In 2007 the American Psychological Association defined sexualization as the act of being sexualized or sexualizing oneself, which includes reducing physical attractiveness to sexiness, valuing someone based solely on sex appeal, or treating someone as a sexual object rather than as a person (Starr and Ferguson 2012). The American Psychological Association believes the two earliest factors of sexualization for young girls from media and their mothers due to the amount of time young children spend at home. By the modeling observed gender-linked behavior. For instance, when a young girl imitates her mother in putting on lipstick. Children usually adopt gender-linked behaviors when their actions are rewarded or unpunished. …show more content…
This quote comes from Durham and The Lolita Effect which explains how sexuality is overlapping with young girls and how they are viewed in the public culture of sex. The Lolita effect thrives since desire is for public display, defined by a narrow or nonexistent ideal, the property of youth, more exciting if it is violent, and about male dominance over females. The Lolita Effect delineates formative social influences promoting premature sexual knowledge and behavior in young children (Solberg …show more content…
In conclusion, the question of whether sexualization is good or bad many factors have been shown to prove girls who are sexualized are at significant risk of having adverse outlooks of who they are, and their appearance compared to others in society.
References:
Ballaro, B., & Wagner, G. (2017). Body Image & the Media: An Overview. Points of View: Body Image & The Media, 1.
Diaz-Bustamnte-Ventisca, M., & Llovet-Rodriguez, C. (2017). EMPOWERMENT OR IMPOVERISHMENT OF CHILDREN FROM SOCIAL NETWORKS? PERCEPTIONS OF SEXUALIZED IMAGES OF GIRLS IN INSTAGRAM. El Professional De La Informacion, 26(1), 77-87. Doi:10.3145/epi.2017. ene. 08
Ream, T.C., & Ream, S.C. (2008). Girls on Display. Christianity Today, 52(9), 91.
Solberg, J. (2008). The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and What We Can Do About It. Library Journal, 133(11), 82.
Starr, C.c., & Ferguson, G.f. (2012). Sexy Dolls, Sexy Grade-Schoolers? Media & Maternal Influences on Young Girls’ Self-Sexualization. Sex Roles, 67 (7-8),