TY - JOUR
T1 - Response to Taylor
T2 - The full picture of the sexualisation of children debate
AU - Rush, Emma
N1 - Imported on 12 Apr 2017 - DigiTool details were: month (773h) = December, 2011; Journal title (773t) = Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. ISSNs: 1836-9391;
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - In her review and reframing of 'the Australian public media debate over the sexualisation of children in the media', Affrica Taylor claims that 'loss of innocence is the fundamental concern', and portrays the debate as simply a 'moral panic' characteristic of the history of introductions of new media to children (2010, p.48, p.52, p.49). While Taylor is correct to identify and critique concerns about 'loss of innocence' as part of the public media debate, the debate can only be reduced to such concerns by misrepresenting or leaving aside logically independent sources of concern. Hence, Taylor provides an inadequate view of the debate to early childhood professionals who are aware of and concerned about the sexualisation of children, but who are not necessarily familiar with the full depth of discussion on the topic. I introduce the public policy debate over the sexualisation of children, which is based on both research evidence and expert opinion from those working in the areas of children's health and welfare. This debate exists both beyond and entwined with the media debate. Attention to the policy-relevant literature reveals that Taylor's reframing significantly distorts the full range of issues raised by the corporate-led sexualisation of children along three major axes. First, while post-structuralist attention to micropolitics is important, it does not render redundant appropriate attention to macropolitics. Second, children's sexuality is importantly distinct from the issue of sexualisation. Third, child health, well-being and safety are the driving concerns for professionals and policy-makers.
AB - In her review and reframing of 'the Australian public media debate over the sexualisation of children in the media', Affrica Taylor claims that 'loss of innocence is the fundamental concern', and portrays the debate as simply a 'moral panic' characteristic of the history of introductions of new media to children (2010, p.48, p.52, p.49). While Taylor is correct to identify and critique concerns about 'loss of innocence' as part of the public media debate, the debate can only be reduced to such concerns by misrepresenting or leaving aside logically independent sources of concern. Hence, Taylor provides an inadequate view of the debate to early childhood professionals who are aware of and concerned about the sexualisation of children, but who are not necessarily familiar with the full depth of discussion on the topic. I introduce the public policy debate over the sexualisation of children, which is based on both research evidence and expert opinion from those working in the areas of children's health and welfare. This debate exists both beyond and entwined with the media debate. Attention to the policy-relevant literature reveals that Taylor's reframing significantly distorts the full range of issues raised by the corporate-led sexualisation of children along three major axes. First, while post-structuralist attention to micropolitics is important, it does not render redundant appropriate attention to macropolitics. Second, children's sexuality is importantly distinct from the issue of sexualisation. Third, child health, well-being and safety are the driving concerns for professionals and policy-makers.
KW - Open access version available
KW - Children
KW - Gender stereotyping
KW - Media
KW - Policy
KW - Sexualisation
M3 - Article
SN - 0312-5033
VL - 36
SP - 111
EP - 119
JO - Australasian Journal of Early Childhood
JF - Australasian Journal of Early Childhood
IS - 4
ER -