Early Sexualisation and Media Influence

Parents have always been wary of the interaction between their children and the media. These suspicions are always founded on the fact that parents do their best to instill leadership qualities on their children. Today’s media seems to undermine this goal through blatant sexualisation of young adults. The effects of this sexualisation are more severe in girls than they are on boys. Several bodies and organizations have taken note of this trend including journalist organizations, psychologists, and parent organizations.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Early Sexualisation and Media Influence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It has also been noted that this trend is on the rise and its effects are becoming more harmful especially to the young girls. Sexualisation refers to â€Å"when a person’s value comes only from her/his sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics, and when a person is sexually objectified, for instance, made into a thing for another’s sexual use† (Egan 300). Previously, several research projects have been undertaken with the view of unraveling how the media takes part in the sexualisation of young girls. This type of research is mostly commissioned by developmental psychologists, parent organizations, among other stakeholders. This paper explores how media influence contributes to early sexualisation of girls and some effects of this sexualisation. Almost all forms of media have the potential to engage in the promotion of early sexualisation of young girls. These media outlets might include â€Å"television, music videos, music lyrics, movies, magazines, sports media, video games, the Internet, and digital advertising† (Vares, Jackson and Gill 144). Some of these media forms such as teen-themed magazines and teen-themed television shows have a closer proximity to young girls. Virtually every study that ha s been conducted on the subject of sexualisation reveals that girls are usually on the receiving end of this practice. Examples of sexualisation in the media include portrayal of young girls dressed in skimpy clothes and young girls posing in suggestively. Another example of sexualisation is in situations where young girls are â€Å"objectified or used as decorative objects or as body parts rather than whole persons† (Lerum and Dworkin 254). The media also influences early sexualisation by over emphasizing unrealistic beauty standards to be used as templates by young girls. Media-initiated sexualisation often appeals to several aspects of a young girl’s life such as mode of dressing, mode of accessorizing, and choice in dolls. In American media, there are famous examples of media sexualisation. For instance, â€Å"the naughty and nice advertisement that featured pop star Christina Aguilera dressed as a schoolgirl in pigtails, with her shirt unbuttoned, licking a lolli pop† (Merskin 123). This particular advertisement sought to correlate young girls and sexual appeal.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This would translate to early sexualisation because Aguilera’s mode of dressing portrayed a girl of approximately eleven years. Young girls often have a deep connection with their dolls. Barbie is the most famous doll of all time and her portrayal in the media amounts to early sexualisation. Barbie is often portrayed as a skimpily dressed young girl. Some of the items of clothing that are supported by the media are sometimes inappropriate and misplaced. For example, most magazines and clothing catalogues advertise, â€Å"thongs for girls aged 7 to 10 years with suggestive slogans such as wink-wink† (Jackson and Vares 140). Traditionally, sex-themed fashion shows were reserved for adult females. However, today, fashion shows that are reserved for girls under the age of 12 can be sex-themed. Sexual development among girls is consistent with other factors. Every stage of development in a girl coincides with a certain gender identity (Attwood 78). The media constantly promotes a young girls’ mode of dressing that coincides with that of adult females. The clothes are originally designed for adult women but they are then passed on to young girls. Therefore, the lack of physical maturity that is necessary for the young girls to fit into the clothes designed for older women is often ignored. Other times the attempt to force these items of clothing on young girls is awkward. This form of early sexualisation might promote an identity crisis on the young girls (Collins 295). The media is not the only entity that takes part in early sexualisation of young girls. However, the media takes its cue from other aspects of the society. A study conducted in the UK found out that the media takes advantage of the you ng girls’ interactions with their peer, teachers, and parents (Danielle and Hawkes 313). For instance, parents usually instill the belief that maintaining youth and beauty is the most important activity for women. In today’s society, some parents go as far as suggesting plastic surgery for their young daughters. Other research studies have revealed that teachers can promote stereotypes that the media can use to perpetuate early sexualisation. These stereotypes usually involve profiling the onset of sexual behaviors in accordance with race. Nevertheless, one of the most important tools that the media uses when promoting early sexualisation is peer influence (Bragg 284). Young girls often try to conform to the standards that are set by their peers such as thinness and fashion-sense. The media can also capitalize on the influence young boys have on young girls when perpetuating early sexualisation.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Early Sexu alisation and Media Influence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Early sexualisation of young girls can be realized through various forms. Some of these realizations can be direct influences of the media. When a young girl buys an item of clothing or an accessory that is meant to make her sexually appealing, it is a manifestation of early sexualisation. Another manifestation of early sexualisation is when a young girl dresses or acts like her favorite ‘sexy’ celebrity. Various studies cite the media as the main driver of early sexualisation (Slater and Tiggemann 47). Therefore, it is important to note that changes within the media could have a significant impact on early sexualisation of girls. There are several documented effects of early sexualisation among girls. Psychologists have explored how early sexualisation could affect the young girl’s well-being. Most psychologists acknowledge that early sexualisation can influence a girl’s cognitive, mental, and sexual well-being. One of the known effects of early sexualisation is self-objectification. This effect can interfere with a girl’s cognitive abilities therefore hampering her mathematical or logical reasoning abilities (Machia and Lamb 18). Current research also shows a direct relationship between early sexualisation and mental health shortcomings among women including eating disorders, depression, and low self-esteem issues (Stice and Agras 271). The ability to develop a healthy sexuality in girls can also be affected by exposure to early sexualisation. The society is also bound to feel the effects of early sexualisation. The effects of early sexualisation can be countered in several ways. Most of the earlier studies on the subject had focused on adult women. It is important for future studies to focus more on the cultural aspects of early sexualisation (Attwood 90). The listed forms of media sexualisation indicate that this trend is on the rise. It is up to all the involved stakeholders to get a hold of this trend before it escalates to unmanageable proportions. Works Cited Attwood, Feona. â€Å"Sexed up: Theorizing the sexualization of culture.† Sexualities 9.1 (2006): 77-94. Jstor. Web. Bragg, Sara. â€Å"Too much, too soon? Children, ‘sexualization’ and consumer culture.†Ã‚  Sex Education 11.3 (2011): 279-292. JournalSeek. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Collins, Rebecca. â€Å"Content analysis of gender roles in media: Where are we now and where should we go?.† Sex Roles 64.3-4 (2011): 290-298. Jstor. Web. Danielle, Egan, and Gail Hawkes. â€Å"Girls, sexuality and the strange carnalities of advertisements: Deconstructing the discourse of corporate paedophilia.† Australian feminist studies 23.57 (2008): 307-322. Jstor. Web. Egan, Daniel. â€Å"Endangered girls and incendiary objects: Unpacking the discourse on sexualization.† Sexuality culture 12.4 (2008): 291-311. Web. Jackson, Sue, and Tiina Vares. â€Å"Media â€Å"sluts†:â€Å"Tween† girls’ negotiations of postfeminist sexual subjectivities in popular culture.† New femininities: Postfeminism, neoliberalism and subjectivity 23.2 (2011): 134-146. JournalSeek. Web. Lerum, Kari, and Shari Dworkin. â€Å"â€Å"Bad girls rule†: An interdisciplinary feminist commentary on the report of the APA Task Force on the sexualization of girls.† Journal of Sex Research 46.4 (2009): 250-263. Jstor. Web. Machia, Marty, and Sharon Lamb. â€Å"Sexualized Innocence.† Journal of Media  Psychology: Theories, Methods, and Applications 21.1 (2009): 15-24. JournalSeek. Web. Merskin, Debra. â€Å"Reviving Lolita? A media literacy examination of sexual portrayals of girls in fashion advertising.† American Behavioral Scientist 48.1 (2004): 119-129. Web. Slater, Amy, and Marika Tiggemann. â€Å"Body image and disordered eating in adolescent girls and boys: A test of objectification theory.† Sex roles 63.2 (2010): 42-49. Web. Stice, Eric, and Stewart Agras. â€Å"Exposure to media-portrayed thin-ideal images adversely affects vulnerable girls: A longitudinal experiment.† Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 20.3 (2001): 270-288. JournalSeek. Web. Vares, Tiina, Sue Jackson, and Rosalind Gill. â€Å"Preteen girls read ‘tween’ popular culture: Diversity, complexity and contradic tion.† International Journal of Media Cultural Politics 7.2 (2011): 139-154. Jstor. Web. This research paper on Early Sexualisation and Media Influence was written and submitted by user Jamar S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

How to Write a Communications Term Paper A Complete Guide

How to Write a Communications Term Paper A Complete Guide When assigned a communications term paper to write you are given an entire term to work out your topic, do research, find the necessary information and put the results in writing. It may seem like you have a lot of time to do it – but it is plenty of work as well. The writing alone is likely to take a lot of time (term papers are often 6000 words long, sometimes longer). A communications term paper should present a sufficient amount of original research, which means that you cannot fully rely on outside sources. If you are given this assignment to work as a part of a group, it may involve even more problems, because collaborating with other people is always more difficult than doing things on your own – you have to rely on others to do their parts of the job. As your term paper is going to be responsible for a significant portion of your grade, you should start paying attention to this job early on. These communications term paper tips will help you organize your efforts in the right direction. Choosing a Topic: Samples Ideas from Our Writers When you write an essay in college, the topic is usually assigned to you. With term papers, things are usually different – you choose the topic yourself, although with an input from your instructor. Ideally, you should talk things over with him and select something that will both be interesting for you and acceptable from his point of view – after all, your instructor has already seen dozens if not hundreds of students’ terms papers and knows which kinds of topics work and which do not. As you are going to spend an entire term writing this paper, don’t take this choice too lightly, lest you find out that with the topic you’ve selected you a bit more than you can chew and it is already too late to swap it for something else. Here are some recommendations that can help you: Look for something you have interest in. Firstly, you probably already know a fair amount about this subject and can save time you would otherwise spend digging for information. Secondly, the quality of one’s writing is always higher when one writes about something he is fascinated with. If you cannot think about a specific topic, try at least to delineate a general area you would like to explore (e.g., development of communication skills in children); Try using online academic oriented search engines (Refseek, PubMed, iSeek to name a few). Some of them are discipline-specific, others are general purpose, but all are useful both to search for sources of information and to have a look at the existing body of research on this or that topic. Looking through their results can help you find a topic that has a fair amount or research on it but still has bits you can dig in without repeating existing works; Once you’ve decided on the general area you want to cover, narrow your topic down to something more manageable. Don’t be overenthusiastic, though – too narrow a topic is just as bad as a too broad one, as you may find it difficult to find viable research dealing with it; Make sure that the topic you’ve settled down on contains a question (direct or implied one). The thing is, a communications term paper isn’t a comment on something or a description of an existing situation in the research on this or that topic. It is your original work, in which you study the situation on your own and present your findings – and findings are impossible if there weren’t any questions asked beforehand. Thus, â€Å"Body Language† isn’t a very good topic as it doesn’t contain a question. â€Å"The Role of Body Language in Successful Communication†, however, is a much better choice, because it implies one: Is body language important for successful communication? Talk your topic over with your instructor, and do it as early as possible to have an opportunity to research and choose another one if need be. Your instructor will be able to point out potential problems with your topic that you don’t see right now, and unless you are positive you can deal with them you should better listen to what he has to say – he has much more experience dealing with this sort of thing. Eventually, the topic you select should meet two basic criteria: be narrow enough to research it more or less exhaustively in your allotted word count and be broad enough to offer a sufficient research discourse to build upon. Here are some examples of what you may be looking for: Factors Influencing Development of Communication Skills in Children from Birth to Five Years of Age; Communication Apprehension in Group Videoconferencing; The Role of Technology in Human Communication in the Mobile Age; What Influences the Development of Conflict Resolution Skills in Children; Discourse Analysis of Everyday Speech. Gathering and Researching Sources One of the most important skills for a researcher in the field of communication is critical reading and analysis of the existing body of research. There are three basic reasons why it is so important: You won’t be able to produce a high-quality term paper with novel findings in your field if you don’t know the current research on the topic you’ve chosen; Critical analysis of the works by other researchers teaches you to notice strong and weak points in their argumentation – a skill you can successfully apply when reading your own work. Knowing where and how other people make mistakes will help you avoid them in your term paper and foresee potential counter-arguments to your reasoning; You should take every bit of information with a grain of salt – sources vary greatly in quality and veracity, and only prolonged experience in critical reading can teach you how to distinguish between trustworthy and untrustworthy ones. The quantity of sources doesn’t always translate into quality – don’t be tempted to use a source just to add an extra item to your page. If it (or, worse yet, a number of them) turns out to be low-quality, it can negatively affect the value of your entire term paper. If you’ve chosen your topic carefully, there should be more than enough viable sources for it, so don’t be greedy. Where to Look for Sources Here are some good places to start: The reference section of your textbook. Look through the reference section for the chapter dealing with the general research area you are writing about and see if there are any suitable sources there. You can repeat this trick with any other source you find; Reading list for your course. If you’ve selected a topic at all relevant to the course you are taking, you are likely to find some good specimens here; Online academic databases like JSTOR and EBSCO. They contain not just the titles of the books and articles but also a host of useful information on them, like when they were published, how many times they were referred to in peer-reviewed papers and so on. This data is an excellent indication of a source’s relative quality; Librarians and your instructor – ask those who work with sources on a regular basis. Chances are, they can offer you exactly what you need. How to Evaluate Sources As we’ve already stated, sources vary greatly in terms of usefulness and trustworthiness. In order to avoid relying too much on sources that can later turn out to be dubious, you should ask yourself the following questions before putting any trust into any of them: Is the author qualified? Is he a specialist in the field he is writing about? Does he have any relevant credentials to prove his qualification? Is it possible to get in touch with him to get a comment on his work? Does he have any other publications on the same or a close topic (look for them using several different search engines)? Is this person referred to by any other credible sources? Who published the source? What is the source of the publication? Does it have any sponsors or affiliations that may be interested in the one-sided presentation of the subject matter? Does the publisher take responsibility for the content it publishes? Is it possible that the author is biased in any way? Are there any signs of explicit or implicit bias? Is the author’s language emotional? Does the author belong to an organization that may have a biased view on the subject? What is the source’s purpose? Is it to inform or to persuade? Are the author’s methods sound and appropriate? Check the methodology page for possible inconsistencies or poorly chosen methods (taking the subject into account). Does the author provide sufficient data to prove his conclusions? Is there enough evidence to back up the author’s assumptions? Writing Introduction and Conclusion These two parts are written more or less the same as in any other academic writing assignment. The introduction states the problem, does its best to grasp the reader’s attention and smoothly leads on to the thesis statement. The conclusion sums up the paper, states whether the initial hypothesis was proved or disproved and clarifies whether any subsequent research in this area is in order. Thesis Statement Thesis statement summarizes, in short, the main point of your communication term paper. The main things to consider here are as follows: It should be short – usually one sentence, no more than two; It should contain a single most important point of your paper. What do you try to prove? What is the main finding of your term paper? It should be definite – no ambiguities, no vagueness. Body Paragraphs Communication term papers have a standard of writing every student has to follow. All paragraphs should be written in more or less the same fashion: first, you introduce the new point, then provide evidence to back it up (quotations, statistics, interviews, etc.), then deal with potential counter-arguments and finalize it by summarizing the point and connecting it back to the thesis statement; Be laconic. The fewer words you use, the better. If anything can be said shorter than it is, rewrite it this way. However, the key is to remain understandable – don’t strive for brevity for the sake of brevity, just trim the fat; Don’t use emotional language. What you write is a work of science, not fiction, there is no place for emotions, bias or anything else of the kind; Use quotations sparingly, especially direct ones. The words of other researchers, however well-reputed, aren’t considered sufficient evidence in science. You should focus on facts, statistical data and repeatable experiments and not on what other people say about them; Don’t use the first person in your writing. Phrases like ‘I think’ and ‘I believe’ are too personal and have no place in any research writing, writing on communication included. Revision You may be quite tired of your paper by the time you finish it, but the first draft never means the end of work – at least if you want to achieve good results. In order to produce a truly memorable communication term paper, you have to put it through revision. If possible, give yourself at least one full day to simply have a little rest from this work. You will be able to see your paper with fresh eyes and find more mistakes this way; Ask a friend or a peer for an opinion about your paper. Make sure to choose somebody who you can trust. Ask them if parts are connected logically, if all chapters of the paperwork as intended, if they have any more constructive criticism to impart; Read your term paper aloud. Quite often this allows you to notice flaws that remain hidden when presented in text form; Don’t be afraid of cutting whole paragraphs. More isn’t always better – if your paper works better without something, remove it, even if by itself it is a fascinating piece of information; Consult with your style guide and check if your paper complies with it. We hope that this communications term paper guide will help you prepare and write your next term paper – good luck!

Heinekens Internal Processes,Mission and Vision Research Paper

Heinekens Internal Processes,Mission and Vision - Research Paper Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that despite its origin in Dutch, Heineken has made a significant presence in the two Americas, owing to the massive business opportunities in the region. The company entered the American market and Latin America in the early 20th century following the slackening of regulations in the region. And in 2010, Heineken entered into strategic acquisitions of beer companies in the United States, Brazil, and Mexico. In the latter two countries, Heineken settled for FEMSA. The organization’s internal processes revolve around managing risks through effective control systems. These measures, according to the company, ease its identification of the risks for better interventions in order to realize its operational and pecuniary goals. In addition, these internal mechanisms enable the company’s operations to be in line with relevant laws and policies in the countries within the two Americas. The company relies on a system of control for prop er processing and release of financial statements. In light of these, Heineken’s internal control mechanisms form the central part of their internal management processes. Heineken is renowned for its push for quality of goods and financial restraint. The company encourages an entrepreneurial culture across organizational levels so as to obtain opportunities that foster continuity in terms of business development and creativity, whilst absorbing controlled risks. Heineken International argues that the carefully structured customized portfolio per country and the rigorous balance sheet depict the brewer’s risk appetite. Regardless, in competitive markets like North America’s and emerging South America’s, achieving financial restraint where proper marketing expenditure pays out has been relatively counterproductive to Heineken.