The oversexualization of girls in the media.

From a very early age, girls learn their appearance is highly valued and correlated with their “worth” as a person. Babies and toddlers learn about beautiful princesses. Next comes Barbie, which promotes first and foremost that sexiness is the most important characteristic or interest a girl “should” have, and the marketing of sexually provocative clothing is targeted at females from toddlerhood through out life. Video games, movies, music, TV programs, and toys, which are marketed to children are full of degrading images that objectify and sexualize girls and women. Little girls go from being toddlers to teenagers with nothing in between. The American Psychological Association (2007) reports that oversexualization has frightening consequences for healthy development. It makes a correlation between the three most common problems in girls and women: eating disorders, low self-esteem, and depression. What can we as educators and parents do to combat this disturbing trend?
Dr. Robi Ludwig and Alice Wilder will join Dr. Annie Abram to discuss this subject.

Robi Ludwig is a psychotherapist in NYC. Dr. Robi is also a relationship contributor to "Investigation Discovery", a regular TV commentator on shows such as: "The Today Show", "Entertainment Tonight", "Jane Velez Mitchel", "Lou Dobbs Tonight" as well as the former host of TLC's "One Week to Save Your Marriage" and GSN's "Without Prejudice". (DrRobiLudwig.com)

Alice Wilder, 17, lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and attends Northwest School of the Arts. She has been a blogger for SPARK summit since June 2012. SPARK summit is a girl-fueled activist movement to demand an end to the sexualization of women and girls in media. Alice is the editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, Intermission. She has been featured on Upworthy and the Charlotte Observer.