Girls....The Sexualization of Girls and Mental Health Problems: Is There a Connection?

Think about:

• a 5-year-old girl wearing a T-shirt that says "Flirt."
• the advice given in magazines to preadolescent girls on how to look sexy and get a boyfriend
• print advertisements that portray little girls with pigtails and ruffles in adult sexual poses
• popular dolls in miniskirts and fishnet stockings advertised during Saturday morning cartoons

Is it any wonder that, starting at an early age, girls may believe that their value depends on their so-called sex appeal? What can be done to help girls develop a healthy self-image?

Eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression are the most common mental health problems in girls and women. The Report of the APA Task Force on The Sexualization of Girls, issued in 2007, points out the connection between these problems and the sexualization of girls.
The Task Force Report states that sexualization has negative effects in a variety of domains:

• Cognitive and emotional health: Sexualization and objectification undermine a person's confidence in and comfort with her own body, leading to emotional and self-image problems, such as shame and anxiety.
• Mental and physical health: Research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problems diagnosed in girls and women—eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression or depressed mood.
• Sexual development: Research suggests that the sexualization of girls has negative consequences on girls' ability to develop a healthy sexual self-image.

According to the APA Report, parents can play a major role in contributing to the sexualization of their daughters, or they can play a protective and educative role. The Report calls on parents, school officials, and all health professionals to be alert for the potential impact of sexualization on girls and young women. Schools, the APA says, should teach media literacy skills to all students and should include information on the negative effects of the sexualization of girls in media literacy and sex education programs. As a society, we need to replace all of these sexualized images with ones showing girls in positive settings—depictions of girls that show their uniqueness and competence. "The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents—boys and girls—that lead to healthy sexual development," states Eileen L. Zurbriggen, PhD, chair of the APA Task Force.


For more information, see the American Psychological Association Report athttp://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/sexualization.html