Sexualisation of girls harms their self-image
Sexualisation of girls harms their self-image : HindustanTimes.com
A new study has found that the bombarding of sexualized images of girls and young women in advertising, merchandising, and media is harming their self-image and healthy development. As a part of the study, the American Psychological Association (APA) defined sexualisation as occurring when a person's value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, for example, made into a thing for another's sexual use. Eileen L Zurbriggen, PhD, chair of the APA Task Force said that the results had shown that the portrayal of women and girls as mere sexual beings was having negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development. "The consequences of the sexualisation of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls' healthy development. We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualisation has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development," Dr Zurbriggen said. According to the task force report, parents can play a major role in contributing to the sexualisation of their daughters or can play a protective and educative role.Genius. Absolute genius. It takes a study by a psychological association to correct the errors of Kinsey and their ilk. Psychologists now acknowledge that a corrupted vision of sexuality in the mindset of our culture DOES have a bearing a bearing on more than sexuality. It occurs to me that we often discuss sexuality independent of the rest of the psyche or body. In the biblical view, man cannot separate or divide the mind, body, and soul. They remain inseparable until death. A sin of the flesh always affects the mind and spirit. While we do not refer to flesh and spirit as indistinguishable they are indeed inseparable, operating on and with each other. Dr. Beverly Yahnke, a LCMS counselor in the South Wisconsin district has presented on campus numerous times on this reality. The flesh affects spirit and vice versa. I am toying with an idea that at least Paul never intended to suggest that mind and spirit were separate identities but only used the Platonic definitions to dispute them. Lententide remains us of this truth. The ancient tradition is to fast, mimicking Christ's 40 day fast in the wilderness before his temptation. This is no work to try to make ourselves more righteous before God. It merely is a discipline. Through His mercy, God accomplishes discipline in us. Our fast teaches us that our body is weak... sin corrupted our flesh... and our lustful passions of flesh do have a bearing on our faith. Sin divorces us from God. God is merciful. He does not allow you to be subjected to more than you can handle. Lenten fasting brings us to the threshold the passions of flesh challenging faith. At this threshold, we recognize our flesh, and its weakness. Fasting forces us to recognize the need for God's mercy in the corruption of the world. Sexualizing the female sex does the opposite. It forces our world from reliance on God into the despair of self reliance. It’s no wonder the APA would "discover" that this individualistic self-dependence affects a young woman's cognitive behavior, physical and mental health. Pushing anyone deeper into the flesh-pots of worldly sexuality affects the whole person... not just flesh and not just sexuality. Instead, we draw them to God's vision for sexuality. We lead them to God's gifts of chastity and marriage. Like fasting, God gives us gifts that show us the need for not self-indulgent ideals but dependance on blessing from him. Marriage and chastity draw us from self-reliance for sexual purity to His Word and his blessing therein. Our efforts do not preserve the sexuality of the Christian, but the mercy of our Lord preserves it. We embrace his mercy and do not despise it by sexualizing either sex. We embrace his mercy in the fast and do not despise it by indulging in the gluttony of the flesh. (I hope the logic of this isn't too much of a stretch for you.)
