I find it extremely depression that in our society girls seem to want to be older than they are. In a result of that, they are wearing make-up and clothing that is inappropriate for their age making them look older. In addition, the media portrays girls to look and act a certain way.
“A narrow definition of femininity and sexuality encourages girls to focus heavily on appearance and sex appeal. They learn at a very young age that their value is determined by how beautiful, thin,“hot,” and sexy they are. And boys, who get a very narrow definition of masculinity that promotes insensitivity and macho behavior, are taught to judge girls based on how close they come to an artificial, impossible, and shallow ideal.” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p.2).
This effects the child’s development because it devolves who we are and brings about a person who needs to fit into society.
Reference
Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf
Teaching Adventures 
I enjoyed reading your blog! I agree that the media has being selling “sexy” to young girls for years through barbie dolls, such as Bratz; even through television and movies. Society has projected their own image of what beauty is. The portrayal of being slim, beautiful, wearing make-up, and dressing in provocative clothing is the new trend and it causes children who do not fit in to societal norms to be affected by low self-esteem, depression and other illnesses.
LikeLike
I loved reading the blog this week. I agree with you that girls are targeted in our society to be more sexual very early versus the boys. However, as I read the quote you provided about the way boys are taught to view girls, I realized why sometimes in music videos girls are paraded like objects to be desired. I wonder, in regards to the psychosocial state of males, are they being programmed by the media to detach themselves because women are portrayed as objects of desire. Would that then perpetuate the possessiveness and macho mentality that Levin & KIlbourne (2009) describe in some men?
LikeLike