Sexualisation of children in the contemporary media

• Anne McEwen
• Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts

Read the full text

27 June 2008In 2006, The Australia Institute published two discussion papers on the issue of the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media: Corporate paedophilia: sexualisation of children in the media1 and Letting children be children: stopping the sexualisation of children in Australia.2 The two papers prompted considerable public debate amongst parents, media and retail industry stakeholders, academics and interested parties more generally, indicating a high level of public interest in the issue.

This report examines the sexualisation of children in the contemporary media environment, including radio and television, children's magazines, other print and advertising material and the Internet.