What Harm Can Sexualization of Young Girls Cause?
The sexualization of young girls in the media has increased the incidence of eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-injury and other negative consequences. Watch as psychologist Jennifer Hartstein, PsyD, discusses how damaging this trend is.
Transcript
So sexualization of young girls has become a bigger problem every year. And unfortunately, it creates a huge amount of damage
to the girls that are growing up today. There is a 108% rise in eating disorders amongst young girls,
some as young as 3 and 4 are reporting eating disorder behaviors. It increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety,
self-injurious behaviors, suicidal thinking. It can actually increase the rate at which they engage in sexual activity
often in an unsafe manner. And just put them at risk for all sorts of other negative emotional consequences.
Because the messages that they get from the media, are that they have to look a certain way, be a certain way, and act a certain way. And that leads to all sorts of emotional damage.
teen health development
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