Child sexual abuse in mexican women: type of experience, age, perpetrator and disclosure

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a type of maltreatment that occurs in practically all countries and social statuses. Due to the taboo and shame that surrounds it, CSA is a problem universally silenced despite the important consequences (both physical and psychological) that it has for the victim and their family. This work aimed to study the correlates of CSA in Mexican women. Our sample comprised 1058 women ranged from 18 to 73 years (M = 40.19; SD = 10.24). They completed an anonymous online survey including questions about all the different types of abuse, questions about who perpetrated it, at what age it happened, and whether the victim disclosed the abuse. Our results showed that, depending on the type of abuse, from 13.9% to 65.8% of the participants had suffered at least one episode of CSA throughout their childhood. The first episode typically occurred between 6 and 12 years old, with the perpetrator being a male. The youngest women reported higher rates of being shown pornography by a family member, whereas the oldest ones reported higher rates of exhibitionism by a stranger. Only 31.3% of the sample disclosed the abuse, usually to their mother or a peer. Differences among the correlates of the different types of abuse, the age of the victims, and the relationship with the perpetrator are discussed as well as the victims' feelings of being believed when they disclosed the abus

Sexualization in digital advertising of fashion brands for kids: initiatives and ways to report the complaints

Los niños son presentados como objetos sexuales en gran parte, según el debate social, debido a la actividad de marcas y medios vinculados a la moda. La metodología llevada a cabo combina un análisis de contenido de los catálogos de publicidad de moda infantil en Internet en el contexto español, con el objetivo de ver si las marcas de moda infantil sexualizan a los niños en Internet; una revisión de las iniciativas de denuncia en Internet para conocer si la sociedad civil está concienciada; y una revisión de la normativa jurídica y ética en la publicidad digital para verificar si hay una protección a los niños. Los hallazgos apuntan que casi la mitad de los niños de los catálogos (el 45.8%) muestran atributos que los sexualizan, que las niñas son las más perjudicadas -un 48.9% frente al 38.2% de los niños- y las marcas que sexualizan más son las originalmente de adulto. Además, la sexualización se atribuye a la libertad creativa y al beneficio de las marcas. Las iniciativas y quejas se concentran en padres, Gobierno y asociaciones de consumidores. Se recomienda mayor información para que los ciudadanos inicien los procesos de protección legal y ética previstos para proteger a los niños.Children are represented as sexual objects, according to the social debate, mainly due to the activity of brands and media linked to fashion. The methodology conducted has combined a content analysis of the advertising catalogues of fashion kids on Internet in Spanish context to aim the objective of checking if fashion brands for kids are sexualizing them through its advertising on Internet; a review of the initiatives and complaints to report if the civil society is aware; thirdly, a review of the regulation – ethic and legal- on digital advertising to verify if there is a special protection. The results show that almost half of the children on the catalogues (45.8%) displayed sexualizing attributes, that girls are the most damaged -48.9%, while boys reach 38.2%- and that brands derived from those targeted to adults sexualize the most. Therefore, it is highlighted that sexualization is linked to freedom of creativity and brands’ benefits. Initiatives and complaints are focused on parents, Government and consumer associations. The recommendations point to better information to citizens so they can impulse the legal and ethical processes planned to protect infancy

The Sex-cited Body in Margaret Atwood

In her fiction generally, and particularly in the novel Lady Oracle and the story "The Man From Mars," Margaret Atwood explores the gendered body as surface, in the process exploring the implications in capitalist culture of women either having or not having the "right" surface. By building conflict around the conventions that polarize the "right" surfaces against abject surfaces, Atwood recognizes the trap of "sex-citation" and the possibilities of bodies beyond such a binary. Her reading of "attraction" is just that — a reading — variable and unstable, the body as a "sex-citing" text

Sexually Suggestive Songs and Singers: Music Media and Its Effects on the Sexualization of Women

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between music and the sexualization of women. The study focused on 450 participants, both male and female, belonging to various ethnic backgrounds, ages 18 and up. It was hypothesized that a participant’s exposure to sexually suggestive music would impact their views of women. Specifically, exposure to sexual explicit or suggestive music would relate to more sexist views towards women. Results indicated that there were relationships between music and the sexualization of women. The breakdown of each genre of music and the different measures proved to be surprising, as some genres had a very strong correlation, while others had none at all. Overall, the results supported the idea that media, specifically music, does certainly have an impact on listeners and viewers. This supports most previous research, and disproves the very few studies that suggest otherwise

Empowerment or impoverishment of children from social networks? Perceptions of sexualized images of girls in Instagram

Aunque el fenómeno de la sexualización infantil ha motivado numerosas investigaciones durante los últimos años, muy pocas han estudiado cómo lo perciben los adultos, y ninguna lo ha estudiado a partir de las impresiones que provocan las fotografías de niñas sexualizadas en las redes sociales. A partir de los resultados de una encuesta estructurada en internet a 353 personas, este trabajo demuestra que el aspecto sexualizado de las niñas en las redes sociales genera percepciones que las minusvaloran intelectual, social y moralmente. Dichas percepciones dependen del consumo de medios, del grado de auto-cosificación y de la religiosidad de las personas. AbstractAlthough the phenomenon of the sexualization of children has prompted numerous investigations in recent years, very few have studied how adults perceive it, and none has studied the sexualization of girls in photographs in social networks. This work demonstrates, from the results of a structured online survey of 353 people, that the sexualization of girls in social networks generates perceptions that undervalue girls in intellectual, social, and moral aspects. Such perceptions depend on media consumption level, degree of self-objectification, and people’s religiosity

The implicit theories of child sexual exploitation materials users: an initial conceptualization

Contact sexual offenders have been proposed to hold a set of distorted core beliefs about themselves, others, and the world. These beliefs (or ‘implicit theories’) bias information in an offense-supportive manner, contributing to the etiology and maintenance of sexual offending. In recent years, there has been an increased research interest in online ‘child sexual exploitation material’ (CSEM) users, particularly since research has shown they are distinct from contact child abusers. In light of their distinction, it is hypothesized that CSEM users will possess their own set of implicit theories that guide their interpretation of intra/interpersonal information in a manner that influences the viewing and downloading of CSEM. Following a qualitative analysis of the existing empirical CSEM literature, an initial conceptualization of the implicit theories held by CSEM users is offered in the present paper. These include: ‘Unhappy World’, ‘Children as Sexual Objects’, ‘Nature of Harm (CSEM variant)’, ‘Self as Uncontrollable’, and ‘Self as Collector’, each of which is contextualized by a general assumption about the reinforcing nature of the Internet. The paper provides a detailed account of each implicit theory, including its content and function. Practical and research implications are also highlighted

Adult-as-Schoolgirl Sexual Fantasies: Investigating Their Relationship With Sexual Interest in Children Within a Male Sample

Theory and research indicates that sexual fantasies about children are associated with child sexual abuse and the proclivity to engage in child sexual abuse. The present study aimed to add to the literature by examining whether sexual fantasies depicting an adult partner dressed in school uniform are related to a self-reported sexual interest/proclivity towards child sexual abuse. We also investigated whether Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies are related to other factors underlying the reason for finding children sexually appealing (e.g. lower self-esteem, the need for sexual dominance, and innocence-related fantasies). The measures assessing each variable were completed in randomized order by 87 community males recruited online (after data cleaning). The results showed significant correlations between Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies and the interest in/proclivity to sexually offend against children, as well as sexual fantasies about innocence in general. A direct multiple regression revealed that these two variables statistically predicted Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasy scores. The present study provides the first indication that Adult-as-Schoolgirl fantasies are linked to the self-reported interest and proclivity in sexually abusing children. Given the correlational nature of these findings, the causal direction cannot be determined. Moreover, the results do not indicate that people with Adult-as-Schoolgirl fantasies will act up these fantasies with a real child. Nevertheless, the findings suggest the need to address the sexualization of schoolgirl uniforms in popular media. Future research should aim to uncover the impact that Adult-as-Schoolgirl sexual fantasies have on actual behavior

Empowerment or impoverishment of children from social networks? Perceptions of sexualized images of girls in Instagram

Although the phenomenon of the sexualization of children has prompted numerous investigations in recent years, very few have studied how adults perceive it, and none has studied the sexualization of girls in photographs in social networks. This work demonstrates, from the results of a structured online survey of 353 people, that the sexualization of girls in social networks generates perceptions that undervalue girls in intellectual, social, and moral aspects. Such perceptions depend on media consumption level, degree of self-objectification, and people’s religiosity

Forever Adolescence: Taylor Swift, Eroticized Innocence, and Performing Normativity

As a popular culture subject, Taylor Swift is an example of a widely circulated image that adheres to the guidelines for “appropriate” girlhood, innocence, and feminine performance. The proliferation of Swift’s identity as a virginal, delicate girl makes Swift the successful pop music figure that can “save” the troubled young girl of today. This thesis grapples with Swift’s image as an artist and addresses the ways that she often stands in as the example for imagined “appropriate” femininity. Swift’s image relies on ideas about innocence and normativity that are directly linked to markers of whiteness without ever having to explicitly name it. Swift’s specific performance of normativity and the success she has achieved because of it is one example of how we can begin to complicate understandings of agency and where it can be located

Girls, Rock Your Boys: Female Tribute Acts and the Reclamation of Rock

Female musicians who perform in tribute acts to male rock artists are an increasingly popular form of live musical entertainment, from Lez Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin) to Hervana (Nirvana). The purpose of this thesis is to explore the motivations for or rewards derived through tributing for women. Original interviews with artists and participant observation at performances are used for analysis alongside published interviews, videos, and website information. Discussions reveal how female tribute acts subvert the patriarchal dominance of rock music’s history by re-imagining canonical figures as women, as well as how archetypal signifiers of masculinity can be separated from male bodies and performed effectively via a feminized embodiment. Additionally, tribute performance spaces serve as communal fandom gatherings where texts can be reinterpreted and transformed through collective participation by musicians and audiences alike. In sum, female tribute acts allow new creative possibilities for women’s further involvement in rock and popular music-making