being churned out in an undesirable and degrading manner. Western society has become saturated with these images in almost every aspect of daily life from music vidoes and lyrics, lads mags and the front covers of some newspapers, to name but a few.
I’m not a feminist but would agree that at both ends of this perspective some would argue that it has allowed women to be empowered while others would argue about exploitation. I would venture down the exploitation path as most of these women are infact told how to dress and act by males and for a male audience. For example while a music video may show a female or females in very little clothing dancing provocatively the male will always remain fully clothed ( is that just coincidence, surely not).
Unfortunately it seems to have become rather acceptable as there has over the last few years been a ‘drip affect’ therefore nobody is motivated to challenge this. My concern is that if we don’t challenge this now then someday the male dominated industry who market these images will decide to up the anti.
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I wish to have some imformation on eating disorder can you please help for i have a 31 year old daughter with a seriase problem thank you in advance
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I’m doing a feature on the sexualisation of young people and would really appreciate some opinions and views on this subject matter and the topics surrounding it.
Please reply if you wish to get in touch with me to help towards my research.
Any comments would be very useful and highly appreciated.
Sophie
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My concern is that young girls are bombarded with these sexualised images in music videos, adverts and in soap operas. This is how they see the way to dress and act and this is how lads perceive how the girls should to act and dress, Since the pussy cat dolls, burlesque and pole dancing are used in the television on a daily basis before the watershed, or in newspapers is irresponsible as well as dangerous. When young pop stars such as Brittany Spears and Christine Aquilrea make the transmission from the innocent girls to adult singers they are dressed in mini dress/skirts and low cut tops and dance as though they were pole dancers. The retail industry that design adult clothes for children are pandering to this sexualised images of young girls.
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A significant number of nightclubs don’t allow people to wear trainers, and I don’t just mean the white sporty ones, as you would not be able to get in a gym with what they consider “trainers”. No trainer basically means no comfortable shoe. This is how you end up with a high heel/shortest short dress copycat behaviour which becomes an aim for the young girls. People who go to these places “to dance” can’t get in, and it becomes a place “to pull”. The no-trainer argument that it’s necessary to dress “classy” seem outrageous (surely a boob tube + handkerchief skirt + 7 inch heals rather qualifies as “tarty”?). Adults need to clean up their acts if we want teens to change trends.
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