Sexuality

Society defines sexuality as an individual's sex, gender, identity, expression, and sexual orientation. It also includes the effect of prejudice and discrimination on those who are identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Sex is refers to the biological distinction between female and males and therefore the way human species reproduces. (John J. Macionis, 2010). Because sexuality is about much more than having sex, sexuality is a theme found in almost everywhere- in sports, on campus in the work place and most importantly in the mass media. (John J. Macionis, 2010). There is also the sex industry that includes pornography and prostitution both of which are multibillion-dollar business in this Country. Therefore the effects had been very enormous affecting almost every aspect of our society today with the major impact on our youth and females. Eileen Zurbriggen, chair of the former APA Task Force on the sexualization of girls, created in 2006, opened the summit by describing research findings from the task force’s report — highlighted troubling links between the sexualization of girls and mental health problems, including eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression. The report calls on parents, school officials and all health professionals to be alert to the potential impact of sexualization on girls and young women. Schools should teach media literacy skills to all students, says the APA report, and should include information on the negative effects of the sexualization of girls in media literacy and sex education programs. “The consequences of the sexualization of girls in media today are very real and are likely to be a negative influence on girls’ healthy development,” says Zurbriggen, a psychology professor at the University of California. She added “We have ample evidence to conclude that sexualization has negative effects in a variety of domains, including cognitive functioning, physical and mental health, and healthy sexual development.” It is therefore more important than ever to emphasized the need to empower girls and women as a whole to resist objectification and redeemed themselves from objectification and reclaim their respect in society. At the summit, Zurbriggen explained that the APA task force reviewed published research on the content and effects of virtually every form of media, including television, music videos, music lyrics, magazines, movies, video games and the Internet. They also examined recent advertising campaigns and merchandising of products aimed toward girls. This is all because of the fact that “sex sells” and as such using female as objects. Since the mass media is not going anywhere but continue to do business as usual, it will continue to use what has been selling for them in the past. I believe no laws or any kind restriction can stop the mass media from this practice, therefore the need for women to empower themselves through education with emphasis on media literacy to help eradicate themselves from this troubling problem. Sexuality has always been an issue of conflict and debate. What was once looked upon as taboo in most societies and part of our human lives which were not to be talked about openly for centuries has now been encouraged, praised, and advocated to be spoken about freely and now sex is becoming more and more common in the media and everywhere. In today’s society things are being expressed and experienced at younger ages than ever before. Children and teenagers are discovering their sexuality at very early ages and ironically, sex seems to be the subject that society is becoming a little less shy to talk about. It used not to be socially acceptable for a young person to be allowed to express themselves through clothes, music or lifestyle as it is today. Seeing gays as a group is now taken for granted, but before the 18th century the idea would never had occurred to ask the question whether homosexuality