Sexualistation of Young People

27. Repeated exposure to genderstereotypical
ideas and images
contributes to sexist attitudes and
beliefs; sexual harassment; violence
against women; and stereotyped
perceptions of, and behaviour toward,
men and women. 39 Although sexual
objectification is but one form of
gender oppression, it is one that
factors into – and perhaps enables –
a host of other oppressions women
face, ranging from employment
discrimination and sexual violence to
the trivialisation of women’s work and
accomplishments. 40
Mainstreaming of the sex
industry
28. With the ubiquity of sexualisation
and the increasing pornification of
society has come the mainstreaming
of the sex industry, as exemplified
by the proliferation of lap-dancing
clubs. Sexualisation – and the
commodification of women and girls –
is now so ingrained in our culture that
glamour modelling and lap-dancing are
widely viewed not only as acceptable
but in some cases aspirational. 41
29. Sexualisation is tied to economic
markets in the forms of beauty and
sex industries, that both open and
restrict the breadth and variety of
identities and ambitions open to
young women. A growing number of
girls are setting their sights on careers
that demand a ‘sexy’ image. Surveys
have found for instance that a high
proportion of young women in the
UK aspire to work as ‘glamour models’
or lap-dancers. 42 A report released
39 Kilbourne and Lazarus (1987); Lazier-Smith
(1989); UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organisation (1980)
40 Fredrickson and Roberts (1997)
41 Coy (2009), Coy and Garner (in press)
42 Deeley (2008)
by the Department for Work and
Pensions 43 shows that Jobcentres are
routinely advertising for vacancies
at escort agencies, lap-dancing clubs,
massage parlours and TV sex channels.
We are seeing the normalisation of
these trades as viable career choices.
The fact that both within celebrity and
popular culture women are habitually
heralded as successful and celebrated
for their sex appeal and appearance
– with little reference to their intellect
or abilities – sends out a powerful
message to young people about what
is of value and what they should
focus on.
Sexualisation and
violence
30. Research has shown that adults –
including women 44 – who viewed
sexually objectifying images of women
in the mainstream media were more
likely to be accepting of violence. 45
The evidence gathered in the
review suggests a clear link between
consumption of sexualised images, a
tendency to view women as objects
and the acceptance of aggressive
attitudes and behaviour as the norm.
Both the images we consume and the
way we consume them are lending
credence to the idea that women are
there to be used and that men are
there to use them.
31. There is a significant amount of
evidence linking stereotypical attitudes
to women’s sexuality and sexist beliefs
with aggressive sexual behaviour. 46
43 www.parliament.uk/deposits/
depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-3155.doc
44 Johnson & Adams et al. (1995)
45 Kalof (1999); Lanis and Covell (1995)
46 Dean and Malamuth (1997); Malamuth and
Briere (1986); Malamuth and Donnerstein
(1982, 1984); Murnen, Wright and Kaluzny
(2002); Osland, Fitch and Willis (1996); Spence,
Losoff and Robbins (1991); Truman, Tokar and
Fischer (1996); Vogel (2000)
Sexualisation of Young People Review
11