Battle Of Hypersexualization Essay

Masturbation and the sexualization of minors was seen as evil, and sinful, and as a result, society tried to curb these ailments through genital mutation of both sexes. However, while minors being seen as sexual beings was taboo, at the same time, child sexual abuse occurred commonly behind closed doors. Child prostitution and pornography flourished during this period, as well as slave owners frequently used rape and sexual abuse to crush the spirit of young African-American girls. Similarly, in the 20th century, many popular stories pushed the idea that young girls were capable of willingly ‘seducing’ older men who were ‘helpless’ and unable to resist the temptation. Likewise, stories such as “Greek Love” by J.Z. Eglinton put forth the idea that boys who were forced into relationships with much older men were simply being prepared for sexual experiences in adulthood. Society often contradicts itself even today. Its said children should not be exploited sexually, yet child pornography thrives and is sought after, child sexual abuse is rampant, victims of CSA are often belittled in court while their abusers are believed and protected; as well television often portrays teenagers, particularly young girls, in “seductive” and sexual ways. While incest has mostly been seen as universally taboo and has been stigmatized, the sexualization of children has often been used to rationalize incest and child sexual

In the quest to look beautiful just like the heroines in the Disney princesses' franchise, many girls indulge themselves in the products that made for the grown-ups. Hanes proves this with a statistic from the marketing group, NPD Fashionworld, who reported that a total of 1.6 million dollars is spent annually on thong underwear for children between 7-12 years (510). These facts do not even begin to cover what is really happening to young girls nowadays. In addition, young girls are engaging themselves with the makeup at a young age that may be harmful to them because they are chemicals. Young children who feel that they are fat and want to become slender may even go to the extent of starving themselves to obtain the body shape and size that they want. There have even been cases where parents have allowed or encouraged their children to undergo the surgeries and other procedures to "enhance" their beauty. As a result, these girls end up getting the health problems and depression. Hanes supports this fact with the statistics from an APA research, which linked stress, depression, health problems, and eating disorders to sexualization

Parents of these children are not supporting their decisions of who they desire to be, leaning towards the sex of being more feminine (regarding female) or masculine (regarding male). As young as pre-school, children begin to show their common interests such as; playing with dolls, trucks, dressing up as princesses, building sky scrapers, playing with action figures, etc. This article mentions, depending on what they child plays with or how the child acts shows the risk of gender assessment. For example, this article is trying to say that if a young boy plays with a doll or dresses like a princess he

Human sexuality is a common phrase for all, and anything, pertaining to the feelings and behaviors of sex for the human race. Sexuality has been a topic that has been discussed and studied for as far back as 1000 years B.C. and is still being studied today. As the discussion of sexuality has progressed through history, theories have been created based on research and experiments that scholars have implemented, based on their own perceptions of human behavior. Out of the many theories that pose to explain sexual behavior, Sexuality Now explained ten that are seemed to be the most overlapped, and built off of theories. Of these theories, two that were discussed in the text were the behavioral and sociological theory. These two theories cover some of the basic ideas of what could possibly influence a person’s sexuality.

The sexualization of young girls and women in society is a prevalent theme in mass media. Presently, the sexualization of females is commonly seen in various consumer items like clothes, dolls, and even in Disney movies, according to “The Sexualization of Girls Is Harmful” article. The author says that sexualization occurs when “a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior; a person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy; a person is sexually objectified- made into a thing for others’ sexual use; and sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person (AboutKidsHealth).” Furthermore, the author provides statistics on how girls are being sexualized by the products they see and use

Sexuality is a key factor in today’s society. Everything around us currently revolves around sex. Such as ads, programs, and shows. Sexuality is integrated so deeply in our life’s that it becomes part of our identity. So much that people have characterize each others sexual orientation as straight, gay, lesbian, etc. In the books Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes and The Catcher In The Rye By J.D Salinger , characters Holden Caulfield and Charlie Gordon deal with a form of sexual identity crisis. Their sexual dilemma revolves around the questioning of their actions and how they can’t get use to having sex without something bad happening or questioning their self worth. Holden and Charlie's incompetence

It is in the interest of everyone to be concerned about how sexualization is changing our current society, most of the change occurring with young girls. Young girls are like sponges soaking up the sexual messages and images given to them by the media, advertisers, and their mothers. The impact of this early sexualization can be found in studies, it is not good. Although girls become sexual as they age without influence, the influence from the media, advertising, and self-objectifying mothers persuades girls to become more sexual. It is a problem that can be altered with proper teaching, a healthy body image, and a confident attitude.

During this week we have discussed the differences of how we describe masculine and feminine based on biological and cultural assessments of gender, while also looking at how media depicts these gender roles, and how it influences our understanding of sex and sexuality. Gender roles are drawn upon normative rules and standards that “society” create. When we distinguish between these roles, the Masculine role is more self-oriented or agentic, while the feminine role is communal. Males are understood of having a standard of being strong, aggressive, dominant, and most importantly being the provider. Females are thought of having the standard of being weak, fragile, submissive, nurturing, and subordinate. This gender socialization begins at birth starting when a girl is placed in a pink hat, while a boy is placed in a blue cap.

On a regular basis ,one comes across some form of media, or communicates with one family or friends at least once a day. It is normal; however, who fail to see how much sexualization of young girls have incremented, and still continues to do so in media, and how it affects society. The trend toward the sexualization of girls is increasing in the contemporary culture and can negatively impact girls (Choate and Curry). Awareness on girl sexualization in the United States must be a raised because it negatively affects young girls well-being, hinders their academic potential, and jeopardizes their safety.

From a young age, girls are put under pressure to be sexually appealing for those around her. But women, being people who still have biological needs and desires to be fulfilled, have rarely been offered a direct but safe pathway into sexual self-discovery other than through experience, which carries the risks of sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and STI acquisition. Men have an entire industry dedicated to fulfilling their sexual desires—the porn industry’s treatment of women is nothing to bat an eye at. Off screen, girls grow up being treated as sexual objects from a young age, surrounded by sexy women in advertising, movies, and TV. Having to deal with others’ “schoolgirl” fantasies and the idea of being “jailbait” make it hard for a woman at the apex of puberty to safely explore her developing sexuality. Girls also grow up with a ridiculous double standard telling them to avoid being sexy while avoiding prudishness: to dress conservatively if they don’t want to get assaulted, but to show some skin because nobody likes a bore. Speaking from experience, it gets tiring being told to be two things at once in order to please somebody else, and media has a powerful effect on how women see themselves, as stated by Katie Barnes in her piece, On The Importance Of Media Representation

Is the hypersexualization of childhood truly detrimental to children and society? In the world today, children continue to passionately desire an older look at a younger age. Girls are taught to show skin and pose in sexual manners through the representation of women in media. They are also taught to use their bodies for the pleasure of men. In a similar way, the media shows boys that it is acceptable to utilize the body of a women as an object for his own enjoyment. Due to these frequent overly sexualized images in the media, children are taught from a young age to have a high tolerance for sexual images. In fact, around 80% of young boys access porn. Additionally, many young girls feel comfortable taking pictures of themselves in scanty clothes doing sexual poses due to this tolerance and a desire to stand out in a society where sexual imagery is common (Sext Up Kids). The oversexualization of childhood through sexualized products marketed to youth, the example set by young celebrities trying to transfer into adulthood, and the portrayal of characters in children’s films has negatively impacted the psychological characters of children and all people in society.

In Western society, the media hypersexualizes children from birth. However, this hypersexuality is commonly focused on girls aged eight to fifteen (Canadian Women’s Health Network). This leads to self-esteem issues, high teenage pregnancy rates, eating disorders, sex trafficking, suicidal thoughts, and actions, and what is called the “Lolita effect.” This hypersexuality also leads to violent relational abuse, and in boys, has been shown linked with violence (Keating). These all have devastating consequences on individuals as well as on Western society as a whole. With less and less clothing becoming more and more prominent in Western culture, by the media, it seems even children are picking up on this trend. This phenomenon, the “Lolita

In the reading “Sexual Desire and Gender” by Pepper Schwartz and Virginia E. Rutter, it talks about three views on sexuality. These three views were biology, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, and social constructionism. While all three plays a part in sexual desire and gender, each differed in the way it influence a person. The reading starts off with biology, the natural occurrence in which humans are deigned to respond to other humans. Biology plays a major role in sexuality, from how humans have sexual encounters with each other, to how the body responds to sexual arousal. All biological research on sex has in common is that not all choices are actually choices, but are dictated by the body. In the reading it states the biological explanations of sexual desire concentrate on the role of hormones, testosterone in men and estrogen in women. In men testosterone is the enabler in a man’s sexual arousal, but is not responsible for a man’s sexual taste, desires, or behavior might be. Estrogen, which is associated with the menstrual cycle, is known as the female hormone. Some biology evidence findings shows that sexual desire in women may be linked to the impact of hormones level changes during her reproductive cycle. William Master and Virginia Johnson, who studied the human sexual arousal system, focused on the body rather than the social and relationship in which sex occurs. In their findings they found there was a sexual difference between men and women in the timing of the excitement cycle. The difference is that male sexual physiology has a quicker trigger, while the female is built up over time.

So you can base your response on your child’s understanding and needs. Parents should reduce gender stereotypes, they should help both daughter and sons to develop a broad range of interests, skills and behaviours that goes beyond the narrow focus on appearance that the sexualised childhood provides. They should also work at all levels to create a society that is more supportive of children’s healthy gender and sexual development. However, there are limits to what parent can achieve alone. It is imperative that companies that promote the premature sexualisation of children for their own commercial interest act more responsibly, and that companies, advertisers and media outlets are aware of and take steps to minimize the negative impact that the images and messages they promote are having on children and young

Few aspects of human behavior excite as much interest and controversy as sexual orientation. In cultures and societies today, as well as in the past, there is usually an emphasis on a specific orientation as a norm, and typically heterosexuality is perceived as such. This in turn generates a wide range of reaction to homosexuality, from its being seen as “unnatural” in moral terms, to ideas of it as threatening the stability of a culture. In recent years, however, new perspectives are emerging which strongly support that sexual orientation is by no means so easily defined, and that, when social parameters on sexual behaviors are set aside, the reality is that most people are not strictly heterosexual or homosexual. In the following,