The media and children sexuality - an anthropological approach

Anna Brosch

This paper presents a findings which are set against historical debates about the impact of sexualized culture and show a review of literature on the sexualization of childhood from an anthropological perspective. The available studies suggest that the media do have an impact on children due to the spread of sexual and relationship norms, which rarely depict sexually responsible models. There is also presented a survey among pupils in gymnasium, which explores young people's perspectives of sexuality, sexual identity within the context of sexualized culture and examines how young people discuss these issues. More longitudinal research, especially with early adolescents is needed to learn more about how media content is attended to, interpreted, and incorporated into developing sexual lives.