Sexualization of Children
The focus of study of CRAN 2016—exploitation of children—reminded me of the following story.The cover* of the Summer 2009 issue of the Ottawa Citizen's style magazine was a graphic picture of a young teen girl dressed seductively and posing provocatively.To check my subjective reaction, I showed the magazine cover to several male and female colleagues. All agreed that the photo was sexually exploitive of youth.This brief story illustrates quite concretely, I think, some of my career-long observations and conclusions related to the harmful exploitation of children by the media:1. Whether intended or not, advertisers' depiction of children for commercial benefit can carry messages harmful to children—and to society.2. The media, who are dependent on advertising revenue, are complicit in delivering harmful advertising.3. Absent oversight, the media have near full control over their product and the ability to defend against criticism.4. Effective external oversight and regulation to protect children from harmful messaging can offset the dangers of media being a law unto itself.5. Government has a unique role and power to counter, through legislation and education, the commercial exploitation of children—and other vulnerable groups.
