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This new section of the YMA website will be used to keep track of developments in the area of the sexualisation of children in the media.
Over the last ten years, Young Media Australia (YMA) has been reviewing the research on the sexualisation of children through media portrayals, and attempting to raise public awareness of the importance of this issue. YMA has encouraged growing support from concerned parents and the broader community for action to be taken.
In October 2006, with the release of The Australia Institute Report Corporate Paedophilia: Sexualisation of Children in Australia (2006) a new round of vigorous debate began. On this occasion, the heightened levels of concern in the community and the simultaneous activities of several hitherto unrelated organisations has enabled the debate to be sustained and real political pressure to be mounted and heard.
New fact sheet
Young Media Australia (YMA) has developed a new topic and Fact Sheet to summarise what experts have to say about why the sexualisation of children in the media, what parents can do about it, and the names of groups who are working towards making a difference on this issue.
Click here to view the new YMA Fact Sheet in htm format, or to download it as a print friendly pdf  .
Recent history of the debate
Here in reverse chronological order are some significant developments in this issue since October 2006:
April 2008
Submissions received by Senate Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts Inquiry into the sexualisation of children in contemporary media published on web site: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/submissions/sublist.htm
and also transcripts of public hearings on April 29, 30th: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/hearings/index.htm
March 2008
Senate inquiry into the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment.
This inquiry is to report on 23 June 2008 and will examine the sources and effects of, and strategies for dealing with, this sexualisation. The closing date for submissions was 18 April 2008. For more details go to: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/tor.htm
To read the YMA submission to the inquiry in PDF format, click here.
Transcripts of the public hearings held as part of the inquiry can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/eca_ctte/sexualisation_of_children/hearings/index.htm
September 2007
To read a new article by Dr Emma Rush from The Australia Institute on the issue, Child sexualisation is no game, go to http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6422
August 2007
Public forum and new publication
Women’s Forum Australia (WFA) holds a Get Real! forum at Melbourne Town Hall and launches a new publication, Faking it.
To read more go to WFA website http://www.womensforumaustralia.com/
New YMA Fact Sheet Too sexy, too soon
Young Media Australia (YMA) launches its new YMA Fact Sheet Too sexy, too soon to coincide with the Get Real! seminar and in support of WFA’s stance on this issue.
Motion passed in Senate
A motion put to the Senate by Democrat Senator Lyn Allison noting the growing body of evidence for the harmful effects of sexualisation in the media of children, and urging the Government to establish an expert advisory group is amended after discussion with The Minister for Communications, Senator Helen Coonan, and the matter is referred to the Australian Communications and Media Authority for investigation. Passed in the Senate on the voices.
April 2007
Proposed Roundtable
The Sunday Age invites interested parties to attend a Roundtable to discuss the issues and develop constructive ways forward. After several postponements due to the unavailability of representatives of the advertising industry, this event may not proceed.
March 2007
Alliance between key groups initiated
Kf2bK (Kids Free 2 Be Kids) initiates alliance with YMA
Call for government action
At Young Media Australia’s 50th birthday celebrations, Dr Patricia Edgar’s keynote address, Challenging the Status Quo in Children’s Media in Australia calls on the government to do more to protect children: “Brands are ubiquitous and the fight to resist is overwhelming for parents… We have squandered television’s capability to teach, inform and inspire. We are systematically destroying children’s bodies along with their minds. The life affirming stories that could help them develop into socially integrated human beings have gone…”
To read more about this event and related media activity go to: http://www.youngmedia.org.au/whatsnew/inthenews.htm#mar07_01
February 2007
New group of concerned parents emerges
Melbourne mother of two, Julie Gale, with support from other parents, founds Kf2bK (Kids Free 2 Be Kids). Since that time Kf2bK has been inundated with emails from teachers, health professionals, academics, parents, grandparents, children, authors, journalists, clothing designers, youth workers and many others offering support, and has generated much media debate.
December 2006
Discussion Paper Letting Children be Children published
The Australia Institute (TAI) publishes its second Discussion Paper on the topic Letting Children be Children: Stopping the sexualisation of children in Australia (2006). Also authored by Emma Rush and Andrea La Nauze, this Discussion Paper focuses on action that needs to be taken to stop the practice of sexualisation of children in Australia.
Twelve children’s health, welfare and media professionals speak out
Twelve children’s health, welfare and media professionals write a letter to The Australian supporting The Australia Institute’s October report and calling for public debate on the issue. They state: “It is vital for children’s health and wellbeing that the issues remain in the spotlight, and that appropriate and decisive action be taken. The undersigned professionals, have worked for many years in the fields of child health, welfare, or media. We believe that the early sexualisation of children has serious consequences for children’s development and psychological health..”
To read more about this event, related media activity and link to the TAI full report go to: http://www.youngmedia.org.au/whatsnew/inthenews.htm#dec06
October 2006
Discussion Paper Corporate Paedophilia published
The Australia Institute (TAI) publishes Corporate Paedophilia: Sexualisation of Children in Australia (2006). Authored by Emma Rush and Andrea La Nauze, the Discussion Paper “ documents, and highlights the dangers of, directly targeting young children in ways that sexualise them, a practice that now occurs frequently in advertising (both print and television), girls’ magazines and television programs including music video clips. Children are learning to associate physical appearance and buying the right products not only with being sexy but with being successful as a person.”
To read more about this event, related media activity and link to the TAI full report go to: http://www.youngmedia.org.au/whatsnew/inthenews.htm#oct06
Or go directly to The Australia Institute website http://www.tai.org.au/
What you can do
You can help by supporting the work of organisations who are making a difference in this area:
Click here to join Young Media Australia now
Kf2bK (Kids Free 2 Be Kids)
A group of Australians concerned about the increasing sexualisation of kids in the media, advertising, and clothing industries. It was founded in February 2007 by Melbourne mother of two, Julie Gale, with support from other parents.
http://www.kf2bk.com/
Women’s Forum Australia
An independent women’s think-tank focusing on research, education and public policy to bring about positive changes for women.
http://www.womensforumaustralia.com/
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