Sexualized Media Messages and Our Children: Teaching Kids to Be Smart Critics and Consumers

This provocative book takes a look at children’s consumption of sexualized media messages while providing parents, teachers, and professionals with strategies for abating their influence.

In this eye-opening book, experienced child psychologist Jennifer W. Shewmaker contends that the manner in which a child is raised influences how they respond to media messages, particularly those shaded by sexual overtones. This text takes a hard look at the impact of advertisements, products, and entertainment on a child’s psyche and offers strategies for helping kids become critical, active media consumers.

Drawing from research in a wide variety of disciplines, this book explores the interpersonal factors within children’s lives that impact how they learn to process sexualized media messages. The book argues that an increase in marketing to children along with media-based fabrications of beauty, masculinity, and femininity impact the confidence and character of young children who are often greatly affected by what they see and hear. The author shares invaluable tips for promoting strengths in children and adolescents of both genders and presents the protective influence of communities to help children dismiss distorted media images.

Provides a quick overview of previous works in child development, communication, and education

Discusses four mediating variables influencing children’s values: culture of celebrity, family factors, gender, and community systems

Includes an In Their Voices section featuring specific responses from children, adolescents, parents, and professionals

Covers television, movies, music, and other media

Demonstrates the impact of both positive and negative media messages