Institute of Health Promotion and Education – Briefings

Review into sexualisation of young people

Commissioned by the Home Office, the review published on 26th February forms part of the government's strategy to tackle 'Violence Against Women and Girls '(VAWG) and looks at how sexualised images and messages may be affecting the development of children and young people and influencing cultural norms. It also examines the evidence for a link between sexualisation and violence.

The independent review was undertaken by psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, who is a well-known psychologist and media expert in the field of women and girls? self-image.

Key recommendations in the review include;

• the government to launch an online 'one-stop-shop' to allow the public to voice their concerns regarding irresponsible marketing which sexualises children, with an onus on regulatory authorities to take action. The website could help inform future. government policy by giving parents a forum to raise issues of concern regarding the sexualisation of young people. <./li>
• the government should support the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) to take steps to extend the existing regulatory standards to include commercial websites. <./li>
• broadcasters are required to ensure that music videos featuring sexual posing or sexually suggestive lyrics are broadcast only after the 'watershed'.<./li>
• the government to support the NSPCC in its work with manufacturers and retailers to encourage corporate responsibility with regard to sexualised merchandise. Guidelines should be issued for retailers following consultation with major clothing retailers and parents' groups.
• games consoles should be sold with parental controls already switched on. Purchasers can choose to 'unlock' the console if they wish to allow access to adult and online content.

And for education and schools

• all school staff to have training on gender equality. Specialist training should be given to those who teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and citizenship.
• the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) to issue statutory guidance to schools to promote a 'whole school' approach to tackling gender inequality, sexual and sexist bullying and violence against women and girls.
• references on sexualisation, gender stereotypes and pornography to be included in DCSF's revised Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) guidance for schools. New SRE resource materials should be made available for teachers who work with children with special education needs and learning difficulties.
• schools to ensure that all incidents of sexual bullying are recorded and reported separately to other forms of bullying.
• the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) to further develop its current online resource centre where parents can access internet safety advice.

Dr Papadopoulos has worked closely with the Home Office in developing the current national awareness campaign targeting violence within teenagers' relationships. A pack for teachers and pupils to accompany the campaign will shortly be made available to all schools. The government is also committed to introducing the subject of violence against women and girls and gender equality into the national curriculum, both of which are recommendations outlined in this review. The full list of recommendations will now be considered in more detail by the Government.

The Institute of Heath Promotion and Education welcomes this report and endorses the report's recommendations whilst urging all those engaged in health promotion and education in settings to take this issue seriously in their own work.

The report can be read at:
http://press.homeoffice.gov.uk/press-releases/sexualisation-young-people.html