Sext Up Kids: How Children Are Becoming Hypersexualized

This CBC-aired documentary from filmmakers Maureen Palmer, Timothy M. Hogan, and Rick LeGuerrier takes a critical look at the increasing sexualization of young girls, drawing on comments from speakers who range from academics and media watchdogs to teen and preteens. While the impulse to appear older among the latter is understandable, the desire to present a sexy image is another matter. Susan Linn from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood expresses concern that the proliferation of social media and ‘tween-targeted advertising encourages girls to leave childhood behind sooner than ever. Meanwhile, young men with access to online pornography may develop unrealistic expectations of their female counterparts, which adds to the pressure on girls to look thin, dress provocatively, and engage in sexual activity in order to gain male approval. In marketing terms, the phenomenon has spawned the acronym KAGOY: Kids Are Getting Older Younger. Author and educator Gail Dines (Pornland) worries that pop culture has turned into porn culture, noting revealing videos by Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus that appeal to underage observers who may try to emulate the skimpy outfits and sexually aggressive behavior. Mass consumption of sexualized imagery can also lead girls to perpetuate the cycle through the distribution of explicit texts and pictures online and by smart phone (three high school-age friends lament that their photographs made the rounds after they sent them to boys in whom they had an interest—leading to embarrassment and humiliation). While the alarmist approach here can sometimes feel overwhelming, these cautionary tales should prove useful to parents, educators, and students. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)