Hypersexualization
Miss Representation: Film Screening and Panel Discussion
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On December 5, 2011, the YWCA, in partnership with the Young Women in Business, NetworkinginVan.com and PeaceGeeks, hosted two sold-out screenings of the film Miss Representation followed by a panel discussion that was moderated by Janet Austin, CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver.
Miss Representation is a documentary film that explores the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in mainstream media.
The panel featured media personalities Patricia Graham, Kirk LaPointe, Pamela Martin and Amy Chan, who all discussed the film, shared their experiences and considered actions that need to happen in Vancouver to address issues of gender inequality.
Click here to watch a preview of the film
Sexuality is healthy; sexualization is not
Exploring the impacts on today’s young people
“In the current environment, teen girls are encouraged to look sexy, yet they know little about what it means to be sexual, to have sexual desires, and to make rational and resistible decisions about pleasure and risk within intimate relationships that acknowledge their own desires.”
––Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls
Evidence suggests women are three times more likely than men to be portrayed as sexually provocative in advertising and media, contributing to low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, depression and other health concerns. This image portrayal is also linked to societal tolerance of sexual violence and exploitation of girls and women.
The American Psychological Association (APA) released a report highlighting some of the disturbing trends hypersexualization can have on young people:
- Mental Health Problems - Research links sexualization with three of the most common mental health problem of girls and women: eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression.
- Diminishing Sexual Health - Self objectification linked directly with diminishing sexual health among adolescent girls measured by decreased condom use and sexual assertiveness.
- Sexual Stereotypes - Girls and young women who more frequently consume or engage with mainstream media content offer stronger endorsements of sexual stereotypes that depict women as sexual objects.
- Effects on Men - Exposure to narrow ideals of female sexual attractiveness make it difficult for some men to find an “acceptable” partner or to fully enjoy intimacy with a female partner.
YWCA Metro Vancouver recently hosted a panel discussion about sexualization and our speakers reflected key areas where hypersexualization has the most impact and where the change needs to start. From the media to youth education to creative thinking, our panel explored the problems and, more importantly, the solutions to the hypersexualization of our youth.
Resources:
American Psychological Association report on the Sexualization of Girls
