Sexualisation of Young People Review

Sexualisation of Young People Review
Conclusion
40. There is broad agreement from
researchers and experts in health
and welfare that sexualising children
prematurely places them at risk
of a variety of harms. 57 However,
what we need is further empirical
evidence in the form of large scale
longitudinal studies that will look
in detail at the effects on boys and
girls of living in a sexualised culture
across their development. Many of
the mechanisms that have been cited
as disseminating hyper-sexualised
ideals to children are a consequence
of recent advancements in media
and technology. Only now are we
beginning to see a concerted effort
by psychologists and other social
scientists to address this issue.
41. Sexualisation is a profoundly
important issue that impacts
individuals, families and society as
a whole. Unless sexualisation is
accepted as harmful, in line with the
evidence presented in this report,
and similar reports from the US and
Australia, we will miss an important
opportunity here: an opportunity to
broaden young people’s beliefs about
where their value lies; to think about
strategies for guiding children around
sexualisation and objectification;
and to create new tools and spaces
for young people to develop and
explore their sexuality in their own
time and in their own way.
Recommendations
Education and schools
1) All school staff to have training on
gender equality. Specialist training should
be given to those who teach Personal,
Social, Health and Economic (PSHE)
education and citizenship.
2) The Department for Children, Schools
and Families (DCSF) to issue statutory
guidance to schools to promote a ‘whole
school’ approach to tackling gender
inequality, sexual and sexist bullying and
violence against women and girls.
3) References on sexualisation, gender
stereotypes and pornography to be
included in DCSF’s revised Sex and
Relationships Education (SRE) guidance
for schools. New SRE resource materials
should be made available for teachers
who work with children with special
education needs and learning difficulties.
4) Schools to ensure that all incidents
of sexual bullying are recorded and
reported separately to other forms of
bullying.
5) New practical ‘How To’ guidance on
tackling sexualisation is disseminated to
all schools.
6) Primary schools should make specific
reference to the influence of the media
on body image and personal identity
within a new programme of study on
‘Understanding Physical Development,
Health and Wellbeing’.
57
14
57
APA (2007); Coy (2009); Malamuth (2001); Tankard-Reist (2010)