The sexualization of childhood: why it is harmful and how to prevent it
Although in 1955 Nabokov shocked society with his novel Lolita, the children's beauty contests so famous in the United States, advertising, media, music or the recent fashion of aesthetic centers for boys and girls have generated in the last years an unstoppable stream of childhood sexualization .
But what does the sexualization of childhood really consist of and what dangers it entails? Throughout this article we will talk about this phenomenon and how to avoid it.
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What is child sexualization?
At a general level, sexualization or hypersexualization is based on granting a social value to the person who is going in relation to the level of sexual desire that is awakening . This means that a person considered to be sexually desirable or attractive is directly attributed a higher social value or prestige than a person who does not.
Unfortunately, this phenomenon is observed more and more in girls and boys of early ages. Such is the scope, that in the year 2001 the English association Mother's Union decided to make a report about this evidence. It defined for the first time the child sexualization, which was explained as "the sexualization of expressions, postures or dress codes in children under age." In addition, he also denounces the use and sexualization of minors in advertising ; Considering it extremely dangerous for the development of children.
In addition, the American Psychological Association (APA) denounced this propensity to hypersexualize children in a document published in 2007. It warned of the risks of this child sexualization, which carries a rather harmful message: a higher level of eroticism, greater benefits and social success.
It is very common to see daily cases in which children integrate as their own a series of Behavioral patterns and personal values that do not fit your age range , which tend to represent a false maturity and to prioritize physical appearance and attraction ahead of everything.
Although hypersexualization can be seen in both boys and girls, it tends to affect the latter more. In recent years, there has been an increase in female infant education. For example, in numerous advertising campaigns, in beauty pageants for children or, in the most recent phenomenon, beauty centers for girls.
What are the consequences?
As expected, this trend can lead to a large number of consequences and undesirable effects both socially and individually in each child.
The greatest personal aspect that is affected by sexualization is both the personal image and the self-esteem of the minors. During these stages, children forge their personal identity and develop self-love.
When this development is conditioned by the values and tendencies of society, as in this case with the child sexualization, children tend to appreciate and give themselves a specific value according to their physical attractiveness. Which is compared to the idea conveyed by the media of what is socially desirable or beautiful.
Due, Self-esteem is forged based on superficial ideas , temporary and unrealizable; forming insecure people, with low self-esteem, fragile and very susceptible to the opinion of others.
In addition, the constant attempts to achieve the ideal aspect in relation to the socially accepted, generates levels of frustration so high that they can even trigger psychological changes such as eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders.
What dangers does it entail?
In addition, of the direct consequences of child sexualization, there are other dangers that, although they do not occur in 100%, are always present.
The first risk of all, which can have a great impact on the development of the identity and personality of minors is the transition too early to adult life . Minors adopt a series of roles for which they are not psychologically prepared and are not able to really understand.
This precocity directly affects the self-esteem of minors, who can become adults insecure, manipulable and susceptible . In addition, by focusing so much on the physical aspect, the other areas related to the development of identity are set apart, also creating chronically immature adults.
Finally, a danger has been generated that affects mainly the girls and that is that they integrate the idea that the female prototype is the idea of the passive sexual object, which annuls the woman. Due, continue to perpetuate numerous sexist stereotypes that end up maintaining and aggravating the problems of gender violence and inequality.
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How can we prevent it?
Although it is suddenly very difficult to end the sexualization of childhood, It is in the hands of adults to protect children from this phenomenon .
The fact that childhood hypersexualisation extends more and more is, in part, the fault of the society accustomed to these images and that observes, practically impassive, how children leave more and more early to be children.
However, there are a number of things we can do to prevent the sexualization of childhood, both in boys and girls.
1. Review our reasoning and values
First of all, it is necessary make a critical assessment of our own values and principles , since these are what we are transferring to the little ones.
If we manage to eliminate all those values or customs that can favor the sexualization of children, it will be much easier to educate minors.
2. Educate in values
In addition to reviewing our own values, it is also necessary to educate those of children. It is also necessary to spread more human values, based on respect and in the value of the person beyond their attributes or physical aspect.
3. Promote sex education
It is not that children know more and more about sexuality, but that sex education improves content and quality. Talk with them about the body and sexuality will make them more critical and less vulnerable.
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4. Regulation of the means
Claim the regulation of sexual content in the media, such as advertising, television and even in music or fashion brands.
5. Teach to be critical
Since it is difficult to bend the interests of the media, advertising and brands, both the critical sense of children and adults must be developed.
Minors must have knowledge of what the society in which they live is and what they transmit, in order to thus be able to develop in them as complete persons .
6. Work self-esteem
Use techniques and tools to improve the self-esteem of minors, generating a self-concept that takes into account the person in a comprehensive manner, not only in relation to the physical aspect .
7. Give example
Children learn to be formed as people through imitation. Therefore, it is essential that they have at their disposal models to imitate that do not promote or facilitate sexualization at an early age.
