Home Office report examines the early sexualisation of children

Many parents are concerned that their children are growing up too fast and become more sexually aware at a younger age than ever.

There is little they can do to protect their children from the overtly sexual connotations and messages in advertising and marketing which are designed to clamour for our attention in every aspect of day-to-day life.

Now an independent review has been conducted, looking into the early sexualisation of children and young people.

Lead by psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos and commissioned by the Home Office, the review will form part of the government’s strategy to tackle ‘Violence Against Women and Girls’ (VAWG) and will also examine how the sexualised images affect the development of children.

Recommendations in the report include launching a place for the public to voice concerns about irresponsible marketing, give parents a forum to raise issues and require broadcasters to show music videos containing sexual posing and lyrics after a ‘watershed’.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said:”We know that parents are concerned about the pressures their children are under at a much younger age, which is why we have already committed to a number of the recommendations in this report.

“Changing attitudes will take time but it is essential if we are going to stop the sexualisation which contributes to violence against women and girls.”