47 - neurogility

Speaking of Teens

Episode #47: The Sexualization of Teen and Tween Girls. What Parents Of Both Girls and Boys Can Do

Experts agree that social media is to blame for the huge increase in the decline of teen girls’ mental health over the past few years. While boy’s mental health has also suffered, especially due to COVID, it’s the girls’ which has taken a nosedive. Cyberbullying, competition between peers and the constant barrage of unrealistic and sexualized images of influencers to compare themselves to.

Sexualization of young girls and adolescents is a huge problem in our society and has been for decades. But social media has made it much more prevalent and pervasive.

The never-ending stream of filtered and perfected images of young women and teens in their social media feed makes it impossible to escape. Influencers and even “beautiful friends” put endless pressure on girls to be skinny but curvy, with flawless skin, plumped lips, and long silky hair. These images create the belief that their sole value rests in their looks and sex appeal. For many girls, their entire self-worth rests on this belief.

And if social media wasn’t enough sexualizing and objectification for them, their school drives the message home. For wearing clothes, they buy at the mall, girls are in danger of being “coded”, sent home, or forced to cover up. They’re made to feel their bodies are nothing but an object that drive men and boys to distraction at best or sexual assault at worst. Either way, it’s their fault.

Join me this week to discuss the sexualization of girls and find out how you can help your daughter or your son combat this pervasive and harmful issue.

Please share this episode with another mom you think it may benefit and follow the show on your favorite podcast player.

I make this show just for you so if you have any feedback regarding this episode or any others or would like to suggest a future show, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me anytime at 864-313-7277 or acoleman@neurogility.com.

Access transcript here.

Other Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep. 17 Teen Dating And Emotional Abuse: How To Recognize And Discuss It

Ep 23 Popularity, Friend Groups, And Mean Girl Behavior

Ep 24 Part 1 of 2 - Teenagers, "Rape Culture", Sexual Assault, and Consent

Ep 25 Part 2 of 2 - Teenagers, "Rape Culture", Sexual Assault, and Consent

Ep. 32 Teens, Sexting, Revenge Porn, and Sextortion (Yikes)

Ep. 33 Teen Sexting, "The Talk" and Potential Legal Implications

Sources, Resources, and Mentions (no affiliate links)

The American Psychological Association - Sexualization of Girls (Links to Reports as well as brochures for parents and girls)

The CDC on Increased Sadness and Violence for Teen Girls

The Lolita Effect: The Media Sexualization of Young Girls and Five Keys to Fixing It