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The Effects of Sexualized Content in Children’s Media on Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Self Image

The Effects of Sexualized Content in Children’s Media on Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Self Image. Erin Huntington Kai Cabatu. Sexualization. A person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics

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The Effects of Sexualized Content in Children’s Media on Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Self Image

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  1. The Effects of Sexualized Content in Children’s Media on Pre-Adolescent Girls’ Self Image Erin Huntington Kai Cabatu

  2. Sexualization • A person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics • A person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy • A person is sexually objectified • Sexuality is inappropriately imposed upon a person APA (2007)

  3. Consequences • Sexualization has been linked with three common mental health problems among girls and women: • Eating disorders • Low self-esteem • Depression or depressed mood (APA, 2007)

  4. More Research is Needed • Previous work has focused mainly on women (APA, 2007) • Future studies focusing on the influence of sexualization on girls are needed(APA, 2007)

  5. Bratz Dolls

  6. Baby Bratz Dolls

  7. Sexualized Girl’s Clothing

  8. Thong’s for Girls…

  9. Sexualization in Television • American Academy of Pediatrics (2001) • Children watch an average of nearly 3 hours of television per day, not including videos • 32% of 2- to 7-year-olds and 65% of 8- to 18-year olds have television sets in their bedrooms

  10. Sexualization in Television • There is evidence that television shows marketed to children are becoming increasingly sexualized (APA, 2007) • Girls who frequently consume mainstream media content are more likely to endorse sexual stereotypes that depict women as sexual objects and are more likely to place appearance and physical attractiveness at the center of women’s value (APA, 2007)

  11. Research Question • Does sexualized content in children’s media have an effect on pre-adolescent girls’ self-esteem and body image?

  12. Hypothesis • Girls exposed to more sexualized children’s media will have lower self-esteem and more negative body image than girls exposed to less sexualized media.

  13. Method • Participants • 25 participants • 11 less sexualized • 14 sexualized • All female • 2nd & 3rd Grade students • Age range 7-9 years

  14. Method • Two media clips • Sexualized children’s media (e.g. HSM 2 ) • Less sexualized (e.g. Wizards of Waverly Place) • Questionnaire • Media habits • General self-esteem • Physical appearance self-concept • Body image • Interview

  15. Sexualization in HSM • Attractive teenage girls singing and dancing around the pool in their bathing suits and high heels • Using looks and sex appeal to impress a boy • A person is held to a standard that equates physical attractiveness with being sexy (APA, 2007). • Main character is valued only by her sexual appeal • A person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics (APA, 2007).

  16. General Self-Esteem • 6 items • Administered before and after viewing the media clip • Sample Really true Sort of true Sort of true Really true for me for me for me for me Some kids are often BUT Other kids are pretty unhappy with themselves pleased with themselves

  17. Physical Appearance Self-Concept • 6 items • Administered before and after viewing the media clip • Sample Really true Sort of true Sort of true Really true of me of me of me of me Some kids wish their BUT Other kids like their body was different body the way it is

  18. Body Image Scale • Administered before and after the media clip

  19. Interviews • Conducted after questionnaires and media clips • “How many of you have seen any of the High School Musical movies?” • “What do you like about the movie or about Sharpay, the character? “ • “What do you like about the other characters in the movie? • Is there anything you don't like?” • “How does watching the movie make you feel about being a girl?” • “What do you think makes a girl attractive?”

  20. Analysis • Mixed-model Analysis of Variance • Within Subjects Factor • Time (Pre/Post) • Between Subjects Factor • Group (Sexualized/Less-sexualized)

  21. General Self-Esteem Time x Group Interaction, p > .05

  22. Physical Appearance Self-Concept Time x Group Interaction, p > .05

  23. Body Image Dissatisfaction Time x Group Interaction, p > .05

  24. Limitations • Small sample size • Limited exposure to media clips • Demand characteristics

  25. Interviews • Virtually all of our participants were familiar with High School Musical • A ‘consensus’ quickly emerged indicating that what makes a girl attractive is “inner beauty”

  26. Future Directions • Longitudinal study predicting changes in girls’ attitudes from their exposure to sexualized media content • Individual interviews rather than group interviews

  27. Questions?

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