Sexy Dolls, Sexy Grade-Schoolers? Media & Maternal Influences on Young Girls’ Self-Sexualization
- Christine R. Starr,
- Gail M. Ferguson
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Abstract
Concern is often expressed that mass media contribute to the early sexualization of young girls; however, few empirical studies have explored the topic. Using paper dolls, we examined self-sexualization among sixty 6–9 year-old girls from the Midwestern United States; specifically self-identification, preference, and attributions regarding sexualized dress. Based on simultaneous maternal reports, we also investigated potential risk factors (media consumption hours, maternal self-objectification) and potential protective factors (maternal television mediation, maternal religiosity) for young girls’ sexualization. Findings support social cognitive theory/social learning theory and reveal nuanced moderated effects in addition to linear main effects. Girls overwhelmingly chose the sexualized doll over the non-sexualized doll for their ideal self and as popular; however, dance studio enrollment, maternal instructive TV mediation, and maternal religiosity reduced those odds. Surprisingly, the mere quantity of girls’ media consumption (tv and movies) was unrelated to their self-sexualization for the most part; rather, maternal self-objectification and maternal personal religiosity moderated its effects.
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About this Article
- Title
- Sexy Dolls, Sexy Grade-Schoolers? Media & Maternal Influences on Young Girls’ Self-Sexualization
- Journal
-
Sex Roles
Volume 67, Issue 7-8 , pp 463-476 - Cover Date
- 2012-10-01
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11199-012-0183-x
- Print ISSN
- 0360-0025
- Online ISSN
- 1573-2762
- Publisher
- Springer US
- Additional Links
- Topics
- Keywords
-
- Sexualization
- Self-objectification
- TV mediation
- Gender roles/Schema
- Mother-daughter relationship
- Mass media
- Authors
-
-
Christine R. Starr
(1)
-
Gail M. Ferguson
(2)
-
Christine R. Starr
- Author Affiliations
-
- 1. Department of Psychology, Knox College, 2 East South Street, Galesburg, IL, 61401, USA
- 2. Department of Psychology, Knox College, 2 East South Street, Box 120, Galesburg, IL, 61401, USA